First Name: David
Last Name: Gayken
Middle Initial: C
Date of Birth: 10/08/1951
Sex: Male
Martial Status: Separated
Number of Children: Not Sure
Home Town: Baltic, SD
Education Completed: Not Sure
Other Occupations:
Branch of Service: Army
Highest Rank: Private
Serial Number: N/A
Platoon: N/A
Age at Start of Service: Over 21
Years of Service: 2
Combat Veteran: Yes
Time in Combat: Not Sure
Place of Combat: N/A
Awards:
Date of Suicide: 10/1997
Suicide Method: gunshot to left temple
Veteran’s Story: My brother struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder for years after the Vietnam war. He never talked much about his days in Nam, but the haunting details were inside him. He was a happy, humorous, go-lucky man. We love him and miss him. We are still waiting for the brass plate (from the government) to place on his stone 5 months after we buried him. Isn’t it ironic? That they are so quick to send our young men to battle, but so slow to offer a plaque for his grave.
Submitted By: Nanci Donaldson
Relationship to Veteran: Sibling
