Thomas Francis Schultz

Thomas Francis Schultz, 78, died on August 1, 2016, in Hospice in Winter Garden, FL after an extended illness. He was born November 18, 1937 to the late Mary (Kelly) and Francis Schultz in Two Rivers, WI. The family moved to Plymouth IN when he was in grade school. After graduating from Plymouth High School in 1955, he joined the U. S. Marine Corps and served in various United States sites as well as the US Embassy, Taipei, Taiwan where he supported the crisis at Quemoy and Matsu until he received a discharge in 1960. After about a year of civilian life, Tom joined the Army in February 1961. He served in a variety of stateside assignments as well multiple overseas areas including Okinawa, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Laos, and the Philippines. He served three tours in Vietnam where he received a field commission to First Lieutenant before a disabling wound resulting in his medical retirement in December 1969. His extensive military career included being a member of several sensitive organizations and included service in Detachment B-52, Project Delta, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he became a Military Freefall Parachutist and qualified as a Jumpmaster and Master Parachutist. During his service he earned the Combat Infantry Badge, as well as 3 Purple Hearts for wounds received in action, numerous awards for exemplary service, multiple valor awards, and many other citations and honors. Following his medical retirement, Tom fulfilled his dream of learning to fly and eventually became a flight instructor at Sanford Airport completing his aviation career as chief of simulator training for CONAIR. Tom was married November 8, 1966 in Okinawa, Japan to Tomiko Kinjo who survives him. Other survivors include his daughter Mayumi Logan (Mark) of Auburndale, FL, granddaughter Blair Logan, Lakeland, FL and grandson Mark Logan, Jr. of Auburndale, FL. Also surviving is a sister, Mary Kay Schultz, Villa Park, IL and a brother Phil (Barb) of Fort Wayne, IN. Burial is Monday August 8 at 11:30am at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society are requested.