Erwin Schmidt
Virgil, South Dakota
Beadle County

June 18, 1918 – July 27, 1944
Killed in Action in France

Erwin Schmidt was born June 18, 1918, near Alpena, South Dakota, to Jacob and Emma Schmidt. The family later moved to Virgil. After Erwin graduated from Virgil High School in 1935, he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad before he entered the service.

Drafted into the Army in March of 1942, Erwin entered active service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was trained at Camp Barkley, Texas. In February of 1944, Schmidt went overseas to the European Theater under General Patton’s command in the 359th Infantry, 90th Division.

On July 27, 1944, Staff Sergeant Erwin Schmidt was killed in action near Normandy, France. It is thought that he stepped on a land mine and died of his injuries. Although originally buried overseas, S/Sgt. Schmidt’s remains were returned to the United States after the war and reburied with military honors at the Virgil Cemetery, where he rests next to his parents.

Erwin was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and Marksmanship Medal. The Legion Hall in Virgil is named the Schmidt-Barnes Post partly in his memory.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Nicholas Butts, Wolsey High School, Wolsey, South Dakota. Information for this entry was provided by an application for a SD veteran’s bonus payment and by Alma Leonard, Sutter Creek, California, sister to Erwin Schmidt.

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