Veteran Profile: Antoine Wright, A Life of Faith and Service
When asked what he remembers about his time in the service, Antoine Wright’s first comment is, “Hurry up and wait!”
An Army veteran, Wright was drafted in 1953—close to the end of the Korean War—and left his home in Louisiana to serve with military law enforcement at Camp Stoneman (Pittsburg, California), and then Fort Ord (Monterey Bay). His last three years were spent at Fort Hood in Texas, by which time he had married and had children. Upon his discharge in 1962, he returned to his home state and went back to trawling for crab and shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico.
Wright is proud of the years he spent serving his country, which he considers a great honor, and says he has tried to enjoy life as much as he could through each experience. Married 66 years, he was blessed with four daughters and one son, but lost his two oldest children early. “God got us through,” he notes, and credits his devout faith and close family relationships with buoying him through the hard times.
Now 92 years old, Wright began care services through a local VetAssist partner agency, Abiding in the Vine, in February of 2024 after receiving his VA Aid and Attendance benefit. His daughter, Patrina, has been his caregiver for years and was the catalyst for pursuing Aid and Attendance. “If there’s anything I need or question I have to ask, I can call, and [VetAssist] will help me,” she adds.
As the fishing industry slowed on the Gulf, Wright took a new path that echoed his days in military police patrol, becoming a security guard at a home for retired nuns called Little Sisters of the Poor. He remained with the nuns until his retirement, shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit the area.
Her father also uses VetAssist Companion, which is installed in his living room and bedroom. Between professional care services and VetAssist Companion, Wright continues to be able to live comfortably and safely in his own home, with Patrina getting much-needed respite and peace of mind.
We celebrate heroes like Antoine Wright who have served our country with faithfulness and character, and we exist to help them and their families access much-needed services through the VA Aid and Attendance benefit. For more information, chat with us via our website, or call us at (888) 314-6075.
