First Name: Gladney “Wayne”
Last Name: Carter
Middle Initial:
Date of Birth: 04/28/1947
Sex: Male
Martial Status: Not Sure
Number of Children: Yes
Home Town: Doyline, Louisiana
Education Completed: Not Sure
Other Occupations:
Branch of Service: Army
Highest Rank: SP5
Serial Number: N/A
Platoon: N/A
Age at Start of Service: 20
Years of Service: 2
Combat Veteran: Yes
Time in Combat: Not Sure
Place of Combat: N/A
Awards:
Date of Suicide: 01/1999
Suicide Method: gunshot wound to chest
Veteran’s Story: My father’s story is probably like many others. He tried the best he could to forget everything about Vietnam but the reality of it was that he never would. He did the best he could, but had several spells of depression. He got married right after Vietnam and had three children. It was very hard for my father to show emotion – he had been taught to hold it all in. He went to the VA Hospital for help but the answer always seemed to be prescribing narcotics. He cried out for help by checking himself into the hospital after taking an overdose. Believe it or not he was still prescribed the same narcotics. My father lost his battle with depression and committed suicide on New Years Day, 1999. My father was so very loved and will forever be missed. He is and always will be our HERO. After my Dad’s death I wrote these poems in his memory: On January 1, 1968 the Country took a young man,and sent him far away. They called it Vietnam where he would spend a year fighting for our freedom, Never shedding a tear. So full of pride, but also so confused. Our Country had betrayed him, he was being used. There was no support, Americans only turned away. There’d be no yellow ribbons, there’d be no brighter day. Soldiers were not honored, they were only treated bad. They had risk their lives, they’d given all they had. They would finally make it home, to find more heartache and pain. The US Gov’t and public should only be ashamed. This man did his best to go on with his life. Never forgetting one single Vietnam night. He told stories of being haunted, by soldiers he once knew. Seeing the sadness in his eyes, I knew it was true. Exactly 31 years later there was no fight left inside. This soldier took his life, but not without pride. Some may think that was wrong, but it’s what he had to do, He had suffered long enough, his time on earth was through. He had told his story, how war changed an innocent lad. America should have called him a hero, I called him DAD.
Submitted By: Daphne Jones
Relationship to Veteran: Child
