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"Dubuque resident Dr. Steve Sloan never met his great-uncle Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt.
But in many ways, he feels like he knew the man. Stories about Schmitt’s life — and the heroism he displayed on the day of his death — were recounted at seemingly every family gathering Sloan attended.
Relatives beamed with pride as they told Sloan of how “Chaplain Al” saved the lives of 12 sailors on Dec. 7, 1941, and how he placed their well-being before his own during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
But Sloan always could tell something was missing from these stories. “The idea that the remains were never identified was problematic for all of Father Al’s siblings,” Sloan said of Schmitt’s nine older siblings. “It bothered them a lot that their youngest little brother never came home. I could always tell that was a sad point for them.”
After nearly 75 years, Schmitt’s family will receive the sense of closure they sought for so long. The remains of Schmitt — who was born in St. Lucas, Iowa, and attended what is now Loras College in Dubuque — have been discovered and identified in an effort led by the U.S. Department of Defense."
Continue reading here: http://www.thonline.com/news/public_announcements/article_4ff9ec81-318c-562f-8a50-49b5f9e9ab06.html
But in many ways, he feels like he knew the man. Stories about Schmitt’s life — and the heroism he displayed on the day of his death — were recounted at seemingly every family gathering Sloan attended.
Relatives beamed with pride as they told Sloan of how “Chaplain Al” saved the lives of 12 sailors on Dec. 7, 1941, and how he placed their well-being before his own during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
But Sloan always could tell something was missing from these stories. “The idea that the remains were never identified was problematic for all of Father Al’s siblings,” Sloan said of Schmitt’s nine older siblings. “It bothered them a lot that their youngest little brother never came home. I could always tell that was a sad point for them.”
After nearly 75 years, Schmitt’s family will receive the sense of closure they sought for so long. The remains of Schmitt — who was born in St. Lucas, Iowa, and attended what is now Loras College in Dubuque — have been discovered and identified in an effort led by the U.S. Department of Defense."
Continue reading here: http://www.thonline.com/news/public_announcements/article_4ff9ec81-318c-562f-8a50-49b5f9e9ab06.html