Author Not Entitled to See Admiral’s Suicide Note to Wife

The U.S. Navy isn’t required to release an admiral’s suicide note to his wife under a Freedom of Information Act request, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit said July 19.

The note is exempt from disclosure because its release would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, the opinion said.

Admiral J.M. Boorda left the note to his wife in their home. It became part of the Navy’s file when it was found by naval investigators looking into his death.

Thomas Sikes, who is writing a book about the stresses of military officers, filed a FOIA request ...