V4V-01-21-26-Jerry Schottenhaml-The Vic Porcelli ShowThis is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran.
SUBMITTED BY: Allison Schottenhaml
Hi Vic & Ken,
I am listening everyday to you guys! It was our morning routine since Jerry worked 2nd shift he would get up just as the show was beginning!
After high-school Jerry attended 2 years of college and decided he wanted to join the Navy and see the World! In January 1981 he headed off to Navy boot camp in San Diego CA. He was assigned to the USS Wabash as a MM1 machinist mate 1st class & fireman. He was responsible for operating & maintaining ship propulsion, auxiliary & machinery.
On April 1, 1981 the Wabash set sail for a 8 month tour! First port stop was Pearl Harbor, then onto Guam, Subic Bay Phillippines, Singapore, the Arabian Sea of the coast of Iran, Diego Garcia, Perth Australia, Mauritius then back the same way to San Francisco.
On May 16, 1981 Jerry's 21st birthday they crossed the International Date Line celebrated his birthday twice! As the Wabash steamed crossed the Date Line into the South China Sea they embarked on a wooden rickety boat carrying 150 Vietnamese refugees, mostly children. They brought all the refugees on board the Wabash provided them with medical care, clean clothes, food and comfort. Then they sank the refugee boat!
The Wabash was among the first Navy ships to rescue Vietnamese Refugees and was part of the first battle group sent to the Arabian Sea in support of hostages in Iran.
Jerry was awarded with a Humanitarian Service Award, Navy Expeditionary medal, National Defense Service medal & Navy "E" Ribbon an award given to sailors that win an annual Battle efficiency competition signifing excellence in reddines & performance.
After 3 years of service Jerry returned home he decided he wanted to be a machinist in the military aerospace industry, he said he felt that he could still contribute to the safety of our great country & still support his brothers in arms! Which he did with pride!
The weekend of December 19th Jerry was working security with the Washington Guard at a gun show under the command of Colonel Joe Adams when he starting feeling sick to his stomach. We celebrated Christmas at our home with our family! On December 28th I took him to the ER as he was getting worse though he had the flu. After MRI, CT scan and blood worked they found a tumor on his pancreas, spots on his liver & kidney they said it was cancer. At first they said with chemo 11-12 months, the 4 days later they said it was to aggressive he was to weak to take chemo then 3 days later after watching him decline daily in horrible pain they said a couple of weeks on the evening of 1/11/26 Jerry passed away and is no longer suffering! I am trying to wrap my brain around the fact that my soul mate for almost 39 years whom I never seen sick or in pain could get a stomach ache and be gone in 4 weeks! He was my hero & rock and will forever live on in my heart! Thank God I have a wonderful supportive family, my Washington Guard family & my NewsTalkSTL family who I could not get through this without! I would also like to thank Jessica Porcelli for her guidance through this she is an angel with her experience as a hospice nurse she has given me much peace in this process! Thanks to the Washington Guard as they say become a member and you are never alone and they have proven that! Thank you for my NewsTalkSTL family for everyones prayers & thoughts they mean so much & are greatly appreciated! Most of all thank you to my great family especially our grandchildren John & Lily Schottenhaml who was the pride & joy of Jerry's life! ________________________________________________________________
This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.
With support from our friends at:
Alamo Military Collectables, Monical’s Pizza and Gemini Wealth Group
