Battle of Kwajalein
In December 1941, Schmidt was promoted to brigadier general and in January 1942, he was appointed assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps. In September, he was promoted to major general. On 18 August 1943, he became the commanding general of the Fourth Marine Division. He commanded the Fourth Division in the seizure of Roi-Namur in the Battle of Kwajalein and in the battle for Saipan.