Joseph W. Schultz – Captain, United States Army

by

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 462-11

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died May 29, 2011, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Killed were:

Captain Joseph W. Schultz, 36, of Port Angeles, Washington
Staff Sergeant Martin R. Apolinar, 28, of Glendale, Arizona
Sergeant Aaron J. Blasjo, 25, of Riverside, California

A Green Beret who grew up in Sacramento and was known for his leadership ability and steadfast friendship has died from a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan while on patrol.

Captain Joseph W. Schultz, 36, was traveling in a vehicle in Wardak province on Sunday when he was killed. He had served two tours in Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan.

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“He died doing exactly what he wanted to do, which was be in Afghanistan, be a commanding officer and fight terrorism,” said longtime friend Jim DeBoo of Sacramento.

Two other soldiers died with Schultz: Staff Sergeant Martin R. Apolinar, 28, of Glendale, Arizona, and Sergeant Aaron J. Blasjo, 25, of Riverside. They were all assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Captain Joseph W. Schultz died May 29, 2011 while on a mounted patrol when the vehicle he and his Special Forces team were traveling in struck an IED in the Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was born March 20, 1975 and grew up in Sacramento, California. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1997 and received his commission as an intelligence officer from Officer Candidate School in 2003.

His first assignment was to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He then served as the assistant battalion intelligence officer and as a rifle platoon leader in Company A, 1-504 PIR. Upon completion of his tour with the 1-504 PIR, he then went on to serve as the counterintelligence/human intelligence operations manager for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; and later as the G-2 advisor, 10th Iraqi Army Division.

After completing Special Forces Selection and Assessment, he graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolinsa. Upon raduation and receiving his green beret, Schultz was assigned to Co. C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he served as the Detachment Commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment –Alpha 3333.

Schultz deployed in support of various operations across the globe, including: Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq and this deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with Company C.

His military education includes: the Military Intelligence Officer Course, Infantry Captain Career Course, Defense Strategic Debriefer Course, Airborne School, Ranger School, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Schultz’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Army Commendation 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 Infantryman Badge and Parachutists Badge. He also wore the Special Forces Tab and the Ranger Tab.

He is survived by wife Kelly; and his mother Betsy Reed Schultz of Port Angeles, Washington.

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