On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin made history as one of the first humans to walk on the moon, a defining achievement in human history. However, this monumental moment also brought challenges for Aldrin as he struggled to adjust to life back on Earth, leading him down a difficult path.
In the aftermath of the Apollo 11 mission, Aldrin’s 21-year marriage ended, and he faced battles with depression and alcohol addiction. Fortunately, in 1978, he overcame his struggles with alcohol and has maintained his sobriety ever since.
Reflecting on his journey, Aldrin stated, “I have many frailties and shortcomings, but I am now a far more productive person than I ever was at the peak of my astronaut career.”
Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. was born on January 20, 1930, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He earned the nickname “Buzz” at a young age, which he later made his legal name.
In school, Aldrin excelled academically with an A average while also playing football and serving as the starting center for his high school’s state championship basketball team. He later attended a military preparatory academy before enrolling in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1947.
Aldrin graduated third in his class with a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and chose to join the newly established United States Air Force.
In 1952, Aldrin was stationed in Seoul, South Korea, where he flew 66 combat missions during the Korean War, earning two aerial victories. For his service, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Air Medals.
After the war ended in 1953, Aldrin became an aerial gunnery instructor and completed the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
He later returned to school to pursue further education, enrolling in the Air Force Institute of Technology and becoming a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1959. Aldrin earned a Doctorate of Science degree in astronautics in 1963.
Although his first application to NASA’s astronaut program was rejected due to not being a test pilot, Aldrin was selected in 1963 as one of fourteen members of NASA’s Astronaut Group 3.
Aldrin’s most renowned mission was part of the Apollo Program. On July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first two humans to walk on the moon. The event was witnessed by an estimated 600 million people worldwide via television.
“The magnificence of our achievement for humanity was that we were there. But when I looked around, I saw the most desolate sight imaginable. No oxygen, no life, just the lunar surface that hasn’t changed for thousands of years—and the blackness of the sky. It was the most desolate thing I could ever think of.”
After his return from the moon, Aldrin was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
However, Aldrin faced significant personal struggles after his historic mission, particularly with depression and alcoholism. These issues may have stemmed, in part, from his difficulty finding a new sense of purpose following his remarkable achievement. He reflects on this in his book Magnificent Desolation.
“I wanted to resume my duties, but there were no duties to resume. There was no goal, no sense of calling, no project worth pouring myself into.”
This lack of direction contributed to his physical and mental health challenges, which he has openly discussed.
“It’s inherited, in my case. My grandfather committed suicide… My mother committed suicide. Not because they had the same name, but because their genes were similar. And I think I got some of that.”
The death of Aldrin’s mother was a profound personal loss. Marion Moon Aldrin, his mother, tragically took her own life shortly before his lunar mission, as she felt she couldn’t cope with her son’s impending fame. This tragedy may have played a role in the challenges Aldrin faced upon returning to Earth.
“My mother had been unsettled by my celebrity status after my first space flight with Gemini 12 a few years earlier. And my older sister and I both came to the conclusion that perhaps that, along with other things, caused her to take her life.”
In addition to his battles with depression and alcoholism, Aldrin also faced personal challenges in his marriages. Shortly after his return from the moon, his 21-year marriage ended in divorce. He remarried soon after, but that marriage also ended in divorce.
Aldrin’s life began to spiral. Less than a decade after the moon landing and just a few years after being celebrated as a hero and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he found himself working at a Cadillac dealership.
His struggles reached a breaking point one night when he drunkenly broke down the door of his girlfriend’s apartment.
“When you’ve seen your family break up, then you get into an erroneous relationship, and you get married again, and that turns sour, then you’re looking for some companionship, and that gets kinda complex… you really get kinda frustrated. And, if you’re still drinking, you make some pretty dumb decisions.”
This moment led Aldrin to seek help, and he ultimately regained control of his life.
In 1978, Aldrin stopped drinking and has remained sober ever since.
“I began to think it was a genetic, inherited tendency. That brought me to consuming alcohol more and more and, of course, you can’t straighten out something in your head unless you have a clear mind. You have to deal with obtaining sobriety first before dealing with other situations that are disturbing you. Today, I have 37 years of sobriety.”
Next Steps
While Buzz Aldrin is one of the few individuals in human history to set foot on the moon, his story is relatable to many. Like others who have struggled with depression and alcoholism, Aldrin overcame his challenges. If you or someone you know is dealing with alcoholism or substance abuse, help is available.
One option is visiting Sunrise Recovery, which offers personalized treatment programs like medical detox. To learn more, contact our admissions team for our alcohol rehab center in Indiana today.
