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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