Early Wednesday morning, WNPR learned of the tragic death of 31-year-old Justin Eldridge of Waterford. He was a Marine who served 8.5 years in the military including a deployment to Afghanistan.
"Even after he returned home from Afghanistan, Justin had a long fight ahead of him."
Senator Richard Blumenthal
After he returned home, friends say Eldridge struggled with post traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. On Tuesday, police were called to his home where they found him dead from a self inflicted gun shot. He leaves behind a wife and four children.
Joanna Gallup Eldridge spoke about his struggles in a Patch article this summer. She helped raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Eldridge formed the Marine Corps League Detachment in southeastern Connecticut and served as Commandant. Friend, Jim Reid, says U.S Senator Richard Blumenthal was a member of the detachment. Blumenthal was also a friend of Eldridge. He spoke about him on the Senate Floor Wednesday.
