First Name: Wallace
Last Name: Schmidt
Middle Initial: R
Date of Birth: 11/18/1948
Sex: Male
Martial Status: Never Married
Number of Children: 0
Home Town: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Education Completed: High School
Other Occupations:
Branch of Service: Marines
Highest Rank: PFC
Serial Number: 2385350
Platoon: 2nd bn, 4th Mar, Fox
Age at Start of Service: 18
Years of Service: less than 1
Combat Veteran: Yes
Time in Combat: less than 1
Place of Combat: Vietnam
Awards:
Date of Suicide: 11/1972
Suicide Method: Hanging
Veteran’s Story: My brothers story is told in a book called Twins Platoon. He was never able to get over the extreme combat duty he went though during the Tet Offense, Battle of Dai Do, Lam Xuan East. He went to the VA Hospital for help, but quit going to his therpy group when he was told he had a personalty disorder and was not participating. At that time they did not know what PTSD was. Wallace (Skip) was honorably discharged after his gun was shot out of his hand leaving a hole in his hand and a finger missing. When he got out and was home, he was spit at and called names for being a Vietnam Vet. Skip’s nightmare never went away. He told me 2 weeks before he died that “It’s not possible to live like this” And for the record, Skip did not drink, smoke, nor take drugs.
Submitted By: Diane Finnemann
Relationship to Veteran: Sibling
