Re: Carl Wadleigh - Restoring the Honor

Date: May 29, 2004

"Soldier's name to be added to memorial

By Ken Thorbourne Journal staff writer

The name of U.S. Army Specialist 4th Class Carl Wadleigh will be added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial rock at Pershing Field in Jersey City on Monday - continuing the restoration of a soldier's reputation.

Thirty-six years ago, Army officials branded Wadleigh, a former Jersey City resident, a deserter.

In 1989, however, equipped with more up-to-date methods of identifying remains, military officials realized they had confused Wadleigh's remains with those of another soldier 17 years earlier.

Prompted by the realization of this error, military officials learned that Wadleigh was killed in action in 1968. He was 21.

Military brass officially notified Wadleigh's siblings of their latest conclusions in February.

As part of a multi-pronged effort to make amends, Wadleigh's remains were laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia two weeks ago in a full military funeral with his siblings and extended family gathered at the graveside.

Earlier this month, Wadleigh's name was added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Wadleigh's six siblings have greeted the long overdue recognition of their brother's military service with mixed emotions.

On one hand, they now have a sense of closure, they say. On the other hand, some siblings still find it difficult to forgive the military for getting the story so wrong in the first place, especially since Wadleigh's parents died in the 1980s and had been given the strong impression that their son bolted in the heat of battle.

"We are glad it (the military funeral) happened," said Maryjane Kweselait, Wadleigh's oldest sister, who lives in Branchville. "It's given us closure. We are just sad our parents couldn't have lived to see it."

As the oldest sibling, Kweselait was presented the flag that adorned Wadleigh's coffin at the burial. She passed it along to Wadleigh's twin sister, Margaret Radlinger, who lives in Black Hawk, S.D.

"It's wonderful," Radlinger said of the recognition her brother has received. "It is a very emotional time. Myself, I broke down and cried a whole bunch (at the funeral). It was definitely a reality check that he is definitely gone."

Army officials also presented family members with several medals Wadleigh earned, including a Purple Heart.

The Pershing Field ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Wadleigh's will be the 65th name placed on the granite rock memorial, said David Cline, president of the Jersey City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee.

Clifford Wadleigh, a brother of Carl's and a Jersey City resident and security guard at City Hall, and Michelle Wadleigh, a sister who lives in Florham Park, will take part in the event, Cline said.

Carl Wadleigh grew up in North Bergen and lived for a time in Jersey City before he was drafted into the Army.

Sergio Lamboy, Jersey City's former fire director and a Vietnam veteran, is scheduled to speak, along with Ramon Aponte, a Marine who recently returned from Iraq.

Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham, who died on Tuesday, was scheduled to speak at this and two other Memorial Day events - the annual Polish War Veterans breakfast at 9 a.m. and the Sgt. Joseph Anthony Association ceremony, scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

Jaime Vazquez, director of veteran affairs for the city and a former sergeant in the Marine Corps, plans to take Cunningham's place.

"At this point in time it is my intention to continue with that schedule," said Vazquez. "The proclamations were prepared last week. They were the last proclamations the mayor prepared."

Maureen Micke, Wadleigh's third-oldest sibling, who lives in South Carolina, said she feels "great" about the recognition her brother is receiving, but still finds it hard to accept how the Army treated her brother and family.

"I didn't appreciate that at all," Micke said of the Army's refusal to search for her brother in Vietnam. "I am content at this point that he's been found and gotten what he's deserved."

©2004 The Jersey Journal"