John, the son of Theresa C. Schmidt of Ferguson Missouri and John Emanuel Schmidt (deceased) entered service with the US Army on October 3, 1966 at Fort Leonard Wood. He grew up with his family to include his nearby cousin, George Arthur Myers. John and his cousin both would be killed in action in Vietnam. LCPL Myers on November 25, 1966 and SP4 Schmidt in a nearby operational area on January 17, 1968. Arthur Myers and his cousin Johnny Schmidt Choir Boys - John Schmidt, Arthur Myers, and Louis Schnur. -- Above photos courtesy Betty Myers (Arthur's sister and John's cousin) from Vic Vilionis USMC John G Schmidt underwent basic training at Fort Hood, Texas and was assigned as a Radio Telephone Operator with Company A, 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry, 198th Light Infantry Brigade that deployed to Vietnam. As a Team Leader, SP4 John George Schmidt, was killed in action while on a search and destroy operation in the vicinity of An Thinh Village south of the Chu Lai Military Complex in Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province. SP4 John G. Schmidt was presented with the Silver Star Medal posthumously (See Orders with Citation below). Three soldiers killed on the same day in the same area of Operations were: 1LT Norman Ellsworth Fine, Milton, Pennsylvania SP4 John George Schmidt, St. Louis, Missouri SP4 Casimiro Villon, Paia Maui, Hawaii (Booby Trap) -- The Virtual Wall

One obituary was published January 20, 1968 in the St Louis Globe-Democrat - More obituaries published in St. Louis Globe-Democrat provided by the St. Louis Mercantile Library of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where the archives and printing morgue of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and the complete Pulitzer Publishing Company's file copies of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, among other siginficant collections, can be found. On Memorial Day, May 30, 1968, a half page news article was posted in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The many columns were rearranged by The Virtual Wall to fit this memorial page. -- The Virtual Wall, February 22, 2013.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS AMERICAL DIVISION APO San Francisco 96374 GENERAL ORDERS Number 433                                                                        2 February 1968 AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR 1. TC 320.   The following AWARD is announced posthumously. SCHMIDT, JOHN G. US 56 581 268 (SSAN 496-48-4918) SPECIALIST FOUR E4 United States Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 52d Infantry 198th Light Infantry Brigade APO 96219 Awarded: Silver Star Date of action: 17 January 1968 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For gallantry in action against a hostile force on 17 January 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Four Schmidt distinguished himself while engaged in a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of An Thinh. As his company was moving into a blocking position near the village, they suddenly came under heavy hostile fire. The third platoon was sent around a lake near the village to flank the enemy. Specialist Schmidt was part of a two man security force sent out by the platoon leader to search a hedgerow in front of the platoon. As they were approaching the hedgerow, the Viet Cong suddenly began directing small arms and machinegun fire at them. During the initial burst of fire, Specialist Schmidt was wounded twice and fell to the ground in front of the enemy machinegun position. He courageously yelled back to his squad leader, informing him of the enemy situation. When the enemy at the machinegun position noticed that more members of the friendly platoon were advancing on them from a different direction, they directed their fire on the advancing element. Although suffering tremendous pain Specialist Schmidt began crawling toward the machinegun position. As the battle intensified, the enemy commenced throw- ing hand grenades which multiplied Specialist Schmidt's wounds. In a desperate and determined effort, Specialist Schmidt continued to crawl forward until he was about 15 feet from the enemy machinegun position. In a gallant effort to knock out the hostile position, Specialist Schmidt, with complete dis- regard for his life, threw two hand grenades into it. When he threw the second grenade, he was fatally wounded by another volume of hostile fire. His unceasing desire to eliminate the Viet Cong position, helped break the spirit of the enemy force and greatly contributed to the rout of the enemy Specialist Four Schmidt's unquestionable valor in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force was in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflected great credit upon himself, the Americal Division and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President, under provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918 FOR THE COMMANDER: OFFICIAL:                                      Unreadable                                                        Colonel, GS (Signature)                                    Chief of Staff DONALD Y. B. CHUNG LTC, AGC Adjutant General

Family Photo of John and his awards in Shadow Box. The Virtual Wall documents most of medals above in order of precedence, but all of John's medals and badges, from left to right, and top to bottom (NOT in order of precedence) are: Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, (Bottom) Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon, with 60s Device, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (Unit), Combat Infantryman Badge, Sharpshooter Skill Badge with Grenade and Rifle bars, Vietnam Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. -- The Virtual Wall

John's cemetery marker in Zion Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri. -- The Virtual Wall

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