Three purple hearts & Agent Orange – Vietnam vet faces challenges
WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO-WAWV) — Most combat veterans don't consider themselves heroes. That's the case for Tom Charters of west Terre Haute. He has three purple hearts, after surviving numerous battles in Vietnam, but it's the battle, he has fought since Vietnam, that has taken its toll.
It only takes a few minutes around Tom Charters and one realizes that he's fighter and a leader who is humble about his service in Vietnam.
The Terre Haute native was an outstanding athlete at Wiley High School. His wife met him at Wiley and she said he was respected at the school.
"He was a tough guy, but not to me, he was a good guy," said Mary Jean.
They married in 1965 and the following year he was drafted into the Army. Tom's physical and mental skills landed him in Officer Candidate School.
Eventually, he became a small arms instructor teaching Americans, the Israeli Mossad and other foreign nationals. What followed over the next 9 months, were one to two missions a week, often engaging the enemy. At that time, he says the average life span of an American soldier was 21 days. Grenades, mortars, small arms and hand to hand combat were commonplace. He saw the horrors of war. Through it all, the first lieutenant's number one goal was to protect his men, only losing one. And to this day, it weighs heavily on him.
"He was a Sgt. from Kentucky and the only reason he joined the military was he had five children and couldn't find a job, said Charters. He took five through the chest with a machine gun within two feet of me."
During his time in Vietnam He received three Purple Hearts for wounds over his left eye and left bicep. He also suffered leg injuries from a booby trap . He considers himself blessed to have survived which he credits to his training and his faith.
"I was safe and cautious with my people and their lives meant more to me than anything. It's like they say you never meet an atheist in a fox hole," said Charters.
For 30 years, he and Mary Jean built their lives and raised a family, but then the effects of the war hit Tom — hard.
Agent Orange was used in Vietnam to clear vegetation and Tom was exposed to the chemical. And it has changed his life. He has neurological issues, diabetes, cancer, and other challenges. And, at first, the military didn't really help. "We talked to other veterans on the internet and they all agreed, it was stall until you die," said Charters.
"They've given up a lot for everybody in their family for us for people who aren't family and they do it all the time," said daughter Shelly Cardinal.
It took years of legal efforts to get the government to pay for his injuries, but today he finally has full disability. Even though he spends most his time in wheelchair, Tom Charters stands proudly as an Army veteran who dearly loves this country and his family and friends.
"It seems like every year it takes another bite out of me. I ask God to give me another day and when I wake up I thank him. And my wife knows I sit on the side of the bed and pray for everybody I know sometimes I'm there a half hour, 45 minutes," said Charters.
One can certainly tell that Tom Charters is still trying to protect those around him. just like he did, when he was in Vietnam
