CURRAN RECOGNIZES LOCAL VETERANS FROM MALVERNE, WEST HEMPSTEAD WITH VETERANS' HALL OF HONOR CEREMONY

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st AD) recently recognized and honored 16 local veterans at his annual Veterans’ Hall of Honor event at the St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Council #2228 Knights of Columbus in Lynbrook. This year’s honorees from Malverne were a veteran family, Joseph J. Schutta (father), Lt. Col. James J. Schutta (son), and Joseph P. Schutta (son) (picture one); and from West Hempstead, John Shaud (picture two) were honored. Family members and friends of the honorees were invited to celebrate in the recognition. Thanking the veterans for their service and patriotism to their country and community, Curran presented each honoree with an official New York State Assembly Proclamation.

“This is always a special event that gives our community the opportunity to celebrate and honor the brave men and women, like the Schutta family and John Shaud, who sacrificed so much to ensure our freedoms and our way of life,” said Curran. “We owe everything that we enjoy today to those who are called to serve their country and each of our veterans deserves our gratitude and respect. This recognition is but a small token of appreciation for everything that they have achieved for this great nation and its citizens.”

Joseph J. Schutta enlisted in the United States Marine Corps upon graduation from high school in 1946. Joseph served two years assigned to the USS Houston as a ship’s Marine Detachment. Upon discharge in 1948, Joe went to St. John’s University on the G.I. Bill to study pre-law. On October 20, 1950, while still in his senior year of college, Joseph was recalled to active duty for the Korean War and assigned to tanks as a Tanker. He served 13 months during the Korean War and, upon discharge in November 1951, was sworn in as a New York Police Department (NYPD) police officer. He returned to St. John’s to complete his senior year, working as a student by day and a NYPD officer by night. He earned his BA in June 1953. Joe served 40 years with the NYPD and retired in 1991 after attaining the rank of Inspector. He only retired because he had reached the mandatory retirement age for that time; otherwise, he would have loved to have continued his work with the NYPD. With the support of his beautiful wife of 49 years, Carol, they have raised six children, two of whom also went into military service with the U.S. Marine Corps, and they continue to enjoy and take pride in 11 wonderful grandchildren, with one more on the way. Lt. Col. James J. Schutta and Joseph P. Schutta, Joe’s sons, are both being recognized for this year’s Veterans’ Hall of Honor.

Lt. Col. James J. Schutta attended Officer Candidate School in January of 1993 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on April 2, 1993. He attended The Basic School from April to October of 1993, and then entered the Infantry Officer’s Course (IOC) in October, graduating in December 1993. After IOC, 2nd Lt. Schutta served as a Rifle Platoon Commander with Golf Company at Camp Pendleton and deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as part of BLT 2/4 from January 1995 to August 1995. Upon return, Lt. Schutta served as the Administrative Law Recorder for Legal Service Support Team Echo, Camp Pendleton until his End of Active Service in October 1996.

Returning to New York in December 1996, Lt. Schutta joined the New York City Police Department and affiliated with 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, Headquarters & Service Company (H&S) as the NBC Officer. After successful FSMOA/SMAT inspections, Capt. Schutta transferred to Fox Company, 2/25 in June of 1998. He served Fox Company as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, and Executive Officer throughout his tenure. He mobilized to Camp Lejeune with Fox Company from December 2001 to December 2002. Upon demobilizing, Lt. Schutta transferred to the S-3 shop as the Assistant Operations Officer. In March 2003, he deployed to Iraq in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” with 2/25. After leaving the reserves for a short period, Lt. Schutta returned to 2/25 to serve as the H&S Company Commander, participating in annual training in Mozambique for Shared Accord-10 and in Ft. Drum, in 2011. Lt. Schutta moved to the Battalion Executive Officer position in September 2011, participating in Javelin Thrust-12. He was “acting” Battalion Commander from September 8, 2012 to June 16, 2013 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on July 1, 2013. On October 30, 2013 Lt. Col Schutta transferred to the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command in Norfolk, VA where he serves today.

Joseph P. Schutta is the youngest of six children of Joseph J. and Carol Schutta. After graduating from Binghamton University (a State University of New York) with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Law, Joe joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in January 2004. Completing training at Recruit Depot Parris Island and USMC School of Infantry, he was assigned as an Assaultman in India Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Infantry Regiment (3/8) and was deployed to Al Anbar Province in Iraq from February to August 2005. Joe transferred to the USMC Reserves and joined the 3rd Bn., 25th Marine Infantry Regiment and deployed again to Al Anbar from August 2008 to March 2009. Finishing his second tour in Iraq, Joe moved between Reserve units to include the 4th Civil Affairs Group until finally transferring to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) as a Sergeant. In June 2006, after his time on active duty with 3/8 and moving to Long Beach, Joe was lucky enough to become a member of the Official Fire Department of New York City and was assigned to Ladder Company 33.

It was during the height of the Korean War, on October 3, 1951, when John Shaud enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 18. He served for a four year tour of duty and four years in reserves. After eight weeks of Basic Training in Upstate New York, John was sent to Kelly Field Texas for specialized training in Communication Construction. Soon after completing the six-month course, intelligence reports came in suggesting Russian Bear Bombers were flying over their territory at the northern fringes of Alaska. Communications from that area were sparse and lacking. It was during the shooting war in Korea that fears of a Russian invasion into Alaska were possible. John’s squadron of 120 men, known as the 3rd Communication Construction Squadron, was given orders to prepare for a two year tour of duty in Alaska as part of a team to create the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW). Six days and nights on a troopship from California to a seaport in Alaska made John incredibly seasick. After two years of braving fierce Alaskan and artic winters, John and his team succeeded in installing radio relay antennas, radar domes, and miles of telephone line for the DEW line. When the Russians knew they were being watched, they stayed away. John’s last six months in the Air Force were a “reward” – he became a Switchboard Operator at Westover Air Base in Massachusetts where it was warm and comfortable, taking in all incoming calls.

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