22 January 2024 , 08:18
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Tributes have been paid to a US Army soldier who tragically died by suicide just days after her daughter's 12th birthday.
Staff Sergeant Michelle Young, 34, served two tours in Afghanistan and was a much-loved fitness and fashion Instagram influencer in her spare time, according to her friends. The mum-of-one, who had served in the army for 16 years, had just shared a post celebrating her daughter Gracie's 12th birthday to her 100,000 followers days earlier.
"Happy birthday to the sweetest girl I’ve ever known,' Young wrote. "She’s a force to be reckoned with, she’s witty, ambitious, kind, compassionate, intelligent, hardworking, hilarious, and selfless. "'I cried the entire time I made this. I love you forever, kiddo. The best part about my life is being your momma."
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Michelle had been in the army since 17 (Michelle Young/Instagram)
Michelle Young served two tours in Afghanistan (Michelle Young/Instagram)“Michelle was a beautiful soul, an amazing friend, a single mother, a soldier, and is proof you never know what someone is going through or what demons they may be fighting", her friend Sarah Maine wrote on her GoFundMe Page. "We will never fill the gaps in our hearts and will always be left with questions."
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Young, from Arizona, joined the Army at 17 years old and returned from her first deployment seven years later. "I was in the military before I became a mother,' the 34-year-old wrote on Instagram. "I volunteered for this life, she didn’t. She’s had to be away from her only parent during multiple deployments, TDYs, and training, yet she never complains." It remains unclear what led to the soldier's suicide.
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A GoFundMe has been set-up for her daughter (Michelle Young/Instagram)
The mum had just celebrated her daughter's 12th birthday (Michelle Young/Instagram)The fitness fanatic shared a series of photos in October of her and Gracie dressed up as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. In her free time, she worked as a crisis and trauma response volunteer while also volunteering at a local women's and children's homeless shelter.
In September, Michelle shared a post saying that her passion for service was due to her own brother's tragic suicide. when she was 14-years-old. She encouraged anybody struggling to reach out and talk. "That day forever changed my life, but it also created a passion for helping others that I don’t think I would have had if I didn’t experience the pain of losing him," Young explained.
Friend Sarah wrote on the GoFundMe Page, which has raised nearly $25,000 (£22,00) and will go to her daughter: “From the outside looking in it looked like she had it all. Mental illness is so prevalent, especially in the military. We need to find a way to do better.”
"Michelle was always so kind to me. We talked often about our daughters and how similar they are,' friend Brianna Hasan wrote. "I know she loved Gracie more than anything. I cannot believe this happened."
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