Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Second Lieutenant George E. Schmidt was serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, First U.S. Army.
On that morning, 2LT Schmidt's unit was in action against German forces as he led 30 men from Company E through the fields east of the road from Angoville-au-Plain in an assault against German forces positioned in farm buildings at Les Droueries. As 2LT Schmidt's group advanced, it came under heavy German mortar fire. 2LT Walter W. Wood of C Company, 1st Battalion, 501st PIR led 20 paratroopers from the 506th PIR against the building south of the crossroad. The building and surrounding field were heavily defended by the Germans, intent on blocking the route to the 501st PIR's strategic objective of the lock at La Barquette. Although 2LT Schmidt's attack was successful, he was killed by sniper fire and 4 other paratroopers were wounded. 2LT Schmidt's leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Second Lieutenant George E. Schmidt was serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, First U.S. Army.
On that morning, 2LT Schmidt's unit was in action against German forces as he led 30 men from Company E through the fields east of the road from Angoville-au-Plain in an assault against German forces positioned in farm buildings at Les Droueries. As 2LT Schmidt's group advanced, it came under heavy German mortar fire. 2LT Walter W. Wood of C Company, 1st Battalion, 501st PIR led 20 paratroopers from the 506th PIR against the building south of the crossroad. The building and surrounding field were heavily defended by the Germans, intent on blocking the route to the 501st PIR's strategic objective of the lock at La Barquette. Although 2LT Schmidt's attack was successful, he was killed by sniper fire and 4 other paratroopers were wounded. 2LT Schmidt's leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Second Lieutenant George E. Schmidt was serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, First U.S. Army.
On that morning, 2LT Schmidt's unit was in action against German forces as he led 30 men from Company E through the fields east of the road from Angoville-au-Plain in an assault against German forces positioned in farm buildings at Les Droueries. As 2LT Schmidt's group advanced, it came under heavy German mortar fire. 2LT Walter W. Wood of C Company, 1st Battalion, 501st PIR led 20 paratroopers from the 506th PIR against the building south of the crossroad. The building and surrounding field were heavily defended by the Germans, intent on blocking the route to the 501st PIR's strategic objective of the lock at La Barquette. Although 2LT Schmidt's attack was successful, he was killed by sniper fire and 4 other paratroopers were wounded. 2LT Schmidt's leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Second Lieutenant George E. Schmidt was serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, First U.S. Army.
On that morning, 2LT Schmidt's unit was in action against German forces as he led 30 men from Company E through the fields east of the road from Angoville-au-Plain in an assault against German forces positioned in farm buildings at Les Droueries. As 2LT Schmidt's group advanced, it came under heavy German mortar fire. 2LT Walter W. Wood of C Company, 1st Battalion, 501st PIR led 20 paratroopers from the 506th PIR against the building south of the crossroad. The building and surrounding field were heavily defended by the Germans, intent on blocking the route to the 501st PIR's strategic objective of the lock at La Barquette. Although 2LT Schmidt's attack was successful, he was killed by sniper fire and 4 other paratroopers were wounded. 2LT Schmidt's leadership, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.
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Entered the service from Ohio.
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