Paul Schulz attended Gannon College in Erie, Pennsylvania, for two and a half years before entering the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in January 1956. He was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on November 16, 1967, and was held until his release on March 14, 1973.
Sponsored by:
Paul
Henry
Schulz
POW (RVN)
November 19, 1934
–
Awards Received
-
Legion of Merit
-
Legion of Merit
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Silver Star
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Prisoner of War Medal
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, Naval Education and Training Support Center, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia from June 1984 through June 1987. Captain Schulz exercised outstanding financial management and resourceful leadership in directing his command. Operating in an environment of reduced resources, he diligently implemented efficiencies and improvements. Captain Schulz initiated eliminating duplicative education contracts resulting in cost avoidance savings of over two million dollars. He led a tri-service initiative which guaranteed in-state tuition rates for active duty military personnel in Virginia colleges. Captain Schulz made major improvements to afloat education programs through the application of state of the art, computer-assisted, self-paced instructional systems. The unparalleled accomplishments of his command in responsive education programs and training support services stand as evidence of his superb leadership abilities and dedication to the Navy’s highest standards for personal excellence. Captain Schultz’s adroit leadership, mature judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
-
Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
November 16, 1967 – March 14, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Commander Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 16 November 1967 to 14 March 1973. Under the most adverse conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he serves as both an educator and an entertainer to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
November 16, 1967 – March 14, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Commander Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 16 November 1967 to 14 March 1973. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
November 16, 1967 – March 14, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 16 November 1967 to 14 March 1973. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
November 16, 1967 – March 14, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Silver Star to Commander Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for meritorious service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. He never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. Despite the adversities of confinement, he performed such duties and responsibilities as assigned by superiors and required of the Code of Conduct in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and dedication throughout this period of imprisonment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
-
Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
November 16 – 20, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 16 to 20 November 1967. Commander Schulz’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Commander Schulz reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Commander [then Lieutenant Commander]Batallion:
Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151)Division:
U.S.S. Coral Sea (CVA-43)Action Date:
September 21, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 21 September 1967 as the pilot of a jet aircraft in Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE (VF-151), embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43). As the element leader of two F-4B and two A-4E aircraft on a flak-suppression mission, Commander Schulz participated in a major air-wing strike on the previously un-attacked, strategic and heavily defended Kien An Highway Bridge at Haiphong, North Vietnam. Approaching the target area ahead of the strike force, Commander Schulz’s element encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire from numerous sites in the Haiphong complex. Surrounded by flak bursts, he initiated a devastating attack on his assigned site, scoring a direct hit and silencing it. Despite the evasive maneuvering required by the heavy barrage of anti-aircraft fire, Commander Schulz positioned his element with a precisely-timed maneuver for a second attack element, and delivered his bombs with deadly accuracy. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, possible enemy air opposition from nearby airfields, and active surface-to-air missile sites, he substantially reduced the danger to the attack forces to insure the destruction of a vital target and the ultimate safe return of all aircraft. By his courage, leadership, and planning ability, Commander Schulz upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
-
Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
November 16, 1967 – March 14, 1973
Commander Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from November 16, 1967 until his release on March 14, 1973.
-
Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
November 16, 1967 – March 14, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Commander Paul Henry Schulz (NSN: 0-616785/4780395), United States Navy, for meritorious service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. During this period, although under constant surveillance from his captors, he performed duties involving highly classified material in an exemplary and professional manner. Through his zealousness and ingenuity, he generated new ideas and improvised techniques greatly enhancing covert operations. Although in a hostile environment, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. By his inspiring courage, exceptional skill, and resourcefulness, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]