HUGO SCHMIDT, LCDR, USN

Hugo Schmidt '16

Date of birth: February 8, 1895

Date of death: February 27, 1928

Age: 33

Lucky Bag

From the 1916 Lucky Bag:

Hugo Schmidt

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Hugo"

HUGO started his sojourn here under a handicap, thanks to one of his company mates—a youngster; his first year was all uphill by the same token—but now we are glad to say he is on the downward path. It is easy to forget one's first unfavorable opinions when a man's true character unfolds itself as favorably as has that of our hero. Unlike most heroes this German has weaknesses; but they are all of a pleasant nature and serve to enliven the dullest party, and make the man an always welcome and congenial companion.

He is a man who can discriminate between work and play as only a man can. His three stripes and class standing bear witness to his aptitude and perseverance along academic lines, and if you don't believe me about that "play" question go to France or the West coast, and gape in awe at the tales that even now are upon every lip—tales of conquest and of revelry. But then he is a thorough German in that as in every respect. It is even said of him that the only reason he started from the Virginia capes to Frisco was that he might be in trim for the anticipated hilarity along the California littoral.

Hugo is wise in the ways of the unfair sex, but is also a man's man. The old 6th was a happy home under his guiding hand, and a master's job in the Sixth is a dubious billet, with such worthies as Tittering Tom, Jimmie Steele, Sue and other cut-ups in the file closers.

To sum it all up, Hugo is the finest sort of man, one who will make good wherever he goes—and what is more, he has the rare gift of combined brains, efficiency and good-fellowship.

We all hope you're not a spy, Hugo old man, for we aim to keep you in the outfit till the joys of life no longer lure.

Three Stripes; Lacrosse Numerals.

Hugo Schmidt

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Hugo"

HUGO started his sojourn here under a handicap, thanks to one of his company mates—a youngster; his first year was all uphill by the same token—but now we are glad to say he is on the downward path. It is easy to forget one's first unfavorable opinions when a man's true character unfolds itself as favorably as has that of our hero. Unlike most heroes this German has weaknesses; but they are all of a pleasant nature and serve to enliven the dullest party, and make the man an always welcome and congenial companion.

He is a man who can discriminate between work and play as only a man can. His three stripes and class standing bear witness to his aptitude and perseverance along academic lines, and if you don't believe me about that "play" question go to France or the West coast, and gape in awe at the tales that even now are upon every lip—tales of conquest and of revelry. But then he is a thorough German in that as in every respect. It is even said of him that the only reason he started from the Virginia capes to Frisco was that he might be in trim for the anticipated hilarity along the California littoral.

Hugo is wise in the ways of the unfair sex, but is also a man's man. The old 6th was a happy home under his guiding hand, and a master's job in the Sixth is a dubious billet, with such worthies as Tittering Tom, Jimmie Steele, Sue and other cut-ups in the file closers.

To sum it all up, Hugo is the finest sort of man, one who will make good wherever he goes—and what is more, he has the rare gift of combined brains, efficiency and good-fellowship.

We all hope you're not a spy, Hugo old man, for we aim to keep you in the outfit till the joys of life no longer lure.

Three Stripes; Lacrosse Numerals.

Loss

Hugo was lost on February 27, 1928, when the plane he was aboard crashed into the Chesapeake Bay en route to Annapolis. He was a member of USS Lexington (CV 2).

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In April 1910, Hugo, a pupil of Theodore G. Wettach, participated in a piano recital at the Emanual church. Hugo played Rubenstein’s “Melody in F” and Eilenberg’s “Chasing Butterflies.”
He graduated from Allegheny High School in 1912. He was in the cast of the senior class play, “She Stoops to Conquer,” performed on May 3.
Hugo married Juanita Natalie Garcia at her parents’ home in New York City on November 30, 1918. Their son was Hugo, Jr. (’42.) Juanita married George Booker and lived in Tampa, Florida, from at least 1930. She died in 1975.
Juanita offered a reward of $1,000 for definite information leading to the recovery of the plane or the bodies. Admiral Charles F. Hughes, chief of naval operations, already had offered a $100 reward.
Hugo’s body was found on June 22 in Chesapeake Bay. His body was identified by initials on a belt buckle. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on the same day, June 26, as was 1LT Horace Busbey, USMC (’23).
His father Philipp, a saloon keeper and cigar manufacturer, and his mother Louisa were both born in Germany and married at the age of 17. His mother died in 1904. His father remarried Catherine, and he died in 1916. Hugo’s sister was Mrs. Helen S. Culver of Pittsburgh; and his four brothers were Arthur F. who was an attorney, Herbert W. who was in the Army, Julius C. who was in the Navy, and Philipp E. who became an Army major. The 1900 and 1910 census lists the letter “A” as Hugo’s middle initial.

He was designated naval aviator #2897 in 1920.

Hugo is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From the 1916 Lucky Bag
From The Pittsburgh Press on June 26, 1928
From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on June 25, 1928

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.