William Schmidt MOH

b. 10/07/1846 Tiffin, Ohio. d. 03/06/1905 Minneapolis, Minnesota.

DATE OF MOH ACTION: 25/11/1863 Missionary Ridge, Tennessee.

Schmidt enlisted in the Army as a private on 12 September 1861 in Maumee and was mustered into Company G, 37th Ohio Infantry on the same day. The company mustered into service on 2 October 1861 at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio.

During his unit’s attack on Confederate positions at Missionary Ridge and while under heavy fire, Schmidt volunteered to rescue drummer John S. Kountz, who later also earned a Medal of Honor. Kountz had been shot in the left leg and was lying in the line of fire. Despite Kountz saying “Save yourself. I am a goner anyhow”, Schmidt picked him up and carried him to safety. This was the first instance of a Medal of Honor recipient saving another recipient. He did not receive the Medal until November 9, 1895.

 

MOH CITATION:

Rescued a wounded comrade under terrific fire.
BURIAL LOCATION: LAKEWOOD CEMETERY, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
SECTION 8, TIER GAR-E, GRAVE 74.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.