Schwab Marines honor camp namesake with memorial ceremony on Okinawa

05.30.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Hlavac 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Tyler Hlavac
III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs

CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan — More than 60 Marines and sailors on Camp Schwab gathered to remember the achievements of the camp's namesake, Pfc. Albert Schwab, during a ceremony May 23.

During the ceremony, the Marines and Sailors paid tribute to the accomplishments of Schwab as a precursor to the Memorial Day Weekend.

"This ceremony really gave the Marines and sailors a sense of pride and understanding of the sacrifices it takes for service members to serve their country," said Col. P.E. Smith, the commanding officer of 4th Marine Regiment and camp commander for Camp Schwab. "We have a lot of heroes in the Marine Corps, but the fact that this camp is named after Schwab is especially important to us."

During the ceremony, Pfc. Drew Sims, an intelligence analyst with 4th Marines, read Pfc. Schwab's Medal of Honor citation to those gathered.

According to the citation, Schwab received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions May 7, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, the largest amphibious invasion during the Pacific campaign of World War II.

Schwab Marines honor camp namesake with memorial ceremony Schwab served as a flame thrower operator with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. During the invasion, his company was pinned down in a valley and suffered heavy casualties from blanketing machine-gun fire from an enemy position high on a ridge.

Unable to flank the enemy emplacement because of steep cliffs on either side, Schwab advanced up the face of the ridge directly in the line of the enemy fire. With his flame thrower, he incinerated the hostile gun position enabling his company to claim the ridge. Moments later, a second Japanese machine gun opened fire, hitting several Marines with its initial burst.

Schwab elected to continue his one-man assault despite a diminished supply of fuel for his flame thrower. He charged forward in the face of enemy fire, and closed in on the enemy position.

He managed to destroy the second gun position but not before being mortally wounded by a final burst from the enemy weapon. He was 25 years old.

Sims said that Schwab's actions set a high standard to live up to.

"Schwab's actions were very courageous, especially as he was only armed with a flamethrower, yet he took the gun positions on his own," said Sims. "What he did says a lot about his character. He was willing to give his life for the Corps and he set a standard of bravery that we should all strive for."

• Date Taken: 05.30.2008
• Date Posted: 05.29.2008 01:58
• Story ID: 19892