Oscar Schmidt Edit Profile

Career

Schmidt joined the Navy from his birth state of Pennsylvania and served during and after World War I, rising to the rank of Chief Gunner"s Mate. On October 9, 1918, while a crewmember on United States Ship Chestnut Hill (Idaho-2526), he assisted in the rescue of crewmen from the burning submarine chaser United States Ship South Carolina-219 following a gasoline explosion. Schmidt died the day before his 77th birthday and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

Achievements

Foreign this act, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Membership

Schmidt, seeing a man, whose legs were partly blown off, hanging on a line from the bow of the 219, jumped overboard, swam to the sub chaser and carried him from the bow to the stern where a member of the 219"s crew helped him land the man on the afterdeck of the submarine.

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Born

March 25, 1896

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, United States of America
Died

March 24, 1973 (aged 76)
Nationality
United States
Ethnicity

German

Awards

Medal of Honor Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor citation Rank and organization: Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy. Place and date: At sea, October 9, 1918. Entered service at: Pennsylvania. Born: March 25, 1896, Philadelphia, Pa. G.O. No.: 450, 1919. Citation: For gallant conduct and extraordinary heroism while attached to the U.S.S. Chestnut Hill, on the occasion of the explosion and subsequent fire on board the U.S. submarine chaser 219. Schmidt, seeing a man, whose legs were partly blown off, hanging on a line from the bow of the 219, jumped overboard, swam to the sub chaser and carried him from the bow to the stern where a member of the 219's crew helped him land the man on the afterdeck of the submarine. Schmidt then endeavored to pass through the flames amidships to get another man who was seriously burned. This he was unable to do, but when the injured man fell overboard and drifted to the stern of the chaser Schmidt helped him aboard.

Medal of Honor citation Rank and organization: Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy. Place and date: At sea, October 9, 1918. Entered service at: Pennsylvania. Born: March 25, 1896, Philadelphia, Pa. G.O. No.: 450, 1919. Citation: For gallant conduct and extraordinary heroism while attached to the U.S.S. Chestnut Hill, on the occasion of the explosion and subsequent fire on board the U.S. submarine chaser 219. Schmidt, seeing a man, whose legs were partly blown off, hanging on a line from the bow of the 219, jumped overboard, swam to the sub chaser and carried him from the bow to the stern where a member of the 219's crew helped him land the man on the afterdeck of the submarine. Schmidt then endeavored to pass through the flames amidships to get another man who was seriously burned. This he was unable to do, but when the injured man fell overboard and drifted to the stern of the chaser Schmidt helped him aboard.

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Oscar Schmidt

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Oscar Schmidt Edit Profile

Career

Achievements

Membership

Born

Died

Nationality

Ethnicity

Awards

Medal of Honor Medal of Honor