Sad. We’ll see what any investigation or further info reveal, but suicide would be my first guess. The USNA is of course a great school with a great tradition, but my understanding is that it can also be a very stressful, soul-crushing place.
Growing up, one of my best friends ended up going there. I remember meeting up with him and others during Christmas vacation freshman year of college, and everyone else was really excited about their colleges (partying, sorority girls etc etc), but my Annapolis friend was miserable. His executive summary: “The place really sucks.” He said that he was depressed as hell and that every day he kicked himself for not taking up UCLA on their offer, as he imagined himself in SoCal having a fun life... which he probably would have. He wanted to quit, but his parents were not supportive of that idea, indicating they wouldn’t be helping him financially.
Although I never contemplated suicide during my Army years (’69-’75) I did seriously consider going AWOL during BCT. And I have no doubt that the Naval Academy is at least as stressful...and probably far more stressful...than Army BCT.
I can relate. Sometime during the night after our first full day of basic training at the Air Force Academy my roommate tried to commit suicide. From what I was able to learn after the fact, he was at the Academy only because his father wanted him to attend, he had no desire to be there.
Stressful, soul crushing? I don’t know...it’s changed so much from decades ago that it seems like a warm, inviting, friendly place with picnics welcoming back the once-feared upperclass Brigade in September, Super Bowl viewing parties, happy first-day-of-classes photos on FB, and stories about how everyone gets along, that I can’t reconcile it with the gray institution I almost dropped out of but was too stubborn to give in to. It was stressful, but it kind of molded me, and Didn’t crush my soul though, as I would unhesitatingly repeat my years in the real Navy that followed.
Stressful, soul crushing? I don’t know...it’s changed so much from decades ago that it seems like a warm, inviting, friendly place with picnics welcoming back the once-feared upperclass Brigade in September, Super Bowl viewing parties, happy first-day-of-classes photos on FB, and stories about how everyone gets along, that I can’t reconcile it with the gray institution I almost dropped out of but was too stubborn to give in to. It was stressful, but it kind of molded me, and Didn’t crush my soul though, as I would unhesitatingly repeat my years in the real Navy that followed.