Robert William Schultz
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

Robert William Schultz was born on 15 July 1944, the son of William O. and Loretta E. Steines Schultz. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 31 May 1962 in Iowa.

On 31 January 1968, Staff Sergeant Robert William Schultz was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SSG Schultz was squad leader of a mechanized infantry platoon on a combat mission in the village of Ho Nai. His squad and other members of the platoon became isolated and encircled by a numerically-superior force firing recoilless rifles, machine guns, and automatic weapons. The troops on the ground were pinned down by the fusillade and SSG Schultz' armored personnel carrier was forced to halt. To relive the pressure on his comrades he jumped from the vehicle and assaulted an enemy machine gun nest, single-handedly destroying it and killing its occupants. Although seriously wounded, he unleashed another personal attack on a 2nd machine gun position. Hurling grenades as he charged through the hostile fire, SSG Schultz killed the entire gun crew but was mortally wounded while doing so. SSG Schultz' courageous actions and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Robert William Schultz (ASN: RA-17636005), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Staff Sergeant Schultz distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as squad leader of a mechanized infantry platoon on a combat mission in the village of Ho Nai. His squad and other members of the platoon became isolated and encircled by a numerically superior force firing recoilless rifles, machine guns, and automatic weapons. The troops on the ground were immediately pinned down by the savage fusillade and Sergeant Schultz' armored personnel carrier was forced to halt. To relive the pressure on his comrades he leaped from the vehicle and assaulted an enemy machine gun nest, single-handedly destroying it and its occupants. Although seriously wounded, he again disregarded his safety and unleashed another personal attack on a second machine gun position. Hurling grenades as he charged through a curtain of hostile fire, Sergeant Schultz killed the entire gun crew. He was mortally wounded while gallantly defending his fellow soldiers in the heat of battle. Staff Sergeant Schultz' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1599 (April 9, 1968)

Honors

The name Robert W Schultz is located on Panel 36E Line 34 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Staff Sergeant Robert William Schultz is buried at Saint Marys Cemetery in Clinton, Clinton County, IA.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=104269243