Paul H. Schmidt Private First Class, U.S. Army 37141093

6th Infantry, 1st Armored Division

Entered the Service from: Nebraska

Died: April 30, 1943

Buried at: Plot B Row 16 Grave 4, North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia

Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

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Paul Heinrich Schmidt was baptized 5 March 1916 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church by Pastor George W. Wolter.

He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, Nebraska, in 1930 by Pastor George W. Wolter. He attended Arlington High School for a few years and then farmed with his father.

Paul served with the United States Army during World War II. He entered the service of the United States Army 23 January 1942. After basic training in the United States Paul was sent overseas in June 1942 to North Ireland, never having had a furlough or seeing his family again. Sometime in October he was moved to Africa, being one of the first ones on African soil when the invasion of Africa was made on 7 November 1942. There he fought as a Private First Class until 1 May 194, when he was reported killed in action.

The Purple Heart was awarded posthumously to PFC Paul H. Schmidt, Infantry, who sacrificed his life in defense of his country. The Army and Navy Commission of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, gave the family the “In Memoriam” scroll in Paul’s honor.

(Photo of Memorial – Caption: In Honored Memory PFC PAUL H. SCHMIDT, Co. 11 6th Armored Infantry; Feb. 20 1946 – May 1, 1943; Killed In Action North Africa; Buried U.S. Cemetery Tunisia; Blessed Are The Dead Which Die In The Lord From Henceforth. Rev 14:13

A memorial service for Paul was held 26 September 1943 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, Nebraska. The service was conducted by Pastor Carl Hellmann. Paul is buried in an American Cemetery in Tunisia in North Africa. A memorial marker is on God’s Acre, St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, north of Arlington, Nebraska.

Enterprise 27 May 1943

Pfc. P. Schmidt Killed In African Combat May 1st

Arlington Boy Had Been In Overseas Action Since October

Private First Class Paul H. Schmidt, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Schmidt of Arlington, was killed in action in Africa on or about May 1st. The sad news reached his parents on Wednesday afternoon of this week, via a telegram from government officials.

P.F.C. Schmidt, a graduate of Arlington High School, had been with the armored infantry in Africa since last October.

Survivors include his parents, three sisters, Mrs. Gilbert Scheer, Irma and Lillian; and a brother, Curtis, all of Arlington.

Arlington Review Herald 27 May 1943

Son Reported Killed in Action

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Schmidt received a telegram Wednesday evening from the War Department informing them of the death of their son, Pfc. Paul Schmidt, in active service in North Africa.

Pfc. Paul Schmidt was born Febr. 20, 1916, and was a member of Co. H., 6th Armored Infantry, went to England after four months training following his induction into the United States Army 16 months ago. He was never home on furlough and his family’s only memory of him in the service are from pictures taken in his uniform. He was in the North Africa invasion which took place in November.

His family consists of his parents, three sisters, Mrs. Gilbert Scheer, Irma and Lillian and one brother, Curtis.

If Pfc. Schmidt’s death is confirmed by the War Department, a Memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran church with the pastor, Rev. Carl Hellmann in charge.

Enterprise 23 Sept 1943

Memorial Services For Pfc. Paul H. Schmidt

Arlington – Memorial services for Pfc. Paul H. Schmidt, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Schmidt, who died from wounds received in action in Africa on May 1st this year, will be held on Sunday morning at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, with Rev. Carl Hellmann in charge.

Paul was the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt, and was born here on February 20, 1916; he was baptized on March 5th, the same year, and was confirmed in St. Paul’s Lutheran church, on April 13th, 1930.

He assisted his father on the farm until his induction into the U.S. Army on January 23rd, 1942, and four months later he was sent overseas, never having had a furlough after his induction. After being stationed in Ireland for some time, he was sent with the first of American and British forces on the African invasion on November 7th, and was with the Infantry. The last letter the parents received was written as he was leaving Ireland, and was written on October 14th, 1942.

In a letter from Secretary Henry L. Stimson, he was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for military merit and wounds in action which resulted in death.

They also received a beautiful memorial certificate from the Army and Navy Commission of the Lutheran Church of the Missouri Synod.

Paul is survived by his parents, one brother, Curtis, and three sisters, Mrs. Gilbert Scheer, and Misses Lillian and Irma, both at home.

Members of the American Post, Leslie W. Brown, No. 72 will attend the services in a body.

Arlington Review Herald 23 Sept 1943

Memorial Service For Paul Schmidt

Memorial service will be held for Private First Class Paul H. Schmidt Sunday, September 26th, ?? o’clock at the St. Paul’s Lutheran church north of Arlington. Carl Hellman will officiate.

Paul was born February 20, 1916, and was baptized on March 5, 1916, and was confirmed in his church April 19, 1930. He also was a Walther League member.

Paul helped his father farming until he was drafted January 23, 1942. After four months in the States, Paul was sent overseas in June to North Ireland; never getting a furlough and never seeing any of his family again. Sometime in October he was moved to Africa, being one of the first when the invasion was made on November 7. There he fought until May first when he was reported killed in action.

The Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to Pfc. Paul H. Schmidt, Infantry, who sacrificed his life in defense of his country.

The Army and Navy Commission of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, gave the family the “Memorian” scroll in Paul’s honor.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Wm. H. Schmidt, sisters, Mrs. Gilbert Scheer, and Lillian and one brother, Curtis.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~