Elk Grove, CA, USA
U.S. Marine Corps
CPL, Motor Transport Co, Combat Logistics Bn 5, Combat Logistics Rgt 1, 1st MLG
04/23/2010, Temecula, CA, USA
Corporal Samantha L. Schultz died of injuries from an off-duty-vehicle accident, April 23, 2010
“Schultz was a great noncommissioned officer because she cared about her Marines and was always there for them,” said Corporal Mary R. Bentley, heavy equipment operator, CLB-5, 22, from Caddo Mills, Texas. “No matter what she was doing, she’d stop to help out her junior Marines.”
Schultz, 22, from Sacramento, was well known to fellow Marines by her welcoming smile and wave. Her smile and wave would brighten others’ day no matter what kind of mood they were in. She said her proudest day was when she enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 (see photo).
“Schultz had a contagious personality,” said Susan R. Andersen, former Marine, 23, from Christmas, Fla. “She is one of the best friends anyone could ask for.”
Combat Logistics Battalion 5 Marines recalled Schultz being very passionate and caring when it came to work. She also kept those characteristics with her in her personal life.
“Corporal Schultz had a lot of love and passion for the Marine Corps,” said Andersen. “On April 23, the Marine Corps lost a great Marine and leader.” Schultz enlisted in August 2005 and deployed to Iraq three years later. She was a motor transport operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group.
Corporal Schultz was born Nov. 9, 1987 in south Sacramento and attended Sierra Enterprise Elementary School and Sheldon High School, graduating from Roseville High School in 2005. Samantha also received her AA degree in Animal Health Care at Ashworth College. She wanted to be a vetrinarian. She loved animals …at the time of her death she had 3 dogs, a cat and a gecko. Her pug (“Roxy” her daughter as Samanatha called her) and her cat Donald (Samantha’s “son”) are with her mother Tobie.
She enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program in high school, and was nearing completion of her five-year tour of duty. Her personal awards include a Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Navy-Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.
Corporal Schultz is survived by her parents Keith Schultz of Sacramento and Tobie and Alan Deala of Pleasant Grove; brother Theodore Passalis also of the U.S. Marines; grandparents Ben and Iva Bates of Dunnigan, C.J. and John Klug of Jacksonville, Ore., and Edward and Bea Deala of Roseville; and great-grandmother Helen Fischer of Franklin.