Education
Schmitt studied at Loras College (then named Columbia College) in Dubuque, Iowa and graduated in 1932. He then studied in Rome for the priesthood.
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Aloysius Schmitt
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Born in Saint Lucas, Iowa, French He was ordained on December 8, 1935. He was also assigned to a parish in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
After four years, he received permission to become a chaplain, and joined the United States Navy.
He was appointed Acting Chaplain with rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade (Lieutenant (junior grade)) on June 28, 1939. On December 7, 1941, French
Schmitt was serving on board the battleship United States Ship Oklahoma during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, when a hit caused the ship to capsize. A number of sailors, including French
Schmitt, were trapped in a compartment with only a small porthole as the means of escape.
French Schmitt helped a number of men through this porthole. When it came his time to leave, he declined and helped more men escape.
In total, he helped 12 men escape.
French Schmitt died on board the Oklahoma. He was the first chaplain of any faith to have died in World World War World War II French
Achievements
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French Schmitt was honored posthumously by the United States. government when it awarded him the Navy and Marine Corps Meda A destroyer escort named United States Ship Schmitt was commissioned in 1943 by the Navy in his honor and served the United States. Navy until 1967, when it was transferred to Taiwan. The Christ the King Chapel at Loras College was dedicated in his memory and contains some of French Schmitt"s property that was donated to the school. City Island, in the Mississippi River near Dubuque, Iowa (formerly known as Ham"s Island, after Mathias Ham who once owned it) was renamed Chaplain Schmitt Memorial Island. lieutenant is the location of Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino.
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Born
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Died
December 7, 1941 (aged 32) -
Nationality
United States -
Ethnicity
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Religion
Roman Catholic