On 20 January 1968, LCpl. Schemelia was a member of India Company's 2nd Platoon with the mission of following in trace as the reserve platoon for 1st Platoon, on the recon-in-force toward Hill 881North. The 2nd Platoon was brought up to secure a LZ for the medical evacuation of 1st Platoon's wounded. As the medevac bird approached the zone it was shot down and crashed in a gully to the west of the zone. LCpl. Schemelia, witnessing the shoot down, gathered his squad and charged down hill to crash site at high port to rescue the helo crew. The squad's movement was so rapid and unexpected that a small group of NVA who'd been lurking unseen near the crash site were too surprised to fire a shot at either the helo or LCpl. Schemelia's squad. Instead, they took off running to the west and disappeared over a rise (maybe still running.) LCpl. Schemelia was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Submitted by:
William H. "Bill" Dabney,
Colonel, USMC(Ret)