James Patrick SchuellerFirst LieutenantB BTY, 2ND BN, 17TH ARTY RGT, 1 CAV DIV Army of the United States 16 August 1942 - 17 June 1967 Marshfield, WI Panel 22E Line 002 |
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The database page for James Patrick Schueller
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"To live in the hearts we leave behind,
A memorial initiated by his cousin, |
Local Soldier Has 2 Jobs in VietnamA Marshfield soldier, who is serving in South Vietnam, has found something to keep himself busy where he is not fighting the Viet Cong.First Lt. James Schueller, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Schueller, Route 2, Marshfield, recently established a teaching program in the village of An Khe, which is located near Saigon. "During my spare time, I was able to set up a teaching program," he said in a letter to his parents. "I teach English to 46 seventh graders one hour a day. "When I am on an operation away from my base camp, there are several other soldiers willing to teach in my absence." Schueller wrote, "I have also taught them a few American sports and they have become very good softball players." "Helping the Vietnamese in my own little way makes this combat tour pass much quicker and definitely more interesting. By associating with the people, I have picked up a good part of the language which is most important in order to understand them." Schueller also reported that he has been invited by the village school director to attend some native banquets and rituals which he termed, "most exciting." He is a forward observer with B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 17th Artillery, 1st Cavalry. A 1960 Marshfield Senior High School graduate, Schueller attended Wisconsin State University at River Falls and Stevens Point before entering the service in April, 1964. He received his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, where he won two letters of recommendation - one for attaining the highest score of anyone in his battalion (991 men) on a physical test, and the other for being the leader of the squad which achieved the highest overall average of the battalion's 64 squads. The soldier received advanced individual training at Ft. Know, KY, and then returned to Ft. Leonard Wood where he was promoted to platoon sergeant while awaiting to go to officer's candidate school. After being commissioned a second lieutenant in September, 1965, Schueller volunteered for jump school and was, in turn, assigned as training officer in the basic training center at Ft. Benning, GA. Schueller arrived in Vietnam in July, 1966, and was promoted to his present rank in November, 1966. He will return home in July and expects to return to college in the fall. |
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1LT Schueller extented his tour of duty in Vietnam for 6 months. As was the policy at that time the U.S. government would fly you to any place in the world. LT Schueller chose Germany to see and visit with his grandparents whom he had never met. As the plane was taking off it crashed. We were told a LT that fit the discription of LT Schueller was thrown clear of the burning aircraft, a C-130, but he chose to return to the flaming airplane to help the survivors when the airplane explosed. The photo is of me (left) and LT Schueller (right), taken in April 1967. I have the utmost respect for Lieutenant Schueller. He was a great officer.
Bob Giselbach |
A note from The Virtual WallOn 17 June 1967 a C-130 of the 722nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 463rd TCW, Mactan AB Philippines, was making a scheduled "round robin" flight originating at and returning to Tan Son Nhut. The aircraft was to make seven stops within South Vietnam before returning to Tan Son Nhut. At An Khe the Hercules started its take off roll for the next leg to Qui Nhon. Just before the aircraft was about to lift off it suddenly veered to the left and departed the runway. The pilots steered the aircraft back on to the runway but it overshot the end, ran down an embankment and burst into flames. Of the 56 passengers and crew on board a total of 35 were killed, including US, South Vietnamese, and South Korean troops.QL 19, the major highway from Qui Nhon and Pleiku, runs through the An Khe Pass and (about 35 km west of An Khe) the Mang Yang Pass. The Mang Yang Pass was the scene in 1954 of the ambush which effectively destroyed the French Groupe Mobile 100; the opening scene of the movie "We Were Soldiers" depicts this battle. Firebase Schueller, just past the Mang Yang Pass, was named for 1LT James Schueller. |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/10/2009