James Willard F Schellin

Specialist Five
147TH ASHC, 307TH AVN BN, 164TH AVN GRP, 1 AVN BDE
Army of the United States
14 June 1948 - 15 November 1970
Sumter, South Carolina
Panel 06W Line 063

1 AVN BDE

147TH ASHC
James W. Schellin

Army Aircrew

Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for James Willard F Schellin

Veterans' Day 2003

The newspaper said,

"He was stationed at Can Tho, Vietnam, with the U. S. Army 147th Aviation Company (ASH) at the time of his death. Spec. 5 James W. F. Schellin, 22, died (on a Sunday) in the U.S. Army Hospital, Long Binh, Vietnam after a brief illness."

I don't know exactly when Jimmy died. Grandma sent me the clipping from the Sumter Daily Item minus the date of publication. I think I was slogging through my plebe year at the Citadel or shortly thereafter.

Jimmy and I used to race our old cars around the football stadium. He had a '50 Mercury and I had a '57 Ford. He usually won, but it was more his nerve over mine than horsepower. He had a bad habit of finding me napping at a traffic light and "nudging" the back of my car hard enough to loosen my teeth. I did find time to return the favor. In nice weather, he would ride his Pan Head Harley around town wearing a Prussian officer's helmet and a black leather jacket. He was a jovial, irreverent rogue. I considered it a great honor to be his friend, especially when I would hear the church ladies talking about him. He was incredibly bright, but either the best student in class or the worst, never in between. He was one of a very few that I called friend.

Rick Brice
rickbrice@yahoo.com

31 Jan 2005

Jim was a friend of mine during training at Fort Eustis and in Vietnam while in the 147th ASHC (the "Hillclimbers"). I had just rotated back to Can Tho as a Civilian Helicopter Mechanic in January 1971 and learned of his passing. I remember his stories of racing his motorcycle around the south.

You are missed, Jim!

From a friend,
Sp5 Melvin A. Miller 69-70
arctic_para@yahoo.com





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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 08/10/2009