First Name: Charles

Last Name: Knabel

Middle Initial: L

Date of Birth: 08/18/1942

Sex: Male

Martial Status: Married

Number of Children: Yes

Home Town: Kenosha, Wisconsin

Education Completed: Not Sure

Other Occupations:

Branch of  Service: Air Force

Highest Rank: Msgt

Serial Number: N/A

Platoon: N/A

Age at Start of Service: Over 21

Years of Service: 5 to 10

Combat Veteran: No

Time in Combat: Not Sure

Place of Combat: N/A

Awards:

Date of Suicide: 08/1998

Suicide Method: Gunshot to the head

Veteran’s Story: My father was a dedicated military man for 26 years. He served in Vietnam twice. After his second tour he was never the same. After he retired he started going down hill fast with the bottle in one hand and Vietnam in the other. Vietnam turned into the gun he shot himself with, while the bottle blinded him from what he was doing to himself, his family, and his friends. Doesn’t our government owe all the people who have been affected by this. Vietnam is a cancer. Cigarette companies are starting to have to pay the victims and their families. Why shouldn’t the U.S. Government have to pay for theirs?For my Father, Jeff Knabel

Submitted By: Jeff Knabel (Son)

Relationship to Veteran: Child