[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 65 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM T. SCHMIDT

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
William T. Schmidt of South Bend, IN, for his outstanding service to 
public safety. I would like to share with my colleagues the story of a 
man dedicated to the well-being of his country and his community.
  Mr. Schmidt served bravely in World War II. In 1941, at the age of 
17, he was aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia when it was struck by three 
aerial bombs and seven torpedoes while docked in Pearl Harbor. Although 
the ship sank within 7 minutes, he survived and in his role as 
pharmacist mate was able to help out many after the attack. Mr. Schmidt 
again served his country in 1950 during the Korean conflict as a member 
of the air-sea rescue unit.
  In 1953 Mr. Schmidt returned to South Bend, IN, and began his 22-year 
career with the South Bend Fire Department. For the last 11 years of 
that career he served as a fire instructor in the Fire Training Bureau. 
It was during that time that Bill helped author the crash fire rescue 
training manual which is still used today by the International Fire 
Service Training Association [IFSTA]. Also, the Federal Aviation 
Administration sent Bill to several landing facilities in Hawaii and 
the South Pacific to help develop air-crash safety programs.
  After retiring from the South Bend Fire Department, Mr. Schmidt moved 
to Wisconsin to teach fire sciences programs at the Northeast Wisconsin 
Technical Institute. He also served as fire chief for the Green Bay, 
WI, Austin-Straubel Air Field. However, Mr. Schmidt was again drawn to 
Indiana. He returned in 1986 to join the Michiana Regional Airport 
staff as a consultant and crash fire rescue instructor. Twice a year 
Bill has put on his silver fire suit and walked through aviation fuel 
fires at the World Class Aircraft Fire Rescue Schools in order to teach 
crash-fire rescue techniques. In addition, Bill worked on airport and 
St. Joseph County disaster plans and serves as a member of the St. 
Joseph County Local Emergency Planning Committee [LEPC]
  Mr. Schmidt exemplifies the word service. He has committee his life 
to education and the saving of lives. Please join me in honoring a man 
dedicated to his country and his community.

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