Military Figure. He was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, whose heroic actions became the subject of a book, "Al Schmid, Marine," which was adapted into a 1945 Hollywood film. Born Albert Andrew Schmid, the son of German immigrants Marian and Adolph Schmid, he was a steel burner apprentice at the Dodge Steel Company in Philadelphia in 1940. Two days after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After training, he was assigned duty with the 11th Machine Gun Squad, Company H, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. His division landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands on August 7, 1942. He, along with Corporal Leroy Diamond and Private First Class John Rivers, manned a .30-caliber machinegun on the west bank of the Tenaru (Ilu) River. On August 21, 1942, Japanese troops attacked the Marine perimeter during the night. Their machine gun nest of sandbags and coconut logs, which were placed around their foxhole, while palm leaves and jungle growth further concealed them from the enemy, yet they became a target of enemy fire. When incessant attacks killed Rivers, Schmid took his place, and Diamond kept reloading the weapon, a M1917A1 Browning, as Schmid maintained a constant fire. When Diamond took a bullet in his arm, Schmid had to continue both firing and reloading with minimal assistance for four hours. Finally, a grenade exploded near their position with shrapnel peppering his shoulder, arm, hand, and face, blinding him. With Diamond acting as their eyes, however, Schmid continued to fire until relieved. He returned to the United States in the fall of 1942, a patient at the naval hospital in San Diego, California. After numerous surgeries on his face and eyes, he lost the sight in one eye, the other was badly damaged and he had facial scarring. In 1943, he married Ruth "Babs" Hartley, who became a part of this disabled veteran's physical as well as mental recovery. For their actions, Rivers, Schmid, and Diamond were awarded the Navy Cross on February 18, 1943, Schmid was promoted to corporal. He received his medal at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. For defending Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, his citation read, "In spite of tremendous difficulties, the enemy attack was courageously met and repulsed by fierce and determined fighting during which Private Schmidt was seriously wounded. His personal valor and loyal devotion to duty contributed to the defeat of the enemy." The heroes were also awarded a Purple Heart for their injuries. The "Philadelphia Enquirer" awarded him a Hero Award and a check for $1,000. Author Roger Butterfield wrote a best-selling book, "Al Schmid, Marine," which was adapted to the box-office-successful 1945 feature film, "Pride of the Marines." Schmid agreed to appear at war bond, hospital, and charity events during his convalescence. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve on December 9, 1944 at the rank of sergeant. He became the Democrat candidate for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Internal Affairs in 1946, but lost the election. After problems with cold winters, he retired in 1957 to Florida, close to the Veterans Hospital in St. Petersburg. He succumbed to bone cancer at age 62, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.