Soldier’s mom: ‘He felt like he was broken’

Courtesy photo

Devin Schuette, 35, 'always did everything 100 percent,' said his mother, Karen Alexander.

Devin Schuette wanted a challenge.

That’s why he joined the Army as an infantryman in 1999 after graduating House High School.

“He loved his country and he loved the Army,” said his mother, Karen Alexander of Clovis.

“He was very proud to be in the military. He was very well respected and he was very respectful.”

Staff Sgt. Schuette’s life will be remembered Thursday when services are held at Fort Hood, Texas, where he was stationed when he died Jan. 3.

Officials said his body was found in a vehicle near the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area. The cause of his death has not been officially released, but Schuette’s mother said her son took his own life.

“He suffered from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder),” she said. “Just a lot of emotional and physical stress, and he just decided he couldn’t handle it anymore.”

Alexander said Schuette, 35, was home with family in Clovis during the Thanksgiving holiday, but showed no signs of any worries.

“He was happy, he was in a good mood. He always loved being around family,” she said.

Alexander said she knew about the PTSD, but never considered it a threat to his life.

“From what I saw, he just seemed to be nervous a lot,” she said.

An Army news release reported Schuette was deployed to Iraq three different times, between 2003 and 2009.

Alexander said Schuette chose to die at the lake because, “It was quiet ... pretty. He loved the outdoors.”

He left a note, she said, expressing love for his wife, their children, other family and for his country and the Army.

“But he felt like he was broken,” she said.

Schuette is survived by his wife, Tannie, and three children.

His brothers Justin Schuette and Kyle Schuette still live in Clovis, as does his sister Kayla Baker.

Alexander said memorial services will be held in Clovis in a few weeks.

She said she can’t see any good coming from her son’s death. “I’m sure there will be something, but I’m not there yet,” she said.

But she said there’s plenty to celebrate about his life.

“He always did everything 100 percent,” she said.

His list of awards and decorations, provided by Fort Hood officials, is a long one:

Five Army Commendation Medals, one Army Achievement Medal, five Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, four Overseas Service Ribbons, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge with Distinguished Service-Bronze Service Star and Parachutist Badge.