Rudolph "Rudy" Edward Schmitz

Rudolph "Rudy" Edward Schmitz was born in Glendale, California, on August 16, 1924. His father Rudolph Schmitz Sr. enlisted in the US Army in 1917, and served in World War I. Schmitz Sr. died in June of 1924, just two months before Rudolph was born. Rudolph and his mother Ruperta moved to Havre, Montana, where Ruperta worked as a telephone operator. In 1937, while Rudolph was a teenager, his mother died. Afterwards, Rudolph moved back to California, where he was adopted by Ruperta’s sister Cecilia Knochenhaur, and her husband John. Alongside the Knochenhaur’s daughter Mary, who was the same age, Rudolph attended Venice High School. While there, Rudolph was a member of the Aviation Club, the Manager’s Club, and Squires. After high school, Rudolph went on to work for the Cannon Electrical Manufacturing Company in his hometown of Glendale, California.

Rudolph Schmitz attended Washington State College from 1943-1944 after enlisting in the United States Army as part of the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). The program, designed to develop critical skills among army infantrymen, invited 18–20-year-olds to enlist and conduct targeted training at participating colleges and universities before moving on to basic training. Most participating schools invited these students to count their ASTP credits towards the fulfillment of a full degree at the end of the war. While some ASTP students might train as veterinarians, doctors, or dentists, the majority of young, enlisted soldiers like Rudolph trained as engineers. On campus, the ASTP units and staff were a central part of campus life, making up the majority of intramural sports teams as well as participating in regular clubs, fraternities, and academic organizations. Rudolph, in particular, enjoyed playing cageball (similar to indoor soccer) in his intramural company league. As an engineering student, Rudolph would have been in Company B. Unfortunately, the ASTP program was discontinued before Rudolph could finish the basic phase of his curricula training, and he was sent to the frontlines in Europe.

When Rudolph enlisted in December of 1942, he was just eighteen years old. After the Army Specialized Training Program was disbanded in 1944, Rudolph, alongside the rest of his ASTP cohort, was sent to the European theatre to serve with the 11th Armored Division. Within the 11th, Rudolph served in the 41st Tank Battalion where he earned the rank of Corporal before going MIA on December 30th, 1944. At the time Rudolph went missing his company was defending the town of Houmont, in Belgium. Rudolph was injured when a piece of artillery shell hit the side of his body and was subsequently taken to a field hospital in Lasavelle, Belgium, where he died shortly after intake.

Rudolph’s body was returned to the United States, at the request of his adopted family, and today he is buried in Los Angeles, California, in the Calvary Cemetery. He is laid to rest in the same cemetery as his father, Rudolph Sr., and mother, Ruperta, who are buried nearby.