Albert E. Schwab
| 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 important Japanese machine gun positions during a critical stage of battle, allowing his pinned down unit to advance.
Albert Earnest Schwab was born on July 17, 1920 in Washington, D.C. Early in his life his family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he attended local schools, graduating from Tulsa High School in 1937. After one semester at the University of Tulsa, Schwab went to work for an oil company.
Inducted into the Marine Corps on May 12, 1944, he was sent for recruit training at the San Diego, California. After graduation he went home on ten days of leave; the only time his family was to see him in the Marine uniform. After this, Schwab was sent to the 2nd Training Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California. In November he 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 the shores of Okinawa, Japan on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945.
...
Wikipedia