Private Karl Jacob Sellner was the kind of son who lit up every room — a prankster, musician, and loyal friend with a heart for service. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Karl followed his grandfather’s footsteps into the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer. He trained hard, got married, and served proudly at Fort Riley, Kansas. But behind his smile were struggles with addiction, marital strain, and the weight of his own expectations.

Weeks away from an honorable discharge, under daily watch in the barracks, Karl died by suicide.

In this episode, his father Rad Sellner sits down with host Nick Letendre to share Karl’s story — the laughter, the love, and the loss that reshaped their family forever. Rad also opens up about his mission to bring a Gold Star Family Memorial Monument to Pittsburgh through the Woody Williams Foundation, giving families a sacred place to remember and be seen.

This is a story of resilience, grief, and purpose — a reminder that not all battles happen overseas, and not all heroes fall in war.

💛 Say Their Name: Private Karl Jacob Sellner

00:00 – Nick’s introduction & Gold Star Stories mission

00:47 – Remembering Private Karl Sellner

03:00 – Growing up in Pittsburgh

08:00 – The perfect storm: marriage, addiction, and pain

10:00 – The knock at the door

14:00 – How the family carried on

18:00 – Building the Gold Star Monument in Pittsburgh

25:00 – Life after loss: identity, healing, and awareness

38:45 – Remembering Karl’s laughter and love

Gold Star Stories is now fiscally sponsored by Veterans Collaborative, allowing your donations to be tax-deductible. Your support helps us continue recording, sharing, and preserving the legacies of fallen heroes and their families.

🎙️ Donate or learn more: GoldStarStoriesUSA.com

#GoldStarStories #SayTheirNames #GoldStarFamilies #RememberTheFallen #MentalHealthAwareness #VeteransSupport