Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 91B – Medical Specialist
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Medical Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Medic attached to L Troop, 3/11 ACR
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 29-Aug-1948
Hometown: St Paul, Minnesota
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 18-Mar-1968
Start of tour: 16-Dec-1968
Incident date: 25-Nov-1969
Date of casualty: 25-Nov-1969
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Roger Bernard Schaefer was killed while a passenger on a military vehicle on a military mission when a hostile force was encountered. / Passenger on Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Three Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
PFC Edward James Cormier
SSG Robert John Nadeau
SP4 Roger Bernard Schaefer
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 543 842
Place of interment: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR ROGER BERNARD SCHAEFER
9 JUNE 1969
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Roger Bernard Schaefer distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 9 June 1969 while serving as a medic with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop L was on a reconnaissance mission with Vietnamese infantry elements when they suddenly came under a cross fire from enemy small arms and rocket launchers, wounding several friendly troops. Specialist Schaefer leaped from his vehicle and began administering aid to the casualties. When an assault vehicle was hit by a rocket propelled grenade, he mounted the vehicle and administered aid to the wounded. Despite the danger of explosion he drove it to a landing zone from which the casualties could be evacuated. He then returned to the contact area and continued to treat the wounded until the enemy force had been defeated. Specialist Four Schaefer’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 4801 (19 December 1969)