Harry Schmidt (September 25, 1886 – February 10, 1968) was a United States Marine Corps general. During World War II, he served as the commanding general of the Fourth Marine Division during the battles of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and Saipan in the Mariana Islands, and as commanding general of the Fifth Amphibious Corps during the battles of Tinian in the Marianas and Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands.
Schmidt retired from the Marine Corps at age 61 in 1948 with 39 years of service. A contemporary described Schmidt as "a Buddha, a typical old-time Marine: he had been in China; he was regulation Old Establishment; a regular Marine."
U.S. Marine Corps career
Schmidt was born in Holdrege, Nebraska, on 25 September 1886. He attended Nebraska State Normal College for two years before accepting a commission as a second lieutenant in the 2nd Nebraska Infantry which he resigned from on 16 August 1909 in order to enter the U.S. Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on 17 August 1909.
Following instruction at the Marine Officers' School at Port Royal, South Carolina, he reported in January 1911, at the Marine Barracks, Guam, Mariana Islands. While attached to this station, he accompanied an expeditionary force to Chefoo, China. In October 1912, he was ordered to duty in the Philippines where he remained until detached to the United States in April 1913. Following an assignment with the Recruiting Service in Minnesota, a tour of duty at the Marine Barracks, New Orleans, Louisiana, and temporary duty at Veracruz aboard USS Kearsarge (BB-5) in 1915, he was ordered to sea duty aboard USS Oklahoma (BB-37) in May 1916 and was promoted to captain in August. In January 1917, he went aboard the USS Montana (ACR-13) and from 25 February to 22 March 1917, was ashore with the ship's landing force at Guantanamo, Cuba. Leaving the USS Montana in September 1918, he spent most of the next two years at the Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Virginia.
He again went to sea in June 1920, as commanding officer of the Marine Detachment aboard (BB-43). From August 1922 (was promoted to major in January 1923) to May 1926, Schmidt was a member of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia, first as a student, then as an instructor. Then followed a year in recruiting at St. Paul, Minnesota, and a six-month tour of foreign service with the Sixth Regiment in China. From February 1928 to June 1929, Schmidt was with the Second Brigade of Marines in Nicaragua as brigade intelligence and operations officer.
He returned to the United States to attend the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated on 18 June 1932. In addition to Command and General Staff School, he is a graduate of the Field Officers' Course, Marine Corps Schools, MCB Quantico, Virginia. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May 1934.
Death
Schmidt died on February 10, 1968, and was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.</blockquote>
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