Friends Gather To Welcome Home A Marine General

By Jan Howard

A proclamation and a warm welcome from approximately 200 friends and family greeted Newtown native Brigadier General Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, upon his arrival at the home of his parents, Mae and Robert Schmidle, Sr, on Echo Valley Road on December 21.

“It was a very exciting day. We had an absolutely great time,” Ms Schmidle said this week of the open house in honor of their son, who recently achieved the rank of brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps.

General Schmidle, who grew up in Newtown and maintains his voting residence here, said he had told his mother two weeks before that he would be in Newtown on December 21. “I knew my mother wanted to have a few folks over that afternoon.”

However, he said, “I’ve seen parties like this at our house before. This was a typical Mae Schmidle extravaganza.”

Though not surprised by the party itself, he was totally surprised by the number of people who came and by a proclamation in his behalf, proclaiming December 21 as Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, Day in Newtown, presented by First Selectman Herb Rosenthal.

 “I was very touched that so many people turned out,” General Schmidle said. “I really appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the people in Newtown.” Every room in his parents’ house was filled, he noted.

He said he saw people at the party that he had not seen since high school. One of those was Al Cramer, who was principal of the high school when General Schmidle was a student there.

  “We were the last class to graduate from the high school when it was on Queen Street,” he said. “We were on double sessions.”

  He said he enjoyed talking to his former principal and friends he knew growing up in Newtown.

  “I tried to invite people who would have known him in high school,” Ms Schmidle said this week. She said she also received “glowing” letters from people unable to attend the welcoming party, including Newtown Chief of Police Michael Kehoe.

  General Schmidle and his wife Pamela have two sons, Chris and Nicholas, who are college students. They reside in Manassas, Va. He is currently serving as the director, Expeditionary Force Development Center, Marine Corps.

The proclamation from Mr Rosenthal, General Schmidle said, “was a very nice surprise.”  

The proclamation reads as follows:

“Whereas, Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, is a native of Newtown, Connecticut, graduating from Newtown High School and then from Drew University with a bachelor of arts in history and a master of arts in philosophy from American University and is a distinguished graduate and prior faculty member of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and is also a distinguished graduate of the Marine Corps War College and

“Whereas, Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, has further distinguished himself by deserving and receiving the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V,” Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with six Strike/Flight awards, and the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star; and

“Whereas, Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, is currently serving as the director, Expeditionary Force Department Center, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia; and

“Whereas, Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, has now achieved the rank of USMC Brigadier General.

“Now therefore, be it resolved that the community unite in extending congratulations and paying tribute to Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, and his family.

“Therefore be it further resolved that December 21, 2003, be proclaimed as Robert E. Schmidle, Jr, Day in the Town of Newtown, Connecticut.”

General Schmidle received his commission in the Marine Corps in 1976.