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Note: Notes for Ralph George Schmidt, Sr.: During World War 2, Ralph served with the U.S. Marines, from December 7, 1942, to November 24, 1945. From the September 29, 1945 <i>Sheboygan Press</i>, a mention of Ralph's WW2 bronze star award: <a href="https://goo.gl/photos/yq76aVDKrPgpyztH7">Story</a> The November 16, 1950 <i>Milwaukee Journal</i> printed a life changing story about Ralph and his family: <a href="https://goo.gl/photos/Zbvq7j2hzXm21t1Q9">Story</a> From the January 15, 2008 <i>Sheboygan Press,</i> an obituary for Ralph: <b>Ralph G. Schmidt Sr.</b> Ralph Schmidt, age 86 years of Belgium died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at his residence. He was born Dec. 22, 1921 in Port Washington, son of the late Charles and Clara Krier Schmidt. On May 4, 1946 he married Joan Parker at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Adell. She preceded him in death in 1997. Ralph proudly served in the US Marines during WW II and was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery under fire while on Iwo Jima. He worked at Continental Can Co. in Milwaukee for 32 years, retiring in 1983. He was a member of St. Mary Church, Lake Church, a charter member of the Belgium American Legion and VFW Post 5373, a member of the Belgium Volunteer Fire Department, Catholic Order of Foresters Court 1592, and the United Steel Workers of America. He is survived by his daughter Jane (Bob) Watry of Sheboygan, three sons John of Montrose, CO, Dan (Pauline) and Jeff of Port Washington, 16 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, his brother Melvin (Carmen) Schmidt of Texas and his sister Clarice (Frank) Buchholz of Grafton. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joan, daughter Chrysa Meyer, son Rev. Ralph Schmidt Jr., and nine brothers and sisters. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 11 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church, Lake Church with Father Guy Gurath officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be at the Church Wednesday from 9-11 AM. The Eernisse Funeral Home, Belgium is assisting the family with arrangements. - Ralph's FindAGrave memorial includes photos of him and his grave marker: <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23971435/ralph-george-schmidt">Memorial</a> Ralph's SSN was 396-16-6068. The first five numbers of his SSN show that he got his card and number in Wisconsin between 1936 and 1950. The Wisconsin Veteran's Museum interviewed Ralph George Schmidt, Sr. in 2003. The oral interview is mostly about Ralph's time as a U.S. Marine in the Pacific theater during World War 2. The interview has been transcribed and is available online as a 42 page pdf: <a href="http://www.wisvetsmuseum.com">Ralph G. Schmidt, Sr. 2003 interview</a> Ralph's personally taken war photographs are discussed near the end of the interview, but the photos are not included in, or linked to, in that transcription.
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