Evening star., 1944-09-10

crewmen followed In the wake
Of assault troops, unloaded equip
ment on heavily-mined beaches,
and, despite constant harassment
by Jap snipers, put Orote Field
into operation only q few hours
after 1t had been cleared of Its or
ganized Jap resistance. On several
occasions Col. Schrider himself
barely escaped bullets aimed by
snipers infesting the cave-surround-
ed airf1eld.
Cruised Near Shore Batteries.
During the fierce naval shelling
and aerial bombardment, which pre-
ceded the marine landing, the Mary
land airman was aboard a vessel in
the task force which cruised for days
under the muzzles Of Jap coastal de-
lenses.
A former member of famous
marine aerial stunt team, the 40
year-old colonel is a veteran of
action at Attu and in the Gilberts,
where he was acting chief of staff
to Marine 1t. Gen. Holland M.
Smith, commanding general, Fleet
Marine Force, Pacific.
His present key tactical command
followed a letter of commendation
from Admiral Chester w. Nimitz,
commander In chief Pacific Fleet
and Pacific Ocean areas, awarded
for outstanding work as air ofncer
on the staff Of the 5th Amphibious
Corps.
The citation accompanying his
commendation ribbon praised Col.
Schrider's Outstanding knowledge
Of amphibious landing doctrines and
ability as a pilot and air tactician"
and credited him with "the develop
ment and coordination Of air power
in connection with amphibious doc
ktrines."
Star Hurler at Maryland.
Born In Takoma Park, Col. Schrider
attended the Districts schools and
st. Johns Junior College before en-
tering the University OF Maryland.
At Maryland he was star pitcher
on the varsity baseball team, and
years later continued his diamond
career by coaching a championship
team at Pensacola Naval Air Station
in Florida.
Upon graduation from college in
1925, he was selected for a second
lieutenant's commission in the Ma
rine Corps. He began flight train
ing in 1928 and, after winning his
marine wings next year, joined a
marine fighter stunt team which
entertained crowds at fairs and air
races all over the country.
| After a short tour in Haiti, he en-
barked on the 1890 marine expedi-
ton to Nicaragua. where he was
awarded the Nicaraguan Medal of
Valor for his air@ervice.
Long on Duty In d. C.
From 1894 to 1887 Col. Schrider
was on duty in Washington in the
procurement section of the Navy
Bureau of Aeronautics before going
to sea for carriers duty.
When war broke out he was air
officer on the staff of the command
ing general, Amphibious Corps, At
lantic Fleet, and subsequently was
sent to Washington again to serve
in the amphibious war sec.ion, COM
mander in chief, United States Fleet.
Transferring to the West Coast,
Col. Shrider helped train and
then accompanied units which
wrested Attu and the Aleutian chain
from the Japs. After Attu came
Maxim and Tarawa. He embarked on
the Guam invasioon after a period
as marine air commander on Mid
way.
One of six brothers, Col. Schrider
also has a sister, Mrs. Francis M.
Sullivan. who lives in Silver Spring.
Four Of his brothers-John B., Alfred
", William A. and Joseph Give
with their families in Silver Spring,
and a fifth. James E. Schrider, is
employed by the Gosnell Construc-
ton Co. in Washington.
His wife, Mrs. Mary Inez Schrider,
is presently residing in La Jolla,
Calf