[VOICE OVER MARK SUNDLOV]
From Memorial Day 1938 to this Memorial Day, and every day in between,
Soldiers Memorial Military Museum stands to serve as a public
space to remember St. Louisans who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Today we’re reflecting on the history of Soldiers Memorial, its
Court of Honor— and the lives of those remembered here.
From 1965 until its withdrawal in 1973, the US fought a fierce air, ground, and sea war in Vietnam.
Over the course of the conflict more than 58,000 brave US men and women made the supreme sacrifice.
In 1979, St Louisans memorialized their neighbors
and loved ones by expanding the Court of Honor with the addition of a Vietnam War memorial.
Engraved on rose granite slabs within the Court of Honor are
the names of 215 St. Louisans who gave their lives for our nation in Vietnam, including
Marine Corps Private First Class, Wayne Ira Jones.
[VOICE OVER TERRY ORR] When I first saw Wayne Jones’ photograph
in the west gallery of Soldiers Memorial, it was his smile that caught my attention.
If I had to guess, I would say this is the face of a young man (just 19 years old)
who was very proud of his recent graduation from Marine Corps Boot Camp.
It is also the face of a person who volunteered to serve his country in a time of war.
In December of 1963 Jones enlisted in the Marines.
By 1965 PFC Jones was in Vietnam
in Charlie company, First Battalion, Third Marines serving as an anti-tank assault man.
On Jan. 12, 1966, while serving with his unit on a search and destroy mission called
“Operation Mallard,” Jones was wounded by small arms fire.
He died of his wounds the following day.
PFC Jones now lies buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
I think he would be surprised to know
that after all these years we haven't forgotten who he was and what he did.
[VOICEOVER MARK SUNDLOV]
In the forty years since the end of the Vietnam War, the US military has been deployed to
countless combat zones around the globe. In Iran, Lebanon, Grenada, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
and many other locations around the globe, US service members have made the supreme sacrifice.
From 1990-1991 the US was embroiled the First Gulf War. In 2001, in response to the September
11 terrorist attacks, the US military was engaged in the War on Terrorism and the
War in Afghanistan. Two years later, in 2003, the US launched the War in Iraq.
Throughout these conflicts we’ve seen not only the danger of combat, but
we've also developed a deeper appreciation for the extreme dangers of military training,
the high levels of stress and trauma in service, and the physical
and mental illnesses and disabilities that can result from service.
For the first time in forty years, the Court of Honor was expanded in 2019 with a memorial
to remember those who lost their lives in service since 1975,
including Air Force Lt. Roslyn ‘Roz’ Littmann Schulte.
[VOICEOVER LON ZIMMERMAN]
Today we honor the memory of United States Air Force Lt. Rosyln Littmann Schulte.
Schulte dreamed of being a fighter pilot from age 12. And she became a member of the first
class to join the Air Force Academy following the 9/11 attacks.
During her 3rd year, Roz left the flight deck to pursue military intelligence.
Commissioned in 2006, Lt. Schulte was assigned to the 613th Air and Space Operations Center at
Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii, and in 2009, deployed to Afghanistan as an intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance operations officer.
On May 20th, 2009, while traveling in convoy from Camp Eggers to Bagram Airfield for a
Joint Task Force Conference, Lt. Schulte was struck and killed by an IED.
Roslyn Littmann Schulte was the first female Air Force Academy graduate to be killed by
enemy action during the War on Terror.
Two buildings near Camp Eggers were renamed in her honor.
Roz Schulte was 25 years old when she died
in the service of her country.
Since 2010, the Air Force Academy has recognized an outstanding
cadet with the Lt. Rosyln L. Schulte Cadet Award.
[VOICEOVER MARK SUNDLOV]
For over 80 years, Soldiers Memorial has served as a place of remembrance for those brave
men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country.
Soldiers Memorial Military Museum continues to share the story of
American Military history through the lens of St. Louis.
Your generous support aids us in our mission to honor military service members,
veterans, and their families.
Please consider becoming a member today.
