PORT ANGELES — Some were touched by his friendship, others by his sacrifice.
On Saturday, they will gather at Olympic Cellars Winery to remember the life of Army Capt. Joseph William Schultz.
The decorated Green Beret, who is the only child of Port Angeles businesswoman Betsy Reed Schultz, died May 29 in Wardak province in Afghanistan after an improvised explosive device hit his Humvee. He was 36.
Two other soldiers were killed in the blast.
His memorial service, which is open to the public, will be at 2 p.m. at the winery located east of Port Angeles at 255410 U.S. Highway 101.
The service’s lead organizer, Kathy Charlton, said the community has stepped up to honor Capt. Schultz, some of whom remember him from his visits to Port Angeles and others who know his mother, the former owner of The Tudor Inn and former Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce president.
“Everywhere I turn . . . somebody just asks or they offer” to help, Charlton said.
Charlton, who owns the winery, said donations have come in the form of bunting from Clallam County, a truck from Peninsula Trucking, printing by Pacific Office Equipment and many others.
“The community is helping put this on,” she said.
Charlton said she expects it to be a large and touching service.
“Betsy has touched so many lives being a tireless volunteer in this community, and people from around the country and the military are coming,” she said.
That includes many of Capt. Schultz’s friends, some of whom are coming from as far away as Washington, D.C.
One of those friends, Kate Emanuel, said she remembers him for having a “magical combination of someone courageous but kind and compassionate.”
“He was just funny . . . and fundamentally such a good guy,” she said.
Emanuel, 44, said she met Capt. Schultz while he worked as an aide for former California Gov. Gray Davis’ office in the nation’s Capitol.
Capt. Schultz worked both in Davis’ Washington, D.C., office and as a press aide in Sacramento, Calif.
Emanuel said she is traveling with three other of his friends from Washington, D.C. They each plan to attend his funeral June 17 at Arlington National Cemetery.
At the service Saturday, Army Lt. Col. Donald Franklin will present four medals — the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge — and the Army Achievement Medal citation to Capt. Schultz’s mother.
He had received 10 other awards during his military career.
Lt. Col. Franklin is the deputy commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group, to which Capt. Schultz was assigned.
Schuyler Hoss, a representative of Gov. Chris Gregoire, will attend, Charlton said.
A Gold Star Banner, escorted by American Legion Riders, will be attached to a utility pole on Lincoln Street after the service.
The banners honor fallen soldiers from or connected to Port Angeles.
One was placed last year for Navy Seabee Joshua Dae Ho Carrell, who died in 2009 after contracting malaria while serving in Monrovia, Liberia.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
