| Albert Earnest Schwab | |
|---|---|
| Albert E. Schwab, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Born | July 17, 1920 Washington, D.C. |
| Died | May 7, 1945 (aged 24) KIA on Okinawa |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1944-1945 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 1st Battalion, 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars | World War II *Battle of Okinawa |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Private First Class Albert Earnest Schwab (July 17, 1920–May 7, 1945) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic actions during the Battle of Okinawa. Just five days short of completing one year of United States Marine Corps service, on May 7, 1945, PFC Schwab singlehandedly destroyed two highly strategic Japanese gun positions during a critical stage of battle, allowing his pinned down unit to advance.
Contents |
Albert Earnest Schwab was born on July 17, 1920 in Washington, D.C. The family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, early in his life. He attended the local schools, graduating from Tulsa High School in 1937. After one semester at Tulsa University, the young athlete went to work for an oil company.[1]
Inducted into the Marine Corps on May 12, 1944, he was sent to recruit training in San Diego, California. His boot leave of ten days was the only time his family was to see him in the Marine uniform. After his furlough, the former oil worker went to the 2nd Training Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California. In November, Pvt Schwab was transferred to the 13th Replacement Draft and on the November 12, 1944 departed for overseas duty aboard the USS Wharton (AP-7). He joined the 1st Marine Division at Pavuvu Island, in the Russells, and was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. On December 24, 1944, Pvt Schwab was promoted to private first class and in February 1945, he, along with the rest of the division, embarked for maneuvers which eventually led to an enemy landing on the shores of Okinawa, Japan on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945.[1]
Private First Class Schwab was a flame thrower operator with Headquarters Company. When that company was pinned down in a valley on May 7, by the withering fire of a machine gun coming from a ridge high to the company's front, he scaled the cliff in the face of the devastating fire and attacked the gun with his flame thrower. Quickly demolishing the position and its crew, his company was able to occupy the ridge. Suddenly, a second machine gun opened fire inflicting more casualties on the unit. Although he had not had time to replenish his supply of fuel, PFC Schwab unhesitatingly advanced on the second gun and succeeded in eliminating it before its final burst caught him in the left hip, inflicting fatal wounds.[1]
Private First Class Schwab's body was returned to the United States and buried with full military honors at Memorial Park, Tulsa on February 27, 1949.[1]
The Medal of Honor was presented to PFC Schwab's three-year-old son at Boulder Park in Tulsa on Memorial Day 1946 by Rear Admiral J.J. Clark, USN, Commander of the Naval Air Basic Training Command, Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas.[1]
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ALBERT E. SCHWAB
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN