Howard Richard Schmidt

Howard Richard R Schmidt Howard R Schmidt was born June 7, 1920 in Chicago, IL, son of Marian Jennie Jablecnik of Missouri and Frank Albert Schmidt of Pennsylvania.He graduated from Fenger High School in 1939. He was Lt Col commander of his ROTC battalion of 287 cadets and a sharpshooter. He graduated from University of Illinois in 1942 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. While in college, he was elected Captain of his regiment of the Scabbard and Blade the National Honorary Military Fraternity and a member of Pershing Rifles. He joined the Army Air Corps in June 1942 and served in what later became the Air Force for 20 years. He earned Master?s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1946, Aeronautics from California Institute of Technology in 1950 and a post Graduate Course in Nuclear Reactor Science and Technology from Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology in 1957. He was a member of the Society of Sigma Xi.In July 1945, he was the flight engineer in one of the 15 Silverplate B-29s, modified to deliver atomic weapons, on a test flight to the Asian-Pacific Theater. The crew named the plane ?Whiz Kids?. On August 6, the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Japan. He was awarded the Bronze Star for participation in the Air Offensive Japan Campaign, the American Offensive, World War II and National Defense. His documentary of the flight is preserved in the Library of Congress, Veteran?s History collection.After the War, he was assigned to the American Embassy in London for three years as the Air Technical Liaison Officer in the Office of Air Attach?. From 1951 to 1955, he was assigned to Air Force Headquarters in Washington, DC directorate for development of solid and liquid fuel for rockets. As a secondary duty, he was appointed as a White House Aide under Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. From 1955 to 1960, he managed the Rover program, a joint project between the Air Force and the Atomic Energy Commission, to develop nuclear rocket propulsion for missile applications. Howard planned and coordinated the construction of the nuclear rocket test site at Jackass Flats in Nevada and the testing of KIWI experimental reactors. From 1960 to 1962, he was assigned to NASA to develop a flight version of the nuclear rocket engine for manned space missions to Mars named the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application NERVA. After retiring from the Air Force in 1962, Howard joined Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in California to continue his work in nuclear propulsion applications. When the NASA budget for space programs was cut in 1971, he returned to Washington, DC to the Department of Transportation, Office of Research and Development, where he applied his expertise to ground transportation systems. In 1984, Howard was assigned to the newly created Office of Commercial Space Transportation to develop the technical safety standards in support of regulations for commercial space vehicles. Throughout his distinguished career, he held positions of leadership and was awarded numerous commendations.He married Betty May Terrett in 1954. Three children were born in the marriage; Howard R. Schmidt Jr., Lisa Louise Schmidt, and Heidi Jayne Patton Turley. He divorced in 1979. On August 9, 1986, he married Joyce McCallister Amenta who now survives him. He is survived by his brother Raymond Schmidt of St Louis, MO. He is also survived by his three children, two grandchildren Preston Patton and Monica Patton, and two great-grand-children; as well as two stepchildren Dori Amenta Semenov Anastasia and Nicholas and Dr. Cira Amenta Cochran Hope and Sophia. Lt. Col Schmidt passed away at home in Alexandria, VA on Monday February 20, 2012. A visitation will be held at Cunningham Funeral Home from 10-11 am Thursday June 28, 2012. His memorial service will be at 1:00 pm Thursday 28 June, 2012 at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, followed by his burial with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to Alzheimer?s Family Day Center, www.alzheimersfdc.org, 703-204-4664.