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Death Row Vet

By VVAW

Wayne Felde, Vietnam veteran, remains on death row in prison in Angola, La. His world after Vietnam, and the other world that the rest of his society lives in, did not fit; as with other vets diagnosed as suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, Felde could not ever quite rejoin the society which had sent him to Vietnam. As often has happened, when that society could not deal with Felde, it sent him away to prison.

Regardless of the problems that resulted in his going to prison, however, Felde did not passively accept the court's decisions. He has fought every step of the way and, with a group of dedicated supporters, carries on that fight still today.

The following information is quoted from a letter to the editor by several of Felde's supporters, with additional information from other members of the Wayne Felde Defense Committee.

Wayne Felde is a victim both of PTSD and of Agent Orange poisoning who is sentenced to die in the Louisiana and electric chair.

Wayne was charged with first degree murder of a Shreveport police officer who died during a struggle in which the policeman was attempting to stop Wayne from shooting himself. Nationally recognized psychiatrists and psychologists testified at the trial that, because of his illness, Wayne was not in his right mind and had no criminal intent at the time of the incident. Although the prosecutor dismissed these doctors as "quacks," one of them, Dr. Charles Figley, was called upon by the President to aid the returning Iranian hostages because of his skill and expertise in dealing with PTSD.

After a stressful trial which lasted several weeks, the jury found Wayne "guilty," making the inexplicable comment that they believed he was suffering from PTSD but did not have it at the time of the crime.

Wayne was shot extensively by police, spending almost four months in the hospital for the wounds he received, losing some major organs and parts of other as well as crippling his right leg permanently. Badly crippled as a result of police shooting and ill treatment, and living in mental hell, Wayne could not face life in prison. When the jury found him guilty as charged, he asked for death rather than a life sentence.

But Wayne does not want to die. What he wants is justice—recognition that he is a casualty of war and treatment to cure his illness. Wayne is not fighting only for his life but for justice for all Vietnam veterans who have suffered as he without treatment.

Wayne is a symbol of the lack of justice and compassion in our society, our tendency to ignore our problems instead of solving them. We tried to forget the war and, in doing so, we forgot those who went to kill and be killed. We left them to wander our streets as walking time bombs with no understanding of what was wrong with them. We owe it to Wayne and to all veterans in similar trouble, and to ourselves, to try and restore the human belongings we've maimed.

In a long and angry letter to President Reagan, Felde outlined his grievances with the government, especially the VA. In April Felde said he had begun a fast that would last until there was some action or until his death. He survived without food or nourishment for 57 days. His letter to the White House was, of course, totally ignored.

However, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) picked up his case and pledged complete support if he would end his fast. His defense now goes forward with the DAV in his corner, and he is regaining lost strength.

Wayne would appreciate any and all letters of support, especially from other veterans. Send them to Wayne Felde, #100237, D.R., Angola, LA 70712. For more information or to contribute money, contact the Wayne Felde Defense Committee, P.O. Box 3, Grand Cane, LA 71032.