Alexander Schmidt collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 16.0018

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This World War II collection covers the overseas experience of a sailor in the U.S. Navy aboard the escort aircraft carrier U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE 62), Composite Squadron 63 (VC-63). The collection includes sets of uniforms, a bomber jacket, personal papers, medals, awards, and a plaque. His personal papers include personnel documents, two journals, captured Japanese papers, the Bluejacket Manual, Natoma Bay records, and various publications from and about the Natoma Bay Association. The papers primarily document his time spent in the Pacific Campaign, although his records also date his trainings in Rhode Island and Jacksonville, Florida. This sailor also has a memoir titled Between Here and There that details his life and military experiences. He died in 2010.

Dates

1942-1945
Other: Date acquired: 08/03/2016

Creator

Schmidt, Alexander (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Alexander Herman Schmidt was born on August 5, 1921, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1942. He attended training in Rhode Island and Jacksonville, Florida until he went aboard the U.S.S. Natoma Bay in June 1943. He served aboard the U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62) , Composite Squadrom 63 (VC-63) until his discharge in December 1945. Initially, he was a gunner on a Grumman Avenger until he was grounded due to an ear infection. After that he serviced aircraft aboard the Natoma Bay. While aboard the Natoma Bay, Schmidt saw much combat in the Pacific, namely in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and other major Pacific Island battles such as Okinawa and Iwo Jima. Along with Pacific battles, his ship also survived a Kamikaze attack. He also wrote a memoir titled Between Here and There that details his life experiences. Schmidt passed in 2010.