Heartbreaking story of an American solder who killed himself in front of wife after returning from an assignment

A decorated special forces soldier killed himself in front of his wife shortly after arriving home from a new job.

Master Sgt. Andrew Christian Marckesano returned to his home in Alexandria, Virginia on Monday having recently started a job at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

The 34-year-old had dinner with his family two days later before taking his own life.

Mst Marckesano had served six tours in Afghanistan and six others elsewhere overseas, earning him the US special force's distinct Green Beret.

The Silver Star recipient was the 30th member of the 2nd Battalion - 508th parachute infantry regiment to kill themselves.

The unit had the highest casualty rate of any during the Afghanistan war.

According to his friends Mst Marckesano had never recovered from a tour with the unit to Afghanistan's Arghandab Valley in 2009.

At the time the region, which was heavily patrolled by the Taliban, was considered the most dangerous on Earth.

Prior to his death the soldier had had dinner with his former battalion leader.

Mst Marckesano had three children and was still on active duty when he took his own life.

The dad had earlier urged his colleagues to reach out to him if they needed to, Fox News reported.

“Text me, I told you before my door is open... my phone is at hand," he appealed to them.

"We did things that people make movies about and in some cases, writers and producers wouldn’t even try to write our story... the rucksack is heavy... and when it gets heavy we [&$#*] help each other, but you have to reach out...

"Don’t let the Valley win.”

In the US 20 combat veterans take their lives each day.