Russell Warren Schmitt was born in Queens, NY in 1923, son of Henry and Minerva Schmitt. At the time of his enlistment, the family was living in Poughkeepsie, New York. Schmitt enlisted on December 17, 1940 at age 18. He was first sationed at the Naval Training Station in Newport, Rhode Island. On March 1, 1941, he began training in Diesel engines at the Navy's Great Lakes Training Station. On December 7, 1941, Schmitt was stationed in Pearl Harbor, HI.
MM2c Schmitt was on board the USS Brooks, APD-10 during the invasion at Lingayan Gulf when the ship was hit on the port side by a suicide plane which started a fire amid ships. Eight of Brooks' crew (including Schmitt) were killed and 11 wounded.
MM2c Schmitt's group includes his officially engraved posthumous Type 2 Purple Heart with its short titled presentation box, American Defense medal with Fleet bar, American Campaign medal, and ribbon bars. Also included is the original official Purple Heart Certificate.
The events of January 6, 1945 are described as follows: Japanese suicide plane attacks intensify against Lingayan Gulf invasion force. Kamikazes damage battleships New Mexico (BB-40) (killing members of an observing British military mission) and California (BB-44), Columbia (CL-56) and Newcomb (DD-586) (also hit by friendly fire) and Richard P. Leary (DD-664), Louisville (CA-28), Allen M. Sumner (DD-692), and O'Brien (DD-725). Lowry (DD-770) is damaged by friendly fire.
Kamikazes sink Long (DMS-12), and damage Southard (DMS-10), Brooks (APD-10) and Walke (DD-723).
As a consequence of the kamikaze attacks, TF 38 (VAdm McCain) shifts from Formosa to airfields and shipping in Luzon area. In South China Sea off northern Luzon, Navy carrier-based planes sink army cargo ship, 2 tankers, and four smaller merchant ships.
SOLD to a collector 04-2021
