Care packages from home were the highlight of this veteran's time in Vietnam. Now, he does what he can to support other veterans.

Cathy Kozlowicz | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Germantown Vietnam War veteran Dale Schuldt received a special package when he was in the jungle during the war.

He worked in extreme weather conditions, ate mostly war food delivered via helicopter and slept on a makeshift bed.

This package made a difference.

His former co-workers, who worked with Schuldt at a packaging company in Menomonee Falls, sent him a Christmas tree.

He said the tree was about twelve inches tall, and he had to carry it with him most of the time. But he could not decorate it because he had to wear camouflage to blend in. "I was always on alert (for the enemy)," said Schuldt.

But that present still means a lot to him.

“That was definitely the highlight,” said. “It was just so neat.”

Of his experience in the war, he described some times as somewhat traumatic, some as good, some just OK. And some, he said, he just does not like to talk about at all.

But what is most important to him is supporting veterans. Even small gestures of kindness can be touching, he said.

"I think it (the war) has made me more of a community activist," said Schuldt. "I want to be kind to veterans."

Getting everyone home

After graduating from Germantown High School in 1966, he was drafted and sent to Vietnam, where he served from May 1968 to 1969.

In the service, he was an infantry ground soldier and then a squad leader. He defined his job succinctly: to get all the men home.

He said he was lucky; only a few of his group didn't make it home. "But there were a lot of injuries," he added. "The enemy was out there. We all looked, listened and tried to catch them. We all did that together. I never felt I was better than anyone. I just had the ability to lead."

Through the tough times, however, his days were made brighter by playing cards and poker with this team. "We had a pretty tight bond," he recalled.

"It was a rough time in 1968 and 1969 with problems of different races..There was a lot of dissension. But we all worked together and got to know each other," said Schuldt.

Treats and care packages from back home were crucial in getting through the experience, he said.

"All my relatives would send me seasonal cookies,” said Schuldt. “My mom would send me different kinds of canned cherries and blueberries. They were different to eat besides war food."

"(Having served) is just knowing you did your honorable duty," he said.

His bucket list

When he returned to Germantown, he started a family and had a career as a carpenter. But what he really wanted to do was to join veterans organizations to provide awareness and to support other veterans.

It was on his bucket list, he said.

Eventually, he joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), where he has been a member for the last 12 years. He has been a member of American Legion Post No. 1 for the last four years.

"Germantown is very involved in honoring the veterans. They always have a parade and honor the flag," he said. "It is a great community."

He has participated in many fundraisers, one of which raised money for veterans to participate in the Badger Honor Flight, and he chaired the committee for The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to come to the village in 2016.

He has supported the annual poppy flower drive and helped raise money that supports other charities and a Germantown scholarship.

"We are big on community involvement," he said.

Biggest perk of being a veteran

There are many tokens of support that Schuldt said he will always remember. For instance, his granddaughters made posters for his homecoming from Badger Honor Flight in November 2018. The Honor Flight was a one-day trip to Washington, D.C., where he and other veterans saw the memorials built in their honor. They returned to a hero's welcome of about 3,000 people cheering for them.

On Nov. 9, he plans to be in the crowd, cheering for his high school classmate Keith Patzen, a dog handler in Vietnam, as he returns from his Honor Flight. "I really want to support him," said Schuldt.

He also attended a school program Nov. 6 with around 20 other veterans. The kids read a story about the flag, and recognized the other veterans there. Each of the veterans' biographies was read.

"It is good to know what the teachers are teaching," he said, approving of the history lessons the schoolchildren received.

His name, along with his dad's and grandfather's are on the Veterans Memorial Wall at Fireman's Park. His father, Albert Schuldt. served in World War II, and Ed Barrenz served in the Spanish-American War.

His biggest perk of being a veteran is when he is out in the community, wearing his veteran hat. "It is when someone shakes your hand and says thanks for serving," he said. "That is very touching."

Over the years, he said, he has seen the village grow in its support of veterans, which he finds important.

"It is important to just be there for them when they come back," he said. "We need to honor them."

Germantown Veterans Day event

A Veterans Day ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 10 at Germantown American Legion Post No. 1, N120 W15932 Freistadt Road.

Community members are invited to gather at the veterans memorial at Park Avenue and Freistadt Road. A free community lunch will immediately follow the ceremony at the Legion.

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Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KozlowiczCathy.