Wounded anti-Iraq War veteran Tomas Young dies at 34

(CNN) -- Shortly after the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War, paralyzed veteran Tomas Young spoke with me about why he intended to end his life.

He didn't know what people would say about him after he was gone. All he wanted, really, was to be remembered as a nice guy.

He spoke with me by phone as a pump at his side helped him inject painkillers. His speech was so distorted that I had difficulty understanding him. He sent me photos showing how long and thick his hair and beard had grown. He said he seldom left his bed and that he popped a dizzying assortment of more than 30 different pills every day.

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