Michael "Terry" Teren Riley

Michael T. Riley, 82, formerly of Lansing, Michigan, passed away peacefully after a long battle with PTSD and more recently, lung cancer. He was born June 27, 1944 to Herbert and Elaine (Ross) Riley. He was preceded in death by his parents.

He attended Lansing Sexton High School, graduating in 1963 and then Lansing Community College for his freshman year. He joined the United States Naval Reserve, attending training at both North Carolina and California.

He served two tours in Vietnam in the USN Construction Battalion. The CB's, in those days, served in the most dangerous battle sites, building bridges over remote waterways, subject to heavy sniper gunfire. There were typically no battle fronts in the Vietnam War. Upon the completion of his first tour, he volunteered for a second tour which lasted until near the end of the war. The only story he ever told of that second tour was, while deploying to a battle site by truck, awakening from unconsciousness due to an improved explosive device, finding the head of the driver in his lap. He never told any other story over the next fifty years, refusing to discuss any other incidents.

Michael was a survivor, having suffered several traumatic childhood incidents as a child prior to his Vietnam service. He suffered a ten-day coma as the result of a bicycle accident resulting in the loss of some mental capabilities. He witnessed the death of his dog on a major highway, then being brought home by a Michigan State Trooper. His closest friend then suddenly dropped dead at 21-the cause of which was never determined.

In spite of those traumas, he was the caregiver for our mother who was agoraphobic, having never left the house in over fifty years. During those ten years, he went completely "off the grid"-no driver's license, no I.D., no formal address, no possessions, no income. He never filed for social security or veteran's benefits until we became his caregivers. He remembered his social security number, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to collect his benefits.

During the time prior to becoming our mother's caregiver, he delivered handbills to the front porches of residents of some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For over thirty years he lived on minimum wage in a bordering house in the same city.

We believe that he survived a very difficult life by quiet determination accompanied by a degree of isolation. At the same time, he is a symbol of what is wrong with the benefits system. His total net income was $7,000 after being required to pay over $4,000 annually to Medicare because he didn't register at the appropriate time.

He was preceded in death by numerous cousins and is survived by a brother and sister-in-law.

At a later time, a private military honor service will be held. Donations can be made to the North Manchester American Legion, Post 286, 215 E Main St, North Manchester, IN 46962. Donations will also be matched from a private donor advised fund.

The family of Michael Teren "Terry" Riley has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.