Aloysius Schmitt
Aloysius H. Schmitt | |
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Lieutenant junior grade | |
| Unit | USS Oklahoma |
| Awards | |
Father Aloysius H. Schmitt (December 4, 1909 – December 7, 1941) was a
Early life and ordination
Born in
Military service and death
On December 7, 1941, Fr. Schmitt was serving on board the battleship USS Oklahoma during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, when a hit caused the ship to capsize. A number of sailors, including Fr. Schmitt, were trapped in a compartment with only a small porthole as the means of escape. Fr. Schmitt helped a number of men through this porthole. When it came his time to leave, he declined and helped more men escape.[2] In total, he helped 12 men escape.[4]
Fr. Schmitt died on board the Oklahoma, and was the first chaplain from USA of any faith to have died in
In 2015, the United States Department of Defense exhumed the remains of what were believed to be 388 military personnel.[4] Schmitt's remains were identified in 2016 from DNA taken from his skull and matched with that of a relative. They were returned to Iowa where a Memorial Mass was celebrated in his home parish of St. Luke in St. Lucas on October 5, 2016.[7] His remains were transferred to Dubuque, where a funeral Mass and burial were held in Christ the King Chapel at Loras College on October 8, 2016.
Awards and honors
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| Silver Star | ||
| Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Upgraded to Silver Star) |
Purple Heart | Combat Action Ribbon |
| American Defense Service Medal w/ Fleet Clasp (3⁄16" Bronze Star) |
Bronze Star
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World War II Victory Medal |
Silver Star citation
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 308 (November 1942)
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade (Chaplain) Aloysius Herman Schmitt (NSN: 0-83472), United States Navy, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving as a Chaplain on board the U.S.S. OKLAHOMA, during the attack by Japanese forces at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 7 December 1941. Chaplain Schmitt was aboard the U.S.S. OKLAHOMA when that vessel capsized and was entrapped in a compartment where only a small porthole provided outlet for escape. With unselfish disregard for his own plight, Chaplain Schmitt assisted his shipmates through the porthole. While his shipmates were in the process of rescuing him his body became wedged in the narrow opening. Realizing that other men had come into the compartment looking for a way out, Chaplain Schmitt insisted that he be pushed back into the ship so that they might escape. Calmly urging them on with a pronouncement of his blessing, he remained behind while they crawled out to safety. [8]
Posthumous honors
- Fr. Schmitt was honored posthumously by the U.S. government when it awarded him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Purple Heart. On December 7, 2017 he was awarded the Silver Star.[4]
- St. Francis Xavier Chapel at Camp Lejeune was dedicated in his memory in 1942.[9]
- A Taiwan.[2]
- Christ the King Chapel at Chester Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet during World War II.[6]
- Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino.[3]
See also
- Roman Catholic priests
- Military chaplain
- United States Navy
- USS Oklahoma
- USS Schmitt
References
- ^ "Aloysius Herman Schmitt". Military Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
- ^ a b c d "Fr. Aloysius Schmitt, Chaplain Thomas Kirkpatrick". Catholics in the Military. August 22, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- ^ a b Encyclopedia Dubuque. "SCHMITT, Aloysius". Retrieved July 25, 2014.
- ^ a b c Michael E. Ruane (September 28, 2016). "Remains of Pearl Harbor's hero priest identified after almost 75 years". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
- ^ "For God and Country: Catholic Chaplain Fr. Aloysius Schmitt". Catholic Tradition. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
- ^ a b c Pronechen, Joseph (December 7, 2016). "Pearl Harbor Priest Identified 75 Years Later: Father Aloysius Schmitt was the first chaplain to die in World War II". National Catholic Register. EWTN, Inc. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
- ^ a b Kelly McGowan (October 8, 2016). "Pearl Harbor hero's remains return home to Iowa". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
- ^ "Aloysius Schmitt - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "United States Naval Vessels Named For Catholic Military Chaplains". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 2016-10-20.