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William D. Wenger left for the Marine Corps
in June 1967, just after graduating from
Admiral King High School in Lorain, Ohio. In
November of that year, he left for Vietnam,
where he spent 2½ years in brutal combat,
including the Battle of Khe Sahn, the
bloodiest of the Vietnam War. In April 1970,
he received an Honorable Discharge from the
U.S. Marine Corps and tried to return to
leading a normal life.
William graduated from Lorain Community
College in 1973 and went on to graduate from
Heidelberg College in 1975. He taught high
school for a year before taking over the
education program at a local juvenile
detention center. His career in social work
continued as he was appointed to a state
position with the Ohio Youth Commission.
In 1980 he moved from Ohio to Florida,
taking a position with a publishing systems
company. During the next 33 years he worked
his way up the executive ladder. William
used alcohol and his career focus to avoid
dealing with the unresolved issues from his
years in Vietnam. The result was 3 failed
marriages and a personal life that wavered
with varying degrees of instability.
Following the 9/11 attacks, William’s life
took a yet another volatile turn. His career
no longer enabled him to avoid dealing with
his unresolved issues. Following a chance
meeting with a fellow marine and Vietnam
vet, he sought assistance from Veterans
Administration. With the help of the VA, he
was finally able to find the courage to tell
the story of his experiences in Vietnam and
the subsequent 40-year struggle with post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The writing of this story has been a healing
process that has helped him to again live a
fuller life. In return, he hopes that
sharing his story will encourage young war
vets and their families to seek the help
they need. |
