Army Capt. Joseph W Schultz

Remember Our Heroes

Army Capt. Joseph W Schultz, 36, of Port Angeles, Wash.

Capt. Schultz was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died May 29, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Martin R. Apolinar and Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo.

Capt Schultz was traveling in a vehicle when he was killed. He had previously served two tours in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan.

Capt. Schultz grew up in Sacramento, CA, but home was listed as Port Angeles, WA, where his mother lives.

Capt Schultz graduated from El camino High School in 1993 where he played football and rugby. He was known for his leadership ability and steadfast friendship.

After high school, Schultz graduated from the University of Oregon and then returned to Sacramento. He participated in a political campaign before working for Gov. Gray Davis. He later made the transition to the U.S. State Department, where he was assigned to the Middle East desk. After that, he lived on a kibbutz in Israel.

Longtime friend, Jim DeBoo, said, "He died doing exactly what he wanted to do, which was be in Afghanistan, be a commanding officer and fight terrorism."

"We both had single parents, we had no siblings," DeBoo said. "We were the closest thing we had to brothers."

Classmate, Lisa Gonzales, anchor and reporter for Channel 13 (KOVR), stated Schultz was an amazing person and a leader. "He was fun to be around, serious when he needed to be serious." She said Schultz was designed for greatness and had once thought he would become a politician.

"Then, when he worked for Gray Davis, I thought one day we would be voting for Joe Schultz for governor," Gonzales said. "Then he took this drastic turn after 9/11 and enlisted in the military. That also did not surprise us because he was such a standout leader."

Capt Schultz received his commission as an intelligence officer in 2003. His first assignement was to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82ng Airborne Division at Ft Bragg.

After earning his green beret, he was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group.

Capt Schultz's awards and decorations include:

Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Army Accommendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Overseas Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Combat Infrantryman Badge
Parachutists Badge
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab

Capt Schultz will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Army Capt. Joseph W Schultz was killed in action on 5/29/11.