Lt. Colonel Darwin L. Schuett
Colonel Schuett was born 26 November, 1928 in Primghar, Iowa graduating from Hartley High School in 1946 Colonel Schuett's
initial military service was in the Iowa State Guard which he joined in 1944 while attending Sheldon High School. The Iowa State
Guard was organized after the National Guard was mobilized for service in World War II. Colonel Schuett left the Iowa Guard
due to his family moving to Hartley, IA in the fall of 1945.
Colonel Schuett enlisted in the US Army in June of 1947, taking his basic training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Upon graduation from
basic training he volunteered for parachutte/glider school at Ft. Benning, GA graduating in November of 1947.
The following is a list of Colonel Schuett's duty assignments for the next 24 years. As you will see, as the saying goes, "He has
been across the pond and danced with the elephant."
* 1948 to 1949 Recon pilot 11th. Airborne Division, Sapporo, Japan.
* 1949 to 1950, Support Co. 187th. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th. Airborne Division, Camp Campbell, KY
* Sept. 1950 to Sept. 1951 served with the 187th. Airborne Regimental Combat Team participating in combat from the Inchon
landing to the Inje spearhead through the summer of 1951. His final duty during this period was platoon Sgt. of the M24
tank/anti tank platoon.
* Sept.,1951 to Nov., 1952 Supply Sgt. Replacement Co. 11th. Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, KY
* Nov., 1952 to May, 1953 Infantry Officer Candidate School, Ft. Benning GA graduating as a 2nd. Lieutenant.
* June, 1953 to Dec., 1954 Recon platoon leader, Recon Co. 82nd. Airborne Division, Fort Bragg NC. During this tour of duty
the Colonel earned his "Master Parachutist" rating.
* Jan., 1955 attended flight school, Gary Air Force Base, San Marcos, Texas graduating in May of 1954.
* June through August of 1954, he attended advanced flight training at Fort Buckner, Alabama graduating as a fixed wing
aviator.
* Oct., through the summer of 1958 the Colonel served in Germany with three different units. The 22nd. Infantry Regiment, 4th.
Infamy Division as a pilot. 290th. Armored Field Artillery as a pilot and motor officer. Next he served with the VII US Army Corps
as a single/multi engine aircraft pilot.
* Aug., 1958 to May 1959, Officer Advanced Course, Fort Benning GA, May of 1959 to July, attended and graduated Rotary
Wing flight school, Fort Wolter, Texas.
* July, 1959 to Sept., 1960 was Base Operations Officer, Lawson Army Airfield, Ft. Benning GA and was promoted Captain
during this tour of duty.
* Oct., 1960 to Dec., 1961 was Company Commander and acting Executive Officer of the 158th. Armored Rifle Battalion, Ft.
Benning GA.
* January to May attended Command & General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
* August, 1962 to July, 1964 Fixed and Rotary Wing pilot and aviation advisor, US Army Military Advisory Group , Peoples
Republic of China, Taipei, Taiwan.
* August, 1964 to Oct., 1965 Aviation Staff Officer Operations and Training, 5th. Army Headquarters Ft. Sheridan, IL. The
Colonel was promoted to Major during this tour of duty.
* October, 1965 to December, 162nd. Assault Helicopter Co., Phouc Vihn, South Vietnam as a "slick driver." Dangerous job,
my comment and not Colonel Schuett's.
* July to October 1966, Assistant S-3 (Operations) 1st. Aviation Brigade, Saigon, South Vietnam.
* October, 1966 to October, 1968, Ft. Sheridan, IL again as S-3 (Operations) 5th. Army Headquarters. During this tour of duty
Schuett was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
* In November, 1968 the Colonel was assigned as an Infantry and Aviation Advisor with the Iowa Army national Guard here in
Boone, IA.
Colonel Schuett retired in February, 1971 with 24 years service to our country. It is our good fortune he and his wife Elsie
choose to remain in Boone. He is an active member of Post 817 and American Legion Post 56 in Boone. He is a charter
member of our "Greatest Generation."
Some of the awards that Colonel Schuett earned include the Combat Infantry Badge 2nd. Award, Master Parachutist Badge,
Master Army Aviator Badge, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Soldiers Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Korean Service
Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, and Vietnam
Gallantry Cross with Palm Leaf Citation.
With Greatest Respect,
Pete Jones, Commander VFW Post 817
PS. I know it is hard to believe, but the Colonel was also awarded a Good Conduct Medal. This was before he became an
"officer and a gentleman."
initial military service was in the Iowa State Guard which he joined in 1944 while attending Sheldon High School. The Iowa State
Guard was organized after the National Guard was mobilized for service in World War II. Colonel Schuett left the Iowa Guard
due to his family moving to Hartley, IA in the fall of 1945.
Colonel Schuett enlisted in the US Army in June of 1947, taking his basic training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Upon graduation from
basic training he volunteered for parachutte/glider school at Ft. Benning, GA graduating in November of 1947.
The following is a list of Colonel Schuett's duty assignments for the next 24 years. As you will see, as the saying goes, "He has
been across the pond and danced with the elephant."
* 1948 to 1949 Recon pilot 11th. Airborne Division, Sapporo, Japan.
* 1949 to 1950, Support Co. 187th. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th. Airborne Division, Camp Campbell, KY
* Sept. 1950 to Sept. 1951 served with the 187th. Airborne Regimental Combat Team participating in combat from the Inchon
landing to the Inje spearhead through the summer of 1951. His final duty during this period was platoon Sgt. of the M24
tank/anti tank platoon.
* Sept.,1951 to Nov., 1952 Supply Sgt. Replacement Co. 11th. Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, KY
* Nov., 1952 to May, 1953 Infantry Officer Candidate School, Ft. Benning GA graduating as a 2nd. Lieutenant.
* June, 1953 to Dec., 1954 Recon platoon leader, Recon Co. 82nd. Airborne Division, Fort Bragg NC. During this tour of duty
the Colonel earned his "Master Parachutist" rating.
* Jan., 1955 attended flight school, Gary Air Force Base, San Marcos, Texas graduating in May of 1954.
* June through August of 1954, he attended advanced flight training at Fort Buckner, Alabama graduating as a fixed wing
aviator.
* Oct., through the summer of 1958 the Colonel served in Germany with three different units. The 22nd. Infantry Regiment, 4th.
Infamy Division as a pilot. 290th. Armored Field Artillery as a pilot and motor officer. Next he served with the VII US Army Corps
as a single/multi engine aircraft pilot.
* Aug., 1958 to May 1959, Officer Advanced Course, Fort Benning GA, May of 1959 to July, attended and graduated Rotary
Wing flight school, Fort Wolter, Texas.
* July, 1959 to Sept., 1960 was Base Operations Officer, Lawson Army Airfield, Ft. Benning GA and was promoted Captain
during this tour of duty.
* Oct., 1960 to Dec., 1961 was Company Commander and acting Executive Officer of the 158th. Armored Rifle Battalion, Ft.
Benning GA.
* January to May attended Command & General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
* August, 1962 to July, 1964 Fixed and Rotary Wing pilot and aviation advisor, US Army Military Advisory Group , Peoples
Republic of China, Taipei, Taiwan.
* August, 1964 to Oct., 1965 Aviation Staff Officer Operations and Training, 5th. Army Headquarters Ft. Sheridan, IL. The
Colonel was promoted to Major during this tour of duty.
* October, 1965 to December, 162nd. Assault Helicopter Co., Phouc Vihn, South Vietnam as a "slick driver." Dangerous job,
my comment and not Colonel Schuett's.
* July to October 1966, Assistant S-3 (Operations) 1st. Aviation Brigade, Saigon, South Vietnam.
* October, 1966 to October, 1968, Ft. Sheridan, IL again as S-3 (Operations) 5th. Army Headquarters. During this tour of duty
Schuett was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
* In November, 1968 the Colonel was assigned as an Infantry and Aviation Advisor with the Iowa Army national Guard here in
Boone, IA.
Colonel Schuett retired in February, 1971 with 24 years service to our country. It is our good fortune he and his wife Elsie
choose to remain in Boone. He is an active member of Post 817 and American Legion Post 56 in Boone. He is a charter
member of our "Greatest Generation."
Some of the awards that Colonel Schuett earned include the Combat Infantry Badge 2nd. Award, Master Parachutist Badge,
Master Army Aviator Badge, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Soldiers Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Korean Service
Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, and Vietnam
Gallantry Cross with Palm Leaf Citation.
With Greatest Respect,
Pete Jones, Commander VFW Post 817
PS. I know it is hard to believe, but the Colonel was also awarded a Good Conduct Medal. This was before he became an
"officer and a gentleman."
It is with the deepest regret that
Lt. Colonel Darwin L. Schuett
passed away. He was buried on
1/2/2010 with full military honors.
Lt. Colonel Darwin L. Schuett
passed away. He was buried on
1/2/2010 with full military honors.
