by Kevin Caruso
The nation’s top Navy officer, Admiral Jeremy Boorda, died by suicide on May 16, 1996, by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 56.
Admiral Boorda was the first enlisted sailor to become the Chief of Naval Operations, a position he obtained on April 23, 1994.
Admiral Boorda was distraught because someone claimed that he was not authorized to wear two valor medals.
The issue seemed to be trivial. But for Admiral Boorda, it was a serious matter. So serious, that shortly before he was to meet with the Washington bureau chief of Newsweek magazine, which was working on a story about the medals, he shot himself.
Former Admiral Elmo Zumwalt came forward the next day and indicated that he personally authorized Admiral Boorda to wear the medals.
Defense Secretary William Perry called Admiral Boorda “a sailor’s sailor,” and said, “At every stage of his career he put the interests of sailors and their families first.”
Navy Secretary John Dalton said that Admiral Boorda was as outstanding leader and “he was loved by the people of the Navy, officer and enlisted alike.”
Army General John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, “The Navy has lost a great Captain. I and so many others who have served beside him have lost a great friend.”