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Casualty Info
Home Town Goleta
Last Address Goleta
Casualty Date Aug 01, 1970
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Thua Thien (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Santa Barbara Cemetery - Santa Barbara, California
Name: CW2 Anton John Schoepke
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 08/01/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.4
Date of Birth: 03/22/1948
Home City: Goleta, CA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/377 ART 101 ABN
Major organization: 101st Airborne Division
Flight class: 69-19
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 08W-076
Aircraft: OH-6A tail number 67-16628
Call sign: Gunner 92
Service number: W3166321
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: contract
Started Tour: 08/17/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Thua Thien Province I Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
Mr. Schoepke was returning from a visual recon in the Ripcord area. He was shot down while departing Rakasaan. You could contact VHPA Member Dewey B. Ford for the complete story. FROM Bob Reigel, May 2009.
My recollection is that W.O. Schoepke was flying his last mission prior to going back to the world. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, DIVARTY. Returning to Camp Eagle from Firebase Ripcord (or another firebase in the Ripcord Area), flying a LOH, he signed of with air traffic control at Camp Evans, then never signed on with air traffic control at Camp Eagle. I also heard that his missing helicopter was found within days in a deep ravine, half submerged in a creek. I believe that his body and that of the person flying with him (whose name I don't recall) were also found at the site.
I flew with W.O. Schoepke many times as a member of our unit's R.A.P.E. (Realisitic Artillery Proficiency Evaluation Team), inspecting fire bases up and down the Au Shaw Valley. In fact, I was always relieved to know that he would be flying the mission. He was a wonderful pilot who clearly loved to fly. His confidence was infectious.
As one of the medics responsible for the care of Schoepke's unit, I had occasion to talk with him several times. My impression is that he was bright, funny, articulate, pragmatic, and he had many friends. I was happy to learn that his time in-country was drawing to an end. I can also say that all of us were dumbfounded by the circumstances of his demise.
SP5 Howard Hinterthuer, 101st Airborne Division, Division Artillery.
Posted by: Howard Hinterthuer
Email: communicraft@bigplanet.com
Relationship: Flew missions in his chopper, etc.
Thursday, May 18, 2000
Comments/Citation:
Johnny was a young man of high ideals, with a strong sense of patriotic duty. He was liked by all who knew him- was diplomatic and a leader in everything her undertook. He was helpful when needed. He had a keen sense of humor; loved people and was often referred to as "a golden boy". He was certainly that in our family and we were so lucky to have had him for 22 wonderful,happy years. As his mother, I still miss him very much, as do his two brothers. He left a great void in our hearts and will never be forgotten.
Posted by: Margaret Schoepke Grisham
Email:
Relationship: He is my son
Saturday, November 3, 2001
Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16628
The Army purchased this helicopter 0269
Total flight hours at this point: 00001488
Date: 08/01/1970
Incident number: 70080101.KIA
Unit: A/377 ART 101 ABN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon
Unknown this helicopter was at Level Flight at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YD561330
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 02 DOI . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P CW2 SCHOEPKE ANTON JOHN KIA
OB SP5 HOOPER JOHN JOSEPH KIA
