- SURNAME
Schimke
- FORENAME
John Richard
- UNIT
5 SF Group (Company C)
- RANK
Sergeant First Class
- NUMBER
- DATE OF DEATH
24th July 1969
- AGE
32
- GRAVESITE
Rosedale Memorial Park,Tallmadge,Ottawa County,Michigan A-276-5
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
14 years in military
U.S.M.C. 1954-56
U.S.A.F. 1957-60
U.S.Army (7 years)
3 SF Group 1964-67
5 SF Group 1967-69
Det A-108 1967-68 (Staff Sergeant)
Det A-111 (121 MSF Company) 1969 (Sergeant First Class)
WIA 26.3.1969
award Bronze Star
shot by accident at police road block Michigan while on leave
VIETNAM HERO DIES IN ROADBLOCK TRAGEDY
A 32 year old Green Beret veteran of the Vietnam War, home only since Saturday on a 30 day leave, was fatally shot early Thursday in a tragic error at a police roadblock on Alpine Ave at Four Mile Road NW.
SFC John R. Schimke, 1625 ???Croft St NW was dead on arrival at St. Mary’s Hospital, shot twice by Patrolman Ronald Anderson.
Police said Anderson, 27, a police officer for 3 years and James Brower, 22, a new recruit who completed his training Feb 17, were assigned to a roadblock at Alpine Ave and Four Mile Road NW about 1:30 am.
Roadblocks were set up in routine procedure following reports of an armed robbery at a Muskegon service station by 3 Negroes.
According to police, Brower, armed with a shotgun, was standing at the back of the cruiser, parked facing south on the west side of Alpine Ave, just south of the intersection.
Anderson, with his pistol in his hand as described by blockade procedure, was checking cars. Schimke was alone and southbound on Alpine Ave. Anderson stopped the car and shone a flashlight in the back, but since Schimke was a white man and alone, passed him through and turned to look for other traffic.
As Schimke passed the cruiser, a shot rang out.
Anderson turned to see Brower falling backwards, police said then looked and saw Schimke turning toward him in his seat in the car. Police said Anderson apparently thought his partner had been shot and that his own life was threatened. He fired three times. One bullet apparently hit Schimke’s car, another his hand, and another entered the back of his left shoulder.
Anderson then discovered that the first shot he heard came from Brower’s shotgun, which had accidentally discharged. The recoil from the weapon caused Brower to fall backward.
Apparently Brower was holding the weapon with one hand, the muzzle pointed slightly downward, and was writing down the license number of Schimke’s car as it cleared the blockade when the gun fired.
Asst. Prosecutor Charles V. Probert said once all reports are completed, his office will decide what action will be taken.
Supt. Robert Anderson is out of town and Deputy Supt. John McGivin said no action will be taken against the patrolman at this time. They have not been relieved from duty.
SFC Schimke, who had won the Bronze Star for heroism in combat Feb 26 and received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in an explosion in March, was visiting his parents.
DATE OF DEATH:
24-Jul-1969AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/schimke-john-r.32050/
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