Roger Edwin Schemenaur

LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROGER EDWIN SCHEMENAUR
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959

Roger Edwin Schemenaur was born in Berwyn, Illinois, to Edwin and Frances Schemenaur. He graduated from Marcellus High School before attending Western Michigan University for two years. Receiving a congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, Roger entered with the Class of 1959—the Academy's inaugural graduating class. At USAFA, he was assigned to Cadet Squadron 1 and competed as a member of the Varsity Gymnastics Team. He graduated and earned his commission in 1959.

MILITARY CAREER AND COMBAT VALOR

Following graduation, Lieutenant Colonel Schemenaur dedicated 30 years to military service, primarily serving as a tactical fighter pilot, liaison officer, and squadron commander. During the early 1960s, he flew tactical fighters with the 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico; the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan; and the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron at England Air Force Base, Louisiana.

In 1966, Captain Schemenaur deployed to South Vietnam with the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating out of Bien Hoa Air Base. Flying the F-100 Super Sabre in close air support missions, he repeatedly distinguished himself under extreme pressure:

• Distinguished Flying Cross (January 17, 1966): While serving as an instructor pilot, Captain Schemenaur was instrumental in saving a Republic of Vietnam Army outpost and a second friendly position that were under simultaneous enemy attacks. Operating under marginal weather conditions without illumination flares, he made multiple low-level ordnance deliveries with devastating accuracy to protect friendly forces on the ground.

THE ACTION OF JULY 2, 1966 (SILVER STAR)

On July 2, 1966, Captain Schemenaur was scrambled from the alert pad at Bien Hoa Air Base as number two in a flight of two F-100 Super Sabres to support a unit of the 1st Infantry Division heavily engaged with hostile Viet Cong forces.

Arriving at the scene, Schemenaur encountered severe weather, with an extremely low cloud ceiling of only 200 to 400 feet and visibility restricted to two to three miles. With standard dive-bombing angles rendered impossible by the overcast, he was forced to conduct low-altitude passes directly over enemy positions while exposed to heavy ground fire.

His official Silver Star citation reads in part:

"Operating under a 200 to 400 foot overcast with 2 to 3 miles visibility, Captain Schemenaur made repeated low level CBU, napalm, and strafing passes, some of which were within 20 meters of the friendly positions. Throughout these vulnerable low-level patterns, Captain Schemenaur was subjected to intense .50 caliber automatic weapons, .30 caliber automatic weapons, and small arms fire."

Delivering cluster bomb units (CBUs), napalm, and 20mm cannon fire within 20 meters (65 feet) of the pinned-down friendly soldiers, Schemenaur successfully neutralized the threat and saved the friendly unit from being overrun.

Following his combat tour in Vietnam, Schemenaur served as an instructor pilot with the 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Later in his military career, he commanded the 24th Composite Squadron at Howard Air Force Base in the Panama Canal Zone.

CIVILIAN CAREER AND FAMILY LIFE

Following his retirement from active duty, Schemenaur transitioned into aerospace engineering. He worked as a software engineer at Grumman Aircraft Systems Division in Calverton, New York, and as a Senior Engineering Specialist for LTV Missiles & Electronics. He later spent many years at Lockheed Martin working on major defense systems, including the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and Army TACMS, retiring in 2003.

Roger was married to Judith Rae Case (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Case). Together they raised three sons: Roger Scott, John Edwin, and Matthew Ray.

Lieutenant Colonel Roger Edwin Schemenaur passed away on January 30, 2005, in Arlington, Texas, at the age of 69. He was laid to rest with military honors at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.

EDUCATION

High School Marcellus High School
Undergraduate Education Western Michigan University (2 years)
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959, Cadet Squadron 1, Varsity Gymnastics

MEDALS AND AWARDS


Silver Star 1
Distinguished Flying Cross 1
Meritorious Service Medal 2
Air Medal 13
Air Force Commendation Medal 2
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Awarded
Vietnam Service Medal With 4 Service Stars

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS

1961–1963 Pilot 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
1963–1964 Pilot 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
1964–1966 Pilot 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB, LA
1966 Pilot 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam
1967 Instructor Pilot 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
1977 Commander 24th Composite Squadron, Howard AFB, Canal Zone
1985–1987 Software Engineer Grumman Aircraft Systems Division, Calverton, NY
1987–2003 Senior Engineering Specialist / Defense Contractor LTV Missiles & Electronics / Lockheed Martin