Anthony Michael Schmutz
Lance Corporal
107 Mortars
Third Battalion
11th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: July 4, 1967
Buried at: Arlington Cemetery
Cove Road
Pennsauken NJ 08110
Awards: Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal
Anthony Michael Schmutz
Introduction
Lance Corporal Anthony Michael Schmutz was born on April 28, 1943, one of six children born to John and Anna Schmutz Jr. His family had moved to the Cramer Hill section of Camden NJ in the 1920s, first living at 1033 North 25th Street. By the time Anthony Schmutz was 4 years old, the family had moved to 1142 North 25th Street. This would be the family home into the late 1970s.
Known to family and friends as “Tony,” he liked swimming and most sports, especially baseball. He attended Washington Elementary School, Veterans Memorial Junior High School and Woodrow Wilson High School for the 9th and 10th grade. He then transferred to Camden County Vocational High School. Sources differ as to whether he finished his education at Camden County Vocational or returned to Woodrow Wilson High School.
Anthony Schmutz enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1960 or 1961, sources again differ as to this. Upon completion of his four years of service, Anthony returned to Camden where he worked several jobs before re-enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1966. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal, and when sent to Vietnam served as a gun captain in a mortar unit.
On July 4, 1967, Lance Corporal Schmutz’s mortar base in the province of Quang Nam, South Vietnam came under attack by the North Vietnamese Army. As a result, Schmutz received multiple fragmentation wounds and later died as a result of those wounds. He was one of 32 Marines killed during the three-day siege of Quang Nam.
Brought home to New Jersey, he was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken NJ. He was survived by his parents, brothers Joseph and John, and sisters Anna Marie, Joan, and Margaret, and his bride-to-be, Miss Joan Strumpo of Philadelphia PA.
He is memorialized on Panel 23E, Row 7 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Camden Courier-Post — July 6, 1967
City Marine Killed In Big Viet Battle
News of the death of a loved one is never easy to take. It’s doubly hard when that news arrives in a terse, vague telegram from the Defense Department.
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Schmutz of 1142 N. 25th Street received such a telegram today.
But for them, their grief is softened somewhat, if that’s possible, by the knowledge that gallant Marines risked their lives to retrieve the body of their 24-year-old son, Lance Cpl. Anthony H., and 31 other fallen comrades.
Killed Tuesday
According to Joseph Schmutz, his brother died Tuesday in Quang Nah, Vietnam, “as a result of shrapnel wounds to the body.”
The communication was “vague,” he said, and stated that a personal letter would follow with details of his brother’s death.
He believes, however, that Anthony was one of the 32 Marines killed during a three-day siege by Communist artillery.
Career Marine
Cpl. Schmutz, a gun captain with the 11th Marines, Third Battalion, arrived in Vietnam in January. He enlisted in 1961 following graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School, and hoped to become a career Marine, Joseph said.
He also planned to marry Joan Strumpo of Philadelphia when his tour of duty in Vietnam was up.
In addition to his parents and brother Joseph, on leave from the Navy, he is survived by another brother, John of Delanco, and three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Delbertis of Willingboro, Anna Marie of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Joan at home.
3 Others Die
Funeral arrangements are tentative pending arrival of the body and will be under the direction of the Gustav Roedel & Son Funeral Home, 804-06 N. 27th Street.
The Defense Department yesterday identified three other New Jersey servicemen who died in Vietnam.
Killed in action was Marine Lance Cpl. Angel M. Correa, son of Mr. and Mrs. Miguel Correa, Perth Amboy.
Missing and presumed dead in hostile action was Marine Lance Cpl. John J. Foley III, son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Foley Jr. of Plainfield.
Missing and presumed dead in non-hostile action was Army S.Sgt. Willie L. Thigpen, husband of Mrs. Pearline H. Thigpen, Eatontown.
Remembered by Friends
40 Years Without Anthony
I remember when we were kids, you me and Ollie Wilson. You were called Ants back then. I pass by your house a few blocks down from me and stop and think about you and your sister Joan. Those were such nice times. Hard to imagine you have been gone 40 years. Would be nice to be able to flip a switch and bring back those days.
Miss you Ants.
Albert Dobbins
Childhood and school friend, Camden NJ
Sep 28, 2007
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You are not forgotten. Marines never leave their brothers behind. God Bless & keep you. I’ll be looking for you guarding those gates of heaven. Semper Fi
Bill George
Viet Vet 67–68, 9th Marines
Friday, April 05, 2002
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Rest in peace on this Independence Day. May God bestow His blessings and bring comfort to your loved ones on the anniversary of your death.
Sue Farrell
NY
Thursday, July 03, 2003
Thinking of the good times we had in electric and wood shop during junior high school. It’s been such a long time ago. You died much too early. Am hoping someone will see this note who remembers you and knows what happened and where you are laid to rest.
Dr. Charles A. Bevan Jr.
Classmate/friend (junior high school), Hartford, CT
Sunday, December 22, 2002