Rank: Staff Sergeant
Unit: K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Operation Akron
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 29-Sep-1945
Hometown: Buffalo, Minnesota
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1966
Incident date: 19-Jun-1967
Date of casualty: 19-Jun-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Wayne Thomas Schumacher was on combat operation when unit engaged hostile force in firefight.
Ten Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Raymond Desmond Crowder Jr
SP4 William Jerry Dillon
PFC Edward Lee Fails Jr
SP4 Russell Louis Filiberti
SP4 Blaine Wilson Landers
PFC Bobby Louis Murphy
PFC Charles Howard Richards Jr
SSG Wayne Thomas Schumacher
SP5 William Norman Scott
PFC Leonard Vito Tedesco
Location of fatality: Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam, Slope 30
Place of interment: Lakeview Cemetery, Buffalo, Minnesota, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
STAFF SERGEANT WAYNE THOMAS SCHUMACHER
19 JUNE 1967
K TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Staff Sergeant Schumacher distinguished himself by valorous actions on 19 June 1967, while serving as patrol leader on an ambush patrol in the jungles of Vietnam. Suddenly Sergeant Schumacher alertly detected enemy movement and directed the radio operator to inform the Squadron. Preparing his men for possible enemy contact, Sergeant Schumacher accurately assessed the Viet Cong strength and armament and relayed the information to the Squadron Command Post. When it appeared obvious that the hostile force was about to assault the squadrons perimeter, Sergeant Schumacher directed his men to engage the enemy and expertly directed their fires. Completely exposing himself to withering hostile fire, Sergeant Schumacher fearlessly darted among his men, reassuring and rallying them to repel the attackers. At that moment, Sergeant Schumacher was struck and critically wounded by shrapnel. Ignoring the pain of his wounds, Sergeant Schumacher aggressively positioned himself in the center of the heavy concentration of hostile fire in order to best direct his patrol’s suppressive fire. Refusing to leave his post, Sergeant Schumacher fired point blank into the enemy troops until he was mortally wounded by a burst of hostile fire. Staff Sergeant Schumacher’s personal bravery and devotion to duty 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3063 (6 July 1967)