William R. Schmidt

William Richard Schmidt

Born	October 14, 1889 Verdigre, Nebraska, United States
Died	July 18, 1967 (aged 77) Washington, D.C., United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1913--1951
Rank	Major General
Unit	Infantry Branch
Commands held	39th Infantry Regiment 76th Infantry Division 3rd Infantry Division 101st Airborne Division
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II Cold War
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit

Major General William Richard Schmidt (October 14, 1889 -- July 18, 1966) was a decorated United States Army officer who spent most of World War II as commanding the 76th Infantry Division.

William Richard Schmidt was born on October 14, 1889, the son of Joseph Karl and his wife Anna (néé Haman). Seeking a military career, he entered the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York in 1909. He graduated four years later on June 12, 1913, which led to him being commissioned as an officer, with the rank of second lieutenant, into the Infantry Branch of the United States Army on the same date. Many of his fellow classmates who he graduated alongside would, like Schmidt, attain high rank and become general officers in the years to come, during World War II. They included Douglass T. Greene, Paul Newgarden, Robert L. Spragins, Louis A. Craig, Lunsford E. Oliver, Henry B. Lewis, John E. McMahon, Jr., Carlos Brewer, Richard U. Nicholas, Alexander Patch, Robert H. Van Volkenburgh, Willis D. Crittenberger, Robert M. Perkins, William A. McCulloch, Geoffrey Keyes, Selby H. Frank, Charles H. Corlett and Henry B. Cheadle, along with numerous others.