|
William David Schmitz
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class
H&S CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Navy
Duluth, Minnesota
November 07, 1945 to December 27, 1967
KIA: Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam
the One Called "Doc..." Remembrance posted by HMCM John Bruneel, Retired
I'm the One Called "Doc…"
I shall not walk in your footsteps,
but I will walk by your side.
I shall not walk in your image,
I've earned my own title of pride.
We've answered the call together,
on sea and foreign land.
When the cry for help was given,
I've been there right at hand.
Whether I am on the ocean
or in the jungle wearing greens,
Giving aid to my fellow man,
be it Sailors or Marines.
So the next time you see a corpsman
and you thing of calling him "squid",
Think of the job he's doing
as those before him did.
And if you ever have to go out there
and you life is on the block,
Look at the one right next to you…
I'm the one called "Doc".
|
Clarence Weegman
I was on a Christmas leave from the United States Navy, and I ran into Bill. We went through St. James together, and I remember calling him Carrot Top because of his read hair. Needless to say, we went to a local pub and like to sailors drank our share. We left the pub and walked up the middle of the street with our arms over each others shoulders. We spoke about our dreams and futures when out service time was over. Bill went back and I still had 23 days leave left. I returned to my ship, and received a letter from my Mother that Carrot top was killed. I cried. In writing this I have tears in my eyes. Billy was a good friend and real HERO. I think of Carrot Top often and realize that it's men and women like him that gave me the freedom to enjoy a wonderful and fulfilling life. Thanks Bill for your sacrifice. I will never forget.
Butch Weegman
Karl Kuth
Father Fox Took Bill Schmitz, Jimmy Burk and myself out to Stowe Vermount Skiing . I know Bill as a personality very similar to Jim Norman... quiet and nice , thoughtful and helpful. When attempting to dine in an upscale Italian New york restraunt and the Maitre de' informed us "friends ...There is a tie required here " Bill Replied in a subdued but firm voice to that gatekeeper ."..your using that term " Friend" rather loosely"!. A very dry but definite humor. We experienced times square on New Years Eve, The Rockettes, and a St. Patrick's Cathedral New Years Mass with ALL THE CARDINALS !!!! We are fortunate to reflect upon what character and friend we had in Bill as our friend. May he rest in peace with our Lord.