Christian F . Schilt Christian Frank Schilt ( March 19 , 1895 – January 8 , 1987 ) was one of the first Marine Corps aviators and a recipient of the United States highest military decoration , the Medal of Honor . He received the Medal for using his biplane to evacuate wounded Marines under fire in Nicaragua . In addition to his actions in Nicaragua he saw action in World War I , World War II , the Haitian and Nicaraguan campaigns and the Korean War . He retired after nearly 40 years of active service and was promoted to the rank of four - star general at retirement . Early life and education . Christian Frank Schilt was born March 19 , 1895 , in Richland County , Illinois , and after attending Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute , Indiana , he enlisted in the Marine Corps June 23 , 1917 . Military career . As an enlisted man he served at Ponta Delgada , in the Azores , with the 1st Marine Aeronautical Company , a seaplane squadron assigned to anti - submarine patrol . This was the first organized American air unit of any service to go overseas during World War I . Returning to the United States as a corporal , he entered flight training at the Marine Flying Field , Miami , Florida . He was designated an aviator June 5 , 1919 , and commissioned a second lieutenant five days later . That October , he began his first tour of expeditionary duty as a member of Squadron " D , " Marine Air Forces , 2nd Provisional Brigade , in Santo Domingo . He returned to the United States in February 1920 , to enter the Marine Officers Training School , Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia . Completing the course in August 1920 , he went overseas again the following month , joining squadron " E " of Marine Aviation Forces , 1st Provisional Brigade , at Port - au - Prince , Haiti . He was transferred to the 2d Brigade the following March to make an aerial survey and mosaic map of the coast line of the Dominican Republic . After completing that assignment he returned to Quantico in October 1922 . Except for service at Naval Air Station , Pensacola , Florida , from January to July 1923 , and completion of a three - month photographic course at the Air Service Technical School , Chanute Field , Illinois , in 1925 , Schilt remained at Quantico for the next five years . While attached to that post , he won second place in the Schneider International Seaplane Race at Norfolk , in November 1926 , flying a special Curtiss racer at a speed of 231 . 3 mph ( 372 . 2 km / h ) over seven laps of a triangular 50 km course . In November 1927 , Schilt was ordered to Managua , Nicaragua , where he joined Observation Squadron 7 - M . He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism from 6 to January 8 , 1928 , at Quilali , Nicaragua , where two Marine patrols were ambushed and cut off by Sandino forces . Then a lieutenant , he voluntarily risked his life to make ten flights into the besieged town , evacuating 18 casualties and carrying in a replacement commander and badly needed medical supplies . To make a landing strip on the village ' s rough , rolling , main street , the Marines on the ground had to burn and level part of the town , and since his O2U Corsair biplane had no brakes they had to stop it by dragging from its wings as soon as it touched down . Hostile fire on landings and take - offs , plus low - hanging clouds , mountains and tricky air currents , added to the difficulty of the flights , which the citation describes as feats of " almost superhuman skill combined with personal courage of the highest order . " He returned to the United States in August 1929 , and after commanding Fighter Squadron 5 - N at Quantico , was named Chief Test Pilot and Flight and Aerological Officer at the Naval Aircraft Factory , Philadelphia . He served in that capacity for two years before returning to Quantico in June 1932 , to enter the Company Officers ' Course at the Marine Corps Schools . He completed that course in July 1933 , and a month later entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Montgomery , Alabama . Graduating from the tactical school in June 1934 , Schilt began another four years at Quantico , where he was Air Officer on the Staff of the Commanding General , Fleet Marine Force , and later a squadron commander with Aircraft One , Fleet Marine Force . He then served from May 1938 to June 1940 , as Executive Officer of the Marine Corps Air Station St . Thomas ( MCAS St . Thomas ) , Virgin Islands . After that he returned to Quantico to complete the Senior Course in the Marine Corps Schools and serve with Base Air Detachment 1 , Fleet Marine Force . He left Quantico in May 1941 , when he was assigned to the American Embassy in London , United Kingdom , as an Assistant Naval Attache for Air . In that capacity he traveled through England and Scotland and served as a naval observer in North Africa and the Middle East . He returned to the United States in August 1941 , and was assigned to Quantico as Engineer and Supply Officer of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing . In September 1942 , he arrived on Guadalcanal as Assistant Chief of Staff , 1st Marine Air Wing . After that he was commander of Marine Aircraft Group 11 , Chief of Staff of the 1st Wing and Commanding Officer of the Strike and Search Patrol Commands , Solomon Islands . He returned to the United States in September 1943 , and commanded Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina , until March of the following year . From April to June 1944 , Schilt headed the 9th Marine Aircraft Wing during the organization of that unit . He then served for six months as Chief of Staff of the wing and for another month as its commander before returning to the Pacific theater in February 1945 . This time he was Island Commander , Peleliu , from March to August 1945 , and Commanding General , Air Defense Command , 2d Marine Aircraft Wing , on Okinawa until October 1945 , when he took command of the 2d Wing . Returning from Okinawa in March 1946 , the general reported to the Naval Air Station Glenview , Illinois , the following month . There he headed the Marine Air Reserve Training Command until July 1949 , when he was ordered to Naval Station Norfolk as Chief of Staff , Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic . He served in that capacity until he took command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea in July 1951 . In April 1952 , Schilt returned from Korea to serve in Hawaii as Deputy Commander , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , until February 1953 when he became Commanding General , Aircraft , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California . He left El Toro in July 1955 , and assumed his duties at Headquarters Marine Corps as Director of Aviation on August 1 , 1955 , as a lieutenant general . He served in this capacity until retirement from the Marine Corps on April 1 , 1957 , when he was promoted to full general . General Schilt died on January 8 , 1987 , at age 91 , in Norfolk , Virginia , and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery . His grave can be found in section 2E , lot 151 - 2 . Military awards and decorations . During his career he received the following military decorations : Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : First Lieutenant , U . S . Marine Corps . Place and date : Quilali , Nicaragua , 6 , 7 and January 8 , 1928 . Entered service at : Illinois . Born : March 1 , 1895 , Richland County , Ill . Citation : During the progress of an insurrection at Quilali , Nicaragua , 6 , 7 , and 8 January 1928 , 1st Lt . Schilt , then a member of a marine expedition which had suffered severe losses in killed and wounded , volunteered under almost impossible conditions to evacuate the wounded by air and transport a relief commanding officer to assume charge of a very serious situation . 1st Lt Schilt bravely undertook this dangerous and important task and , by taking off a total of 10 times in the rough , rolling street of a partially burning village , under hostile infantry fire on each occasion , succeeded in accomplishing his mission , thereby actually saving 3 lives and bringing supplies and aid to others in desperate need . Air Force Distinguished Service Medal citation . Citation : The President of the United States of America , authorized by Act of Congress , July 9 , 1918 , takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Medal ( Air Force ) to Major General Christian Franklin Schilt , United States Marine Corps , for exceptionally meritorious service to the United States while in a position of great responsibility from 27 July 1951 to 5 April 1952 . As Commanding General of the FIRST Marine Air Wing , United States Marine Corps , General Schilt provided United Nations Forces engaged in action against the enemy in Korea with outstanding tactical air support for ground operations . Operating from three separate sites , including an aircraft carrier , General Schilt skillfully integrated his unit into Far East Air Forces interdiction program by implementing highly efficient fighter bomber , night intruder and night interdiction operations against enemy support missions . Concurrently , the Wing performed productive photo reconnaissance missions , helicopter airlift , and air rescue operations . The Wing contributed to the destruction of ammunition stockpiles , fuel lubrications and other combat material , and proved an efficient deterrent to the build - up of the enemy ' s war machine . Achieving success in all its operations , the Wing materially aided the overall Far East Air Forces operations . The outstanding combat efficiency of the First Marine Air Wing in sustained operations against the enemy in Korea was achieved through the able and mature guidance of General Schilt . His vast experience in aerial combat was not only a valuable source of aid to operations of the United Nations Forces , but also evoked the full and unceasing effort of his command toward the United Nations ' objective in Korea . General Schilt ' s significant achievements in combat , and his resourceful leadership sustained the highest traditions of the military service and reflected great credit upon himself , the United States Marine Corps , and the United Nations forces .