Harry Schmidt ( USMC ) General Harry Schmidt ( 25 September 1886 – 10 February 1968 ) served as Commanding General of the Fourth Marine Division during the Marshall Islands campaign and the Battle of Saipan , and as Commanding General of the Fifth Amphibious Corps during the battles of Tinian and Iwo Jima , during World War II . A contemporary described him as " a Buddha , a typical old - time Marine : he had been in China ; he was regulation Old Establishment ; a regular Marine . " During the battle for Iwo Jima , he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the third Distinguished Service Medal for his part in this operation . His citation reads in part , " Against determined enemy resistance and incomparable natural defenses , Major General Schmidt skillfully directed the attack of his troops to capture and occupy this strategic island . He handled the various units under his command with brilliant tactical skill . His sound judgment , distinctive administrative ability and unfailing devotion to duty were vital factors in the success of the entire operation . " Early career . Harry Schmidt was born in Holdrege , Nebraska , on 25 September 1886 . He attended Nebraska State Normal College before entering the U . S . Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on 17 August 1909 . Following instruction at the Marine Officers ' School at Port Royal , South Carolina , he reported in January 1911 , at the Marine Barracks , Guam , Mariana Islands . While attached to this station , he accompanied an expeditionary force to Chefoo , China . In October 1912 , he was ordered to duty in the Philippines where he remained until detached to the United States in April 1913 . Following an assignment with the Recruiting Service in Minnesota , a tour of duty at the Marine Barracks , New Orleans , Louisiana , and temporary duty at Veracruz aboard USS " Kearsarge " ( BB - 5 ) in 1915 , he was ordered to sea duty aboard USS " Oklahoma " ( BB - 37 ) in May 1916 . In January 1917 , he went aboard USS " Montana " ( ACR - 13 ) and from 25 February to 22 March 1917 , was ashore with the ship ' s landing force at Guantanamo , Cuba . Leaving USS " Montana " in September 1918 , he spent most of the next two years at the Marine Barracks , Norfolk , Virginia . He again went to sea in June 1920 , as Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment aboard ( BB - 43 ) . From August 1922 to May 1926 , Schmidt was a member of the Marine Corps Schools , first as a student , then as an instructor . Then followed a year in recruiting at St . Paul , Minnesota , and a six - month tour of foreign service with the Sixth Regiment in China . From February 1928 to June 1929 , Schmidt was with the Second Brigade of Marines in Nicaragua as Brigade Intelligence and Operations Officer . He returned to the United States to attend the Command and General Staff School , Fort Leavenworth , Kansas , and graduated on 18 June 1932 . In addition to Command and General Staff School , he is a graduate of the Field Officers ' Course , Marine Corps Schools , MCB Quantico , Virginia . Following graduation , he was assigned to duty with the Paymaster Department and served variously at Headquarters , Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . ; with the Department of the Pacific , San Francisco ; the Fourth Marine Regiment , Shanghai , China ; and again with the Department of the Pacific . In June 1937 , he was assigned to the Second Marine Brigade . He sailed for Shanghai , China , in August with the Brigade as Chief of Staff and served in that capacity until detached to the United States in February 1938 . Schmidt was assigned to Headquarters , Marine Corps as Executive and Personnel Officer of the Paymaster Department in July 1938 , in which capacity he was found upon the country ' s entry into World War II . World War II . In January 1942 , he was appointed Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps , where he served until ordered to the Fourth Marine Division as Commanding General , which command he assumed on 18 August 1943 . He commanded the Fourth Division in the seizure of Roi - Namur in the Battle of Kwajalein and in the battle for Saipan . On 12 July 1944 , he assumed command of the Fifth Amphibious Corps and led that command in the assault and capture of Tinian Island . For exceptional meritorious service in the seizure and occupation of the Marshall Islands and in the assault and capture of Saipan and Tinian , General Schmidt was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal . Continuing in command of the Fifth Amphibious Corps , the General led it through the Iwo Jima operation . Following the conclusion of hostilities , the General led the Fifth Corps in the occupation of the Japan ese homeland . On 15 February 1946 , he was ordered back to the United States to assume command of the Marine Training and Replacement Command , San Diego Area , California . He served in that capacity until he concluded his 39 - year career as a Marine on 1 July 1948 , when he was advanced to the four - star rank of General upon retirement at the age of 61 . General Schmidt died 10 February 1968 .