Rudolph "Rudy" Edward Schmitz

Rudolph Edward Schmitz was born in Glendale, California, on August 16, 1924. 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). As an engineering student, Rudolph would have been in Company B. 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. Discovered later, 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. Today he is laid to rest in the same Californian cemetery as his father, Rudolph Sr., and mother, Ruperta, who are buried nearby.