Howard J. Schnabolk was born on August 22, 1943. His home of record is Sea Bright, NJ. He had one brother, Allen. Howard graduated from Long Branch High School in 1961. He was an Eagle Scout in Troop 58, Monmouth County, Boy Scout Council.

Howard graduated from Alfred University and received an Army commission through the ROTC in 1965. In the Army, he became a helicopter pilot and was assigned to the Medical Services Corps. He attended Medical Service School, Helicopter Pilot School, and the Combat Flying School. In 1966 he volunteered to become a medical evacuation helicopter pilot and was sent to the Republic of Vietnam. In Vietnam, he was assigned to the 489th Air Ambulance Company, 44th Medical Brigade.

He served in the US Army and attained the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT).

In six months of combat flying, Howard saved the lives of many American soldiers. In combat, Howard piloting his helicopter ambulance usually under hostile fire extracted soldiers from the battlefield and transported them to field hospitals where they would be cared for. In the difficult terrain, extraction of was usually accomplished by cable winch from the hovering aircraft. This method required a high level of pilot skill and was very dangerous for Howard and his crew. The hovering aircraft was an easy target for enemy weapons. For his many successful rescue efforts, Howard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and numerous awards of the Air Medal.

On August 3, 1967 at the age of 23, Schnabolk was killed in action in South Vietnam. He lost his life when the helicopter ambulance he was piloting crashed while bringing a load of wounded soldiers to a field hospital. As a very skilled pilot Howard saw that the crash was about to happen and knew that if the aircraft had crashed on its side, then the wounded soldiers inside the helicopter stood a chance of surviving the impact. Realizing that his personal chances would be slim, Howard still purposely controlled the helicopter making it crash on its side killing him instantly, but saving many on board.

The Jewish Chapel at Forestburg Scout Reservation in Forestburg, NY, is dedicated in memory of Howard. On one side of the chapel is a marble plaque honoring him and on the other side is an outline of Howard’s life encased in plastic.

Source: Jack Cesar (volunteer), Jewish Chapel at Forestburg Scout Reservation, and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024