Marine Lance Cpl. Darrell Schumann, a 25-year-old from Hampton, fought bloody door-to-door battles for three months in Fallujah in late 2004. A few weeks later, he boarded a helicopter for the first leg of his trip home.
The helicopter, carrying Schumann and 30 comrades, flew into a sandstorm and crashed in the Iraqi desert, killing everyone on board. It remains the greatest single loss of U.S. troops in the Iraq war.
President Bush praised Schumann by name for his valor. But his name will not be found on the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.
State officials have deemed that only the names of service members killed in hostile combat in the Middle East will be added to the stone-and-glass walls, which bear the names of 11,600 Virginians killed since World War II.
Recent veterans who died under other circumstances, such as aircraft accidents, are excluded.
The policy has changed since the memorial was erected, and the names of many service members who were killed in accidents are found on the wall.
Rick Schumann, Darrell's father, wants the policy changed again.
The memorial will soon undergo an $8 million expansion, funded mostly by taxpayers.
"We want them to do it right," Schumann said.
The state relies on the Defense Department's classification of deaths: killed in action, hostile casualty or nonhostile casualty. To be included on the Virginia memorial, a service member must fall into one of the first two categories.
According to a Virginian-Pilot review of Department of Defense records, at least two dozen service members with Virginia roots died in accidents or other noncombat scenarios related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. About 140 Virginians have died in the two conflicts since 2003.
"Our policy is that you must die from hostile action," said Del. Frank Hargrove, chairman of the Virginia War Memorial board of trustees.
The policy was tightened after the first Gulf War, Hargrove said. Both Hargrove and Schumann agree that the names of several veterans who died in accidents are found on the memorial.
Hargrove said he is sympathetic to Schumann's case. He suggested that Schumann ask the Defense Department to change the cause of the Marine's death.
"It's a damn tragedy," said Hargrove, a veteran who served in Japan immediately after World War II. "But I'm going to stick to our guidelines."
The Virginia War Memorial was established by the General Assembly after World War II. Set on a hill overlooking the James River less than two miles from the Capitol, it includes a flag display and an education area.
State officials expect to break ground next month on an expansion to the monument and a center to display artifacts and accommodate school and veterans groups.
The General Assembly earmarked $6 million for the expansion, to be released when private donations reach $2 million. The memorial is close to reaching that goal, said executive director Jon Hatfield.
New names will be added to the wall within the next two years, he said.
Rick Schumann visited the memorial in April for a ceremonial bill-signing. During the event, he spotted a sign listing Virginians killed in action in the two ongoing wars and the bombing of the Norfolk-based destroyer Cole. Their names would be added to the Virginia War Memorial.
He noticed that his son's name and several others were missing from the list. Memorial staff members told him about the policy.
Schumann, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant with 29 years of service, called the policy unfair to many men and women who have died in combat zones while on active duty.
"They all should be recognized, regardless of the conflict," he said.
Schumann returned to the monument a few days later with his laptop. He copied several names and checked them against a list of war dead on the Library of Virginia Web site.
In his small sample, he found several names of men killed accidentally, some even on U.S. soil.
He found one veteran killed in an accident in Miami Beach, Fla., in 1944. Several Vietnam veterans on the memorial died as a result of nonhostile actions, according to his research. He said he believes there are many more.
Del. Vivian Watts met Rick Schumann at the bill-signing ceremony. She said it's time to consider changing the memorial policy, even if that means the General Assembly has to pass new legislation.
"When we vote on something like that, we're not voting with a narrow, bureaucratic definition of 'veteran,' " she said, adding, "You want to make sure nobody suffers."
On Tuesday, Rick Schumann visited one permanent memorial in Virginia that bears the name of his son.
It is a white headstone, set in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.
Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2322, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com
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Wall of Honor
LCPL Schumann is on the Wall of Honor in Richmond. The Wall honors and remembers all Virginians lost in GWOT. I am not sure why Mr. Schumann isn't aware of this? Not only does the Wall honor our fallen, they also each year honor the Gold Star families.
It is a permanent memorial. I encourage folks to go visit it, it is a very special memorial.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839232/posts
I do believe the VA War Memorial needs to reevaluate and get out of their box. No longer can we think old school. This Marine has earned his place in Virginia's history and gave all.
State denies Virginian
I am a member of the Illinois Freedom Run Organization. We are proud to say that in June of 2004 we
delivered a granite memorial wall commemorating the soldiers who have died in Middle East conflicts to Marseilles, Illinois with an honor guard of over 12,000 motorcyclist. This outpouring of respect and gratitude filled the highway, two motorcycles deep, from horizon to horizon for over 50 minutes. People waved, cried and waved flags from overpasses and bridges and the noise of the engines became a thunderous reminder of the soldiers who have served, fought and died in the Middle East. This wall is updated each May and September to include the newest fallen. On Panel 1 the name of Marine Lance Cpl. Darrell Schumann appears so he shall never be forgotten for his unselfish service to our country. It is sad that he cannot be
remembered on a wall in his own state because of political rules. Our wall was built with the outpouring of generosity of individual citizens. There were no government or corporate funding; and all our names have been listed according to the reports of casualties from the pentagon. We want his family, especially his Dad to know that Darrell Schumann will n
Thank you
The feedback and support for this effort has been extremely heartwarming. My son's sacrafice as well as over 40 Virginian who died while in combat zones need to be recognized, regardless of their circumstances.
A point of clarification, the article mentions my son was on the first leg of his trip home when the helicopter went down in a sand storm.
That first leg was enroute to another mission to patrol and engage insurgents on the Syrian border to Iraq in support of the elections.
Again, thank you very much.
Hey Laura...
If he was killed by friendly fire his name would go up, so it's not just killed by the enemy. It is killed in action. He was in a war zone. Until he leaves that war zone he is in action irrespective of what his destination is.
And Laura, we're not talking about getting killed in a traffic accident, unless they declare P-Town a war zone, then maybe it would... We're talking about killed in theater...
Please, compair apples to apples, OK ;-)
This doesn't diminish
his service to his country but the fact is he wasn't killed in the line of hostile fire. Suppose he was killed in an auto accident on the way to the airport. Where do we draw the line? The memorial is for those killed by the the enemy. Sorry.
MARINE
ARE YOU KIDDING US WITH THIS?
What's wrong with these people?
This young man is a hero.....
The Government's Dime
As long as her was under the "transportation/care of" of the government then his name should go up on the wall!
Line of Duty
Seems simple and I agree with wr1956. When a service member dies a combat zone and an official line of duty determination is completed that states the member was doing his assigned duties in an honorable fashion, he should be included. I think the idea of a different color for a direct engagement or dying in POW/MIA status is fine but in any case, service men or women that die in a combat zone or as a result of service/combat oriented injuries stemming from official duty should be honored. If its required, the law should be changed and those representatives that have served under the flag should be honored and, in my opinion, have a responsibility, to lead that change.
Lance Corporal Schumann
What's next? The removal of General Lee's statue from Monument Avenue because he didn't die of combat inflicted wounds.
How Absurd
It seems simple enough: military personnel, in uniform, receiving hazardous duty pay, who have fought in Iraq, on a military helicopter still in a war zone on the first leg home, killed in a sandstorm. Did the survivors get life insurance benefits being in a war zone. Did the military issue a Purple Heart? Come on General Assembly, he didn't die playing videogames in a stateside PX. In my view he gave his life and should be recognized. How the General Assembly can't see this defies logic. He died in the service to his country, and should be honored. Simple enough. So do it.
I would hate to face God
I would hate to face God with that on my permanent record.
Combat zone deaths
All service members who died in theater, to include the Coast Guard (part of DHS not DoD), should be listed on the Virginia War Memorial with those individuals killed in action, or died as a prisoner of war annotated with a different name color or identifying symbol next to their name in recognition their death was in an enemy engagement.
Wish I could still vote for Virginian politicans
I no longer live in VA but I will always be a Virginian! It breaks my heart to know that the Virginia Government is not including this young man's name or any other Virginian who died while returning from a war zone. Even if his flight had gone down over the Chesapeake Bay, his name should be on the War Memorial!
Del Hargrove...
...Sir...perhaps rather than trying to change this fine Solder's status...we should change YOUR status to UNEMPLOYED!!! If you flick this issue...who knows what other issue you'll flick!...your a disappointment,...Elvis is calling the Gov Kaine...I hope others do too!..our votes count as you will soon see!
First I would like to extend
First I would like to extend my condolences to the families of all those who have lost loved ones defending the ideals on which this country was founded. I find this position among many others taken by the Commonwealth as pathetic... and a slap in the face of every Virginia citizen that has served and made the ultimate sacrifice in a hostile combat zone. To get to the point. Any service member killed in a declared hostile combat zone other than suicide regardless of the circumstances of their sacrifice should be eligible.
This is not hard.........
This Marine was receiving combat pay for being is a combat zone. This is a fine example of people calling the shots who have never been there. I agree, write, call, email the governor, state legilative to let them know that if they plan on supporting our troops this way they may not get re-elected
contact the governor
i urge all marines , and citizens to contact the governor about this , this boy is a son of virginia he was doing his duty to his country and should have a space for his name , with enough support maybe the governor will do the right thing and step in , anyone can send comments to the governor ,
idiots run this state
this person was killed while in iraq , it is a war zone , shouldnt matter how , his name and anyone killed while in service ,should have a space for his name , we thank his family , and all our prayer go out to his family for his service " hooooooorah"
sad state.....
This story stinks to high heaven. I cannot believe that a Delegate doesn't have enough backbone to stand up to this rediculousness. And this is the country these men and women so galantly go over there and fight for?? This is how this country stands behind our men and women?? That's ok Mr Schumann, read these comments with pride. We the people (who DO care about your son) have your back. Does this decision making process by our "leaders" in DC surprise anyone? NOT!
Does anyone want to be Re-elected in VA? If so, RECOGNIZE!
My confusion is this... why is it so hard to recognize a war zone? My thoughts; if you are in the service and are killed, then RECOGNIZE! If you are not at "Home" you are on military ORDERS, you should be RECOGNIZED. What is "Home" to a military member? Where you grew up, or where your family resides. Where is the military mission? Wherever the military sends you. Does a DUI count? NO, does a fight at the GOGO bar count? NO... Traveling to work on the expressway... that should count... you are going to your current Command's location. If there is an accident... you State & Federal Representatives all across the US should RECOGNIZE the sacrifice of any of our MEN & WOMEN! If you are given a military funeral... maybe your name should appear? Think about who you want to RECOGNIZE your Brother, Sister, Aunt, Uncle, Father, Mother, Cousins... etc... Remember to VOTE... GET INVOLVED.