I’m posting with permission from the author. This story was on her Facebook page and I wanted to share it with all of you:
From my friend~a Navy Lt serving in Afghanistan:
Yesterday, my closest friend for the last couple months, Roslyn Schulte, was killed in a roadside bombing halfway between here and Bagram. She is one of the most incredible people I have ever known, and I want to tell you about her. I had only known her about three months, but she was assigned to my unit, and so, she and I being the only two junior officers in the group, she had the unfortunate pleasure of having to hangout with me. I can probably count on one hand the number of times we did not eat at least one meal of the day together since she arrived here in early March.
Ros was truly an exceptional person. Usually when you hear that about someone who just died, it’s almost always exaggeration, if not pure BS. With Ros, it’s not. She passed up on the Ivy leagues to go to the Air Force Academy. She qualified for state in five different sports in high school, was an all-American in college, a qualified pilot. She was ALWAYS kind to others. She went out of her way to call her mom and dad two or three times a week every week she was here. Sorry I don’t do that, Mom and Dad. No one did, except for Ros. She dreamed of getting out of the air force to settle down and start a family. She didn’t drink. She didn’t like the lifestyle of the military — said it didn’t work well for family. She wanted to be a successful business owner (like her mom), but worried that would interfere with raising a family.
I’ve gotten good at bragging about her in the last 38 hours or so since we lost her. I’m generally recognized as her closest friend on base. It’s an honor. But with that comes great misery too. I don’t think there are too many people here who haven’t seen me sobbing or choked up at some point in the last couple days. It feels strange for me as well, given I’m usually a pretty emotionless person. What is this watery substance hat appears to be forming in my eyes??
Ros and I usually traveled together on longer trips. We were almost always paired off together, in the same vehicle. That’s how we wanted it, and how the mission planners did. Yesterday however I had to go somewhere else. We saw each other briefly in the morning, just shy of 7am. She was walking from her room, my convoy was already staged and waiting. She saluted me, in typical jest. Junior officers usually don’t salute other junior officers, especially when they know each other. Without too much said, we each went our separate ways — I fully expected we would both be back having a meal together at Camp Eggers that evening. In fact, even though the day had just begun, I was already looking forward to that. She was my friend. My helicopter took off at 8am. By all accounts, Ros was killed halfway between Kabul and Bagram about 8:05. When my helicopter landed at the destination, around 9am, I got the news that there had been an attack along the route I knew she would be taking. Being a logical person, I quickly jumped to hope — that it was a well-traveled route for coalition forces, what are the chances that the one vehicle hit would be the one that Ros was driving? But something just didn’t seem right, and my worst fears were confirmed in the excruciating minutes and hours after that initial news. No news is clear, especially when spotty reports are coming over cell phones, etc. But I would guess around 10am or 10:30, we got a phone call that Ros was dead.
I’m writing this to you so you can know a little bit about this wonderful person, Ros Schulte. My friend. I think it’s ironic that this is happening just shy of Memorial Day, but I hope you will think of her this day. Fly a flag or something. I don’t know. I’ve never lost anyone who was this close to me in my life — someone who was a fixture, who I counted on to be there everyday — so I don’t know how to handle this stuff. But I do know that many of the people in my unit have been writing back to their family and friends about Ros. And I figured since she and I were the closest, I should do the same too. And you should honor her, because she was my friend.
It is very sad to hear about Ros, She was a wonderful person, always cheerful and full of life, She was my next door neighbor in Hawaii. I still can’t trust trust the news.
She was kind and thoughtful, I wish I could see her one more time and tell her how wonderful she was.
I’m a pilot at Andrews AFB. I got a call yesterday, telling me to come in that evening, to get crew rest and a flight plan would be ready when we got in. I wasn’t that thrilled about being up all night to fly some people up to Dover and back. Upon arriving, I learned of the reason for this midnight trip. It was my honor, and that of the other pilots involved, to take part in the ceremony at 2 this morning welcoming Lt. Schulte home.
Godspeed
The writing above is no exaggeration. If anything it’s an understatement. – Proud to know Roz.
Sorrows everyone,
To the young lady who wrote this letter about being Roslyn’s best friend. I would like to correspond with yuo about her. My email address is wildb32d@yahoo.com. I did know Roslyn from Hawaii. I lived in her condo complex. My best friend was her next door neighbor. I only knew her for a short time, but as soon as I met her I knew she was a great girl. Always very polite and with a smile. I tiled her kitchen and bathroom floors. I said to myself that is one girl I would love to be with. I am very sad to hear about her death. You were very fortunate to spend the 3 months that you were with her. I am not one to show tears, but Roslyn’s death touched me. I can only hope that her death was quick. I am sure all her friends and family will be mournign her for a long time.
God bless everyone my heart goes out to you all.
Sincerely,
Scott
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I am truely sorry for your friend, I myself lost my son to an enemy IED 15 april 2009, PFC, Richard A. Dewater.
I know the pain of a loss such as this.
I will honor you friend as I will honor all our forces at this hard time of war and for as long as I live.
My very deepest condolences to you and her family and loved ones !
My God let her rest in piece now and forever.
R, Dewater
forever Army dad HOOAH
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Thank you for writing this. I’m a friend of Roz’s parents, knew Roz when she was a little girl. I’m heartbroken for them. Such a wonderful daughter, such a bright light. It helps to read this and I know it will be a comfort to her parents. I pray you stay out of harm’s way.
I am so, so sorry. We are praying for you all.
God Bless You and Lt. Schulte’s family.
I am so very sorry for your loss .
My heart goes out to the Family of this beautiful Person and Soldier.
May your faith help you through this terrible grief
Respectfully
Petra Linden
Soldiers Angel
The tears came like rain as I read of 1Lt. Roslyn L. Shulte. What a hero she truely is. As they all are but this is made special by her friend. My gratitude goes out to her for being strong and defending our country.
May her friends and family find peace and strength in knowing that she was here for a time. What an honor was bestowed on them for knowing someone such as she.My prayers and thoughts are with her friends and family. What an honor it will be to one day meet her in Heaven.
God bless them all
This is not just someone trying to be kind. I truly understand how you feel. Rosyln was part of my unit here in Hawaii. Everyone here was in complete shock but that shock quickly turned to saddness and loss. We all miss her so much. It is good to know that she had someone like you to be with while she was over there. Thank you for writing this.
CJ, I hope you don’t mind if I link to this in my Memorial Day post. What a tribute from a friend.
Godspeed, 1LT Schulte.
God bless you and keep you, Roz. Thank you for laying down your life for us.
Thank u Lt.Schulte for protecting our freedom. May you rest in peace.
Thank you for the post to give us civilians more info on the work you do for us. I send my sympathy to the family and friends of
1LT. Roslyn L. Schulte, and especially to all of you who had the pleasure of knowing her, by her picture I see she was also a very beautiful lady besides being a hero, and supporting the U.S in a very distant place. I am sure there are many like myself who are living day to day a regular normal life in the U.S. who wish to thank all of you for being so strong and devoting your selves to protect us here at home. For myself, I thank you and wish you strength getting through the loss of your friend, and for her family I wish the same strength and love for protecting all of us citizens.
We are very sad at this moment and your tribute does indeed help.
THank you again.
Rich and family in Florida.
Thank you, CJ. I have excerpted this – and linked to you – as well as a tribute from the Living Legend Team of SA.
Prayers for all who love this hero, Ros.
My son and Ros started kindergarten together and were schooled together for 13 years. They graduated John Burroughs School on the same day and, then, went separate ways. His into service as a teacher and Ros into service as a military officer.
I teach at the same high school. And, I knew Ros very well. I know her entire family fairly well. And, I have been crying on and off since I first heard this tragic news.
My admiration for her and respect is hard to verbalize. And, despite honoring her service and the difference it made, the world is a lesser place today.
No day will pass that I will not remember her.
Rest In Peace.
Wayne Salomon
Specialist Fifth Class
United States Army (Honorable Discharge)
G2, MACV
Can Tho, Viet Nam
February 24, 1971 – December 24, 1971
God Bless each of you for what you give to this country and each famly that dwells here. May God comfort each of you making you stronger in faith, hope and peace guide you path you travel
“ROZ”
We love you and will miss you dearly. You made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. No parent should have to endure the grief and sadness of losing their daughter. My prayers go out to Bob and Susie Shulte and family.
From a Women’s Lacrosse Team Dad, Mary Zinnel, Class of ’07. We all are sharing the loss of Roslyn, “Roz” Shulte.
Bill Zinnel
this is a beautiful tribute. i learned about your friend thru my “midshipmen son” CDR warren fridley. he has been a son these last 20 years and was more than sadden at her lost. he lost with me and my husband our son LCDR erik kristensen in afghanistan june 28, 2005. i want you to know that i will remember her today and every day along with my own.
I am a middle school teacher in the St. Louis area, and although I teach math, every year I spend two days on Memorial Day lessons. I do that because many of my students have never been taught what Memorial Day is for, and I believe it is right that they understand the meaning of the day.
This amazing Air Force officer was killed at the start of the week, and so she became part of my instruction on Memorial Day, a hometown casualty. We went onto a website and saw her picture. My young students were sobered and several wrote down the Hawaii air base phone number to try to find out where a memorial service would be held in town here for her.
My heart goes out to her family and to those serving with her in Afghanistan. Clearly Roslyn Schulte was a quality human being and a treasured friend. Thank you to the Navy Lt. who had befriended Lt. Schulte. She was a real friend and support to you, but you also were a real friend and support to her. I’m sure you made her assignment in Afghanistan more bearable. Thank you for being her support.
My intention is to attend her memorial service tomorrow, since I live here in St. Louis.
CJ, thanks so much for your post. Having worked with and known Roz for the past 2 years I can say you did her justice, but merely scratched the surface of the wonderful person that she was. She truly touched the lives of everyone she encountered. The corps of junior officers here felt the earth shake when we heard the news. Our hearts are filled with both a sense of indescribable pride in knowing her and inconsolable sorrow in losing her. Her passing is a great loss for friends, family, the U.S. Air Force, and humanity.
What a truly remarkable young woman. I pray that her parents, family, and friends find comfort from those around them. A hero should never be forgotten, nor should her family. God bless them.
I tought tennis to Roz when she was 10 years old. She always had a smile and was such a great kid. I hope my 4 year old will turn out to be the great person Roz was. While I fully support our efforts in the war on terror I am so sad to learn of the murder of this great girl. God speed Roz.
I am Roz’s boyfriend’s aunt in Seattle. I met Roz when she was en route to Afghanistan. Bruce, Roz and I went out to lunch and I immediately fell in love with her. I knew that she was the perfect person for my nephew and my heart grieves for her family and my nephew for this terrible loss. Your tribute is wonderful and I thank you for posting it.
I just wanted to write and say I’ve been thinking about Roz and will be remembering her today. I am a classmate of hers from the Academy and currently deployed to a small FOB just outside of Kabul, not far from Eggers. I know that route well and have never had a good feeling while traveling on it. Its a tragety for this to happen at all and for it to happen to such a great person makes it that much worse. My heart goes out to her family and friends. Please know that myslef, my team, and without a doubt fellow classmates, are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for giving us an insight to her last few months, everything you said is exactly what I remember about LT, she was a very professional officer on all accounts and I loved learning about her time at the Acadamy. She was always bubbly and I remember her always keeping in touch with us even after the moved squadrons. This LT will always be remembered and my heart goes out her family and friends, her parents raised her well.
Respectfully,
A1C Louie
8th IS, Hickam AFB, HI
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Just reading about this remarkable woman, her service and her sacrifice brings tears to my eyes. Those of you who had the opportunity to know her were clearly very fortunate. Thank you so much for sharing her with me now. God bless her. God bless her family.
This is so sad.
I did not know Roz, but was moved to tears for the first time after learning of a service members death overseas. I can’t place a finger on why Roz in particular has moved me so, but she has. I thank God for giving us a woman of her caliber. Although gone, Roz’s life still serves an earthly purpose. That purpose will manifest each time a person who knew Roz makes a decision or attempts to lead a life that emulates Roz’s high standards. My family thanks you Roz, and we will remember your sacrifice always.
Bill Boehm
Captain, USAF 95 – 02
While I didn’t know Roslyn personally, we are connected. As a graduate of the Air Force Academy myself, my heart goes out to Roslyn’s family. Sometimes we graduates forget that we willing signed up to the possibility of paying the ultimate price for our country. Rest in peace Roslyn and say hi to the real Commander in Chief…..
Thank you for posting this story. After only knowing her for a few weeks during Combat Skills Training and being dormmates, we learned so much about each other. She took good care of me when I was stuck on crutches during training, always making sure I was fed or that my ice pack wasn’t melted for my sprained ankle. We had long talks about our newly formed relationships with our significant others. She introduced me to “Dexter” and got me hooked on it. We had the same fuzzy slippers to keep our feet form in those drafty barracks in Washington back in January. We kept in touch through email so that we could meet up whenever she was passing through Bagram. She made sure that I get an email from her on a weekly basis. Silly me, after she had already left us, I was still awaiting her arrival at Bagram on 21 May, looking forward to our later dinner plans and not knowing of the tragedy. This is all sticking with me in the worst way. You just never know how much of an impact one can have on you until they are gone. I will never forget her. She was a beautiful person inside and out and everyone got to see that. Even still now.
Roslyn was my Group Commander at the United States Air Force Academy. From the moment I met her, I knew she had qualities of leadership, integrity, and service unmatched by many of her peers. The news of her passing brings great sadness to me, as I know the world has lost a truly wonderful person. I have always held Memorial Day close to my heart, and this tragedy has put many things into perspective. I am forever grateful for Roslyn’s commitment to our country. May her friends and family find comfort in the many accomplishments of this wonderful woman.
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Shulte,
I knew your daughter from serving with her in Hawaii; I first met her as a young 2d Lt and then later as a 1st Lt. She is/was such a dynamic young woman — a true professional with all the qualities of the “best and brightess” our nation produces.
Your loss of Roz pains me tremendously … but, of course, not nearly as much as it pains you. I have a daughter Roz’s age and I cannot fathom the deep, searing pain you must be enduring. I pray time heals it for you quickly … but I know that will not be the case. Yet, I also pray we, the US, never forget a true patriot like Roz quickly.
Please accept my deepest sympathies and condolences for your most untimely loss.
Bill McKinney
COL, Infantry, US Army, Retired
RVN, 1967-69
Mr. and Mrs. Schulte,
Lieutenant General Deptula was able to speak briefly with you on that most somber of nights last week. I just wanted you to know he was representing a vast Air Force ISR family. We all grieve for your loss as it is our loss, too, albeit in a smaller way.
God Bless you both and your daughter!
Scott F. Murray, Colonel. USAF
USAFA Class of 1987
Roslyn lived down the hall from me at the Air Force Academy her senior year, while she served as my group commander. She was an extraordinary professional, and I always admired the way she carried herself and cared about all the people under her.
I’ve been struck by Roz’s death over the past week and I wish everyone could have had the chance to see the way she made the room light up. This terrible incident has unfortunately granted an opportunity for all of us who serve to reflect on what service means, especially around Memorial Day.
I wish strength to her family and friends in the knowledge that Roz served a grateful nation. We shall bear witness to her life and she will never be forgotten,
Hila Levy, 2LT, USAF
USAFA ’08
Mr. and Mrs. Schulte,
I am not from a military family and I never served in any branch of the US government. I was browsing the web when I found this page and I read about your wonderful daughter, she was very beautiful. I am very sorry for your loss, I would like to thank you and your daughter for the tremendous sacrifice you have given to protect the freedoms we all too often take for granted. May God console you and your entire family, and may God rest her soul in eternal peace.
Jeno Weiss
Mr. and Mrs. Schulte,
My heart goes out to you for your loss and the loss to our nation of your daughter, Roslyn. Words cannot adequately comfort you nor sufficiently express the grief we all must share in losing such an amazing human being. I can only hope that my daughter becomes as fine a person, an American and a Jew as so evidently was your daughter.
I read the current issue of my son’s Lacrosse Magazine and an editorial discussed major losses in the field of lacrosse in 2009. I felt grief when I saw Lt Schulte’s name and the cause of her death. I did a google to learn more about her and can only question why God chose to take another outstanding future building block of our country’s future. RIP Lt Schulte from a lacrosse and field hockey family in Jackson, NJ.
I learned about Lt Schulte this Friday when I attended the Director of National Intelligence Awards, where Lt Schulte was awarded a National Level Intelligence Award posthumously. I was very interested in learning more about her life after hearing about her life and sacrifice. Lt Schulte has had a tremendous impact on all that passed through her life and I am humbled by her leadership. Although we never met, we would have much in common—both being in the intelligence career field and also being jewish. I am lucky to have served with you, Lt Schulte. May God bless her family and friends.
I played lacrosse with her at the academy. It breaks my heart to know she’s gone. But please know she will never be forgotten. God bless and keep you roz.
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With family in town the week of 9/11, we decided to take a drive to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. We took some extra flags left from the 9/11 memorials we attended the day before, and decided to visit the cemetary on the Academy. We came across Roslyn’s plaque and for some reason, this young woman touched us. We said a prayer for her and left her a flag. It prompted me to google her and found this page with such incredible insight. Please know that your friend was prayed for and honored recently.
God Bless Roslyn, all those who fought, and those who continue to fight for our freedom, and God Bless America
Diane and Family