Fred J Schnepel

Fred was born on the 24th of February 1892, in New York City, and details around his life and service are scarce. It is known that Fred enlisted in the US Navy and deployed to Mexico, where he would become one of fifty-three Navy personnel to receive the Medal of Honor for their actions. The citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Florida, Schnepel showed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21-22 April 1914.

Fred received the Medal of Honor two months later, on the 15th of June 1914, and he remained in the Navy: some sources say he reached the rank of Chief Petty Officer as a Quartermaster, but others list him as reaching the rank of Commander and served during World War 1. Fred Jurgen Schnepel died on the 7th of February 1948, at the age of 55 and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery: Section 11, Lot 825.