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Walter Schindler (December 10, 1897 – April 3, 1991) was a highly decorated career officer in the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
, who ultimately achieved the rank of Vice Admiral. While a
Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...
during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Schindler received a
Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
and a
Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
for his service aboard the , including during the
Battle of the Coral Sea The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, the batt ...
. He was later twice awarded the
Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
.


Biography

Schindler was born on December 10, 1897 in
New Glarus, Wisconsin New Glarus is a village in Green County, Wisconsin, United States at the intersection of Wisconsin Highways 69 and 39. It has a population of 2,266 according to the 2020 census. The village, and the town that surrounds it, were named after the ...
, to S. A. Schindler and Anna Schindler. His father became a member of the
Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...
. Schindler graduated from the
University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
in
Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...
in 1917, before attending and graduating from the
United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
as a member of the Class of 1921. In 1935 he was ordered to duty with the
United States Asiatic Fleet The United States Asiatic Fleet was a fleet of the United States Navy during much of the first half of the 20th century. Before World War II, the fleet patrolled the Philippine Islands. Much of the fleet was destroyed by the Japanese by Februar ...
, and on July 1, 1936, assumed his first command (of the
minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...
)."Schindler Takes Command of Naval Forces, Germany," European Stars & Stripes, 1955-10-13 at p. 2. In May 1942, Schindler flew several missions in the back seat of
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers during the
Battle of the Coral Sea The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, the batt ...
. On May 7, he rode with future fighter ace Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa during the attack on the carrier ''Shoho'', filming the naval battle unfolding below him. Schindler's footage was later used to develop future strategies for aircraft carrier combat. On May 8, Commander Schindler flew as gunner to Lieutenant Turner Caldwell (Scouting 5's XO) in the attack on the carrier ''Shokaku''. During their run, the SBDs were beset by Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighters. Schindler fired at any that came within range, claiming one destroyed. Schindler was considered the first U.S. serviceman to shoot down a Zero from the rear seat of a navy dive bomber."Admiral Schindler to Direct Research," Wisconsin State Journal, 1950-07-22 at p. 12. His Navy Cross citation reads: :''The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Walter Gabriel Schindler, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Gunnery Officer on board the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. In order to advise his seniors more accurately and intelligently, Commander Schindler volunteered as free gunner in an airplane in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in three attacks against Japanese forces, at Tulagi on 4 May, although opposed by heavy anti-aircraft fire, and in two attacks on 7 and 8 May in the Coral Sea area, in the face of enemy fighters as well. He shot down a Zero type Japanese fighter which attacked the plane in which he was serving as free gunner on 8 May. His conspicuous intrepidity was above and beyond the call of duty on these occasions. Commander Schindler's conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.'' His Silver Star citation reads: :''The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Walter Gabriel Schindler, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Gunnery Officer on the Staff of Task Force Commander for the first ten months of World War II.'' Schindler commanded the ''Cleveland''-class
light cruiser A light cruiser is a type of small or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck. Prior to thi ...
following the end of the war (from November 7, 1945 to July 24, 1946). He also served as chief of research for the Navy's
Bureau of Ordnance The Bureau of Ordnance (BuOrd) was a United States Navy organization, which was responsible for the procurement, storage, and deployment of all naval weapons, between the years 1862 and 1959. History Congress established the Bureau in the Departmen ...
, and chief of the U.S. naval mission in
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
. In the 1950s, he served as commanding officer of the
Naval Ordnance Laboratory The Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL) was a facility in the White Oak area of Montgomery County, Maryland. It is now used as the headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Origins The U.S. Navy Mine Unit, later the Mine Laboratory at t ...
in
White Oak, Maryland White Oak is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 16,347 in 2020. White Oak was known for its Naval Ordnance Laboratory, which was closed in 1994. The headquar ...
, commanded the cruiser division off the coast of Korea, then served as assistant Chief of Naval Operations for first operations and readiness. Starting in 1955, he commanded U.S. naval forces in Germany, before becoming the commandant of the
Eighth Naval District The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...
, based in
New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster.
; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...
, in 1958."Rear Adm. Schindler to Dedicate Facility," Brownsville (TX) Bulletin, 1958-04-13 at p. 10.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schinder, Walter People from New Glarus, Wisconsin Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Navy admirals United States Naval Academy alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni United States Navy personnel of World War II Military personnel from Wisconsin 1897 births 1991 deaths