Info Sheet/Obit - Robert "Bob" Schenck II
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21 October 1937 ~ 23 September 2021 (age 83)
see Bob's words and other comments
MSG (Ret) Robert “Bob” Crowley Schenck, age 83 of Clarksville passed away Thursday, September 23, 2021 at TN State Veterans Home in Clarksville, TN.
Bob was born on October 21, 1937 in Pittsburg, PA to the late Robert Crowley Schenck Sr. and Mara Jean Dellenbach Schenck. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his sister, Jean Anne Schenck Donatelli and brother-in-law, Philip Anthony Donatelli; He is survived by his wife, Janet Cluley Schenck; son, Russell (LeAnne) Schenck of Mascoutah, IL; daughters: Joyce (Bill) Schenck Loyd of Pleasant View, TN, Beverly (Carl) Schenck Leffel of Clarksville, TN; nephews: Douglas Donatelli of Woodland Hills, CA, Dru Donatelli of Abu Dhabi, UAE; niece, Joan Donatelli Snow of Madison, AL; grandchildren: Matt Schenck (fiancee, Nicole), Allie (Rob) Roehrig, Wendy (John) Pifer, Sara (Tony Willis) Brashears; great-grandchild, Emmylou Roehrig; step-grandchildren: Jeff Loyd and Steve Loyd.
Bob was a U.S. Army Veteran, he was a helicopter mechanic and served 20 years of service to our county with three tours to Vietnam. For his gallant service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with 6 Campaign Stars. He was a member of the MOPAR Club and Memory Cruisers.
A graveside service was held on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, KY. Visitation was at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home.
Arrangements are entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; (931) 213-7631. Online condolences may be made at www.nealtarpleyparchman.com
Bob's input: I joined the Army in 1955 with basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina with the 101st Airborne Division; then on to the 101st in 1956; Fort Rucker Aviation Maintenance Helicopter School, and was assigned to Fort Belvoir, VA as a Crew Chief on the H21C Shawnee Helicopter (the Flying Banana).
Other assignments:
1959-62 - was with 24th Artillery Group at Philadelphia, PA Airport; supporting the Nike Missle sites surrounding the area.
1962-63 - Served in Korea as an H21C crew chief in Pyeongtaek 6th Trans Co and at Ascom City near Inchon.
1963 - CH37 School at Fort Rucker, AL, then on to Fort Sill, OK as a Flight Engineer
1967-68 - Vietnam with the 400th Transportation Company at Phu Loi and Chu Lai. was converted from SP6 to Staff SGT at Ft Sill 66/ 68
1968 - 8 months NCOIC power train section Ft Eustis CH 47 /CH 54 / transferred to Ft Campbell KY 68 to build up the 332 TC Det attached A Troop 2/17 Cav OH6, Hueys, Cobras.
1969 - 1970 Camp Eagle Nam
1970 - 72- back to Eustis powertrain NCOIC;
1972 - 73 Nam again; F Troop, then back to Ft Campbell KY.
1973 - Was 5th trans S2 NCOIC
1974 - 101st Abn Div Aviation NCOIC
1975 - Retired SEP 75 MSG E8 Mechanic/ Central Texas College. Maintenance aviation instructor/ 160th special ops mechanic/ sheet metal/ quit working Ft Campbell 1993. Burnt out on helicopter; just worked part time jobs to 2006. 100 per cent disabled va daibeties PTSD Agent Orange damage we sprayed that crap using a Huey on my second tour it was potent stuff.
More about Nam:
I had the maintenance detachment at DaNang. We shared a hanger with the Airforce. They had the C119 gunshps painted black. SGT Newton ran the maintenance crew. I got the paper and the troops to take care of.
CPT Hoodenpal was OIC; not sure of his last name CPT Miller was with us and some Warrants. This tour was Jan72 to Jan 73. Second tour was camp eagle Jan 69 to Jan 70 - 332 TC Det, 101st Abn Div. 1st tour was Phu Loi, Chu Lau. We were 1st Avn Bde/ Thats the patch we wore. We supported Americal Div. Chu Lai was a Marine air group haven; all kinds of jets flying 24 hours a day. Good guys; their maintenance areas were far superior to ours. I ran the maintenance crew there. Transferred to 151st Trans Det as Detachment SGT. C model hog huey gun ships; Hueys; 71st Assault Helicopter Company - Feb 68/ 69 not sure/ was there when TET hit. Second tour was with the 332TC Det; 1st tour 400 TC Det/ 3rd tour did away with TC Dets; was with F Troop maintenance
Jerry Shelton: Bob was our maintenance NCOIC in 1972, sorry he is gone; was a good friend for many years