Final fairwell to a Mocos

We lost a national hero, warrior and friend.
We said our final goodbys to a fellow LocosMocos today.

Jeffrey Blane Schultz
11/16/1951 - 5/8/2008 R.I.P.

Jeff was a key guy in our pit service crew for many years. He and Tim Barlow pitted for Mag 7 for many years before joining up with our motley crew. He will be very much missed by all of us.

Memorial services were held today for him at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, his families church in Lakeside. Monsignor Wright spoke proudly and fondly of Jeff in many ways during the Euology. He was accompanied home from Jordan by Joe and Mark, two of his comrades who never left his side until today. A flag flown at the Dept. of State on the day of his death, along with a certificate plaque were presented to JoAnn.

Jeff was not just your ordinary guy. He was very motivated towards service to our country, community and his neighborhood. He passed away on May 8th while serving the U.S. Department of State in Amman, Jordan. He died of a heart attack. He complained of chest pains and was taken to the hospital where tests were conducted. After passing a stress test and various others he was released. He stopped to use the restroom before leaving the hospital and was found some time later and could not be revived.

Jeff was born here in San Diego, graduated from Crawford High School in 1969. He joined the navy shortly after that and served until 1992. His father Paul, a Navy vet, had the honor of swearing him in for the Navy while he was serving.

Jeffs service included Vietnam, Grenada, personal participation in the capture of Manuel Noriega in Panama, Operation Desert Storm along with being selected to implement the Navy EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) cell at the prestigious SEAL Team Six. He retired from service in 1992 as a Master Chief.

Jeff received many awards during his military career, including the Distinguished Service Medal. Along with many other citations, awards and honors all of which his family and friends have only recently found out about, Jeff was not one to talk much about himself or his achievements.

After Jeff retired from the Navy he bacame a Police officer in Portland Oregon, where he served as a motorcycle officer as well as a member of the Bomb Squad and SWAT Team. He retired at age 50.

In 2003, being the Patriot that he was, he went to work for the Department of State as the lead instructor for the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program. "They made me an offer I couldn't refuse" he would say. Jeff trained personel explosive ordinance disposal as well as operational roles in the protection of President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. He also trained the personel in the Jordanian International Police Force. Other assignments took him to Indonesia, Pakistan and Kazakhstan as well. At least these are the other places we know about.

Jeff once shared with us that there were wanted posters for him up in Afghanistan by the Taliban. "They have a pretty good discription of me but no photo". The reward for him was 70,000 dollars US. We all thank the Lord that He took Jeff in this way and that he didn't fall into the hands of the terroists.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 34 years who was his high school sweet heart, JoAnn, son Jeff, daughters Andrea and Katelynn, father Paul, mother Nellie, sister Adrienne and brother Paul along with his childrens spouses and 5 grand kids.

A fond memory for me was in 2005. We were working our pit for the San Felipe 250 and it was cold and pouring rain. The snow was on the ridges around us maybe 1000 feet higher. The weather didn't allow us to set up our kitchen and have the usual grinds we are used to. We were all cold and hungry.

Jeff set up a little stove in the back of the van, broke out a big package of fresh tortillas and a big chunk of ranch cheese he had bought in town and started making quesadillas. I don't know how many he made that morning but it was allot. He was just running back and forth all morning. They were so hot and cheesy and were just what we all needed, something simple and hot to raise our spirits. Those were the best quesadillas I have ever had.

Jeff was like that, quiet and easy going. He was a man who liked a glass of Tequilla and a cigar, just simple pleasures. He loved Baja and spent time riding his dirt bike down south when he could.

Happy trails brother Jeff.

Here's a photo of Jeff with another one of his desert vehicles.

Mike,
Put that glass down and read the original post again. Maybe this time it will adhere.

Sorry, forgot to add my condolences to his family and friends.

[Edited on 5-18-2008 by vandenberg]