Schnell, Oscar F. (638th)

Service Time:  Oscar entered the Army on March 23, 1942, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. He was eventually assigned to Company A of the 638th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He trained with the unit at a number of military facilities, including the 1942 Louisiana Maneuvers, Camp Claiborne, LA, Camp Carabelle, Florida, Camp Livingston, LA, a second set of maneuvers in Louisiana, the Desert Training Center, California, where they trained on the new M18 tank destroyers, and Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.

Before going overseas, they moved to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, for final preparations. On August 30, 1944, the 638th shipped out and arrived at Cherbourg, France, September 7, 1944, equipped with M18 tank destroyers. Entering the line near Prummern, Germany, on November 20th, they supported operations against the Westwall (Siegfried Line). Shifting to the Ardennes sector around Rochefort, Belgium, on December 22nd, the unit’s M18 “Hellcat” tank destroyers helped to halt the German offensive in and around Hotton, Belgium (while attached to the 84th Infantry Division). After fighting to reduce the Bulge during January, 1945, the 638th supported the Roer River crossing in February. The unit then crossed the Rhine River on April 1st, and advanced across Germany, reaching the Elbe River, near Wittenberg, on April 24th.

Oscar received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received. He also earned the EAME Medal, with credit for the campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe, along with the American Campaign, Good Conduct and WWII Victory Medals. He left the service at the rank of Technician Grade 5 on November 5, 1945.

After returning home, Oscar married the former Mary Bernice Pfaff on December 2, 1950, at Jasper, IN. She was born in Huntingburg, IN, and was the daughter of Norman J. Pfaff and Leona V. Schaefer. They had seven children, sons Stan, Gary and Kenneth and daughters Melinda, Darlene, Arlene and Marvela Jean.

He was the manager of the Jasper V.F.W. Post 673 for 35 years until he retired. He was also a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society, Y.M.I., the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Disabled American Veterans Post No. 77, Jasper American Legion Post No. 477 and was a lifetime member of Jasper V.F.W. Post 673. Oscar passed away on February 11, 2005. in Jasper, IN. He was buried in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Huntingburg, IN.

We would like to thank contributor Brian Koba for sending information on Oscar. Thank you also to Find A Grave contributor Kimberly Brooks and the Dubois County Historical Society/Museum’s publication, “Military Review of Dubois County, Indiana”, for use of the main photo of Oscar. Thank you to Find A Grave contributor “Linda Y” for use of the grave marker photo.