Schumacher reminded of time in Korea

Veteran’s Day has long been a day set aside to honor the service of those men and women who have put their lives on the line. For one Rocky Branch resident, Veteran’s Day reminds him of his reasons for serving in wartime.

Donald O. Schumacher first had a desire to serve in the military following the death of his cousin in World War II. At the age of seventeen, Schumacher’s desire, coupled with his cousin’s death, convinced his parents to sign for him to join the Marine Reserves while still in high school.

“I was a high school senior in Wisconsin when my parents signed to let me join the Marine Reserves,” says Schumacher. “In June of 1950, the president activated all reserves to go into duty. I was given the choice to graduate or go to boot camp. I chose boot camp,” added Schumacher.

Three months after boot camp at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Schumacher found himself on the USS Randolph to Korea. They docked in February of 1951. Schumacher remembers being put on transit to the 1st Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion and I Company. “We did not get there until dark, and I was chewed out for lighting a cigarette. I didn’t know you couldn’t strike a match in combat,” said Schumacher, who recalled the hardest thing he had seen as an 18 year old was when he first saw a dead marine.

Schumacher spent 13 months in Korea, about eight of which were in combat. “I wasn’t in combat all that time. About eight months in combat, then I had to go to the rear, I had no choice,” recalls Schumacher.

Schumacher received a Purple Heart during his time in Korea. “I was wounded on June 6, 1951, and it was the second time. I got shrapnel, and I still have shrapnel in my chest. From this injury, I received a Purple Heart, as well as a Naval letter of commendation when I was under fire on June 3,” recalled Schumacher.

Schumacher was promoted to Sergeant at only 19 years old, having already earned a Purple Heart, Naval letter of commendation, and a second letter of commendation and commendation pendant, which he was awarded on Sept. 28, 1951.

When Schumacher returned to Camp Pendleton, he had a desire to enlist in the Marine Corps, but found he would lose rank if he did. He ended up staying in the Reserves for four years. During that time, Schumacher graduated from high school while in the military, and took a fiveyear apprenticeship from the state of Wisconsin. He then worked for 30 years at a brewery as an electrician. When that brewery closed in 1981, he chose to be relocated to the brewery in Longview, where he stayed until retirement.

Schumacher was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1890 in Rocky Branch.