Joseph Allen Schwerdtfeger

Joseph Allen Schwerdtfeger was from Davenport. He enlisted in the Army on August 30, 1964 at 17 years old. He completed his Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, where he was among the top ten in his class. He completed further training at Fort Devens, MA; Fort Dix, NJ; and in Hawaii, where he trained with the “Wolfhounds” of the 27th Infantry. While in Hawaii, Schwerdtfeger earned the nickname “Alphabet” and was profiled in a local newspaper. The reporter noted his exceptional skill at detecting booby traps, stating "He's got a natural nose for booby traps, and has the kind of delicate, cool hand that can insert a paper clip into the slot in a primed grenade or mine.” Schwerdtfeger sent a copy of that paper to his mother shortly before arriving in South Vietnam in January 1966. He served as an infantryman in the 25th Infantry Division. On February 11, 1966, the 18-year-old Schwerdtfeger ran into a minefield to warn a medic of danger when a mine exploded, injuring but not killing the infantryman. He was promoted to Sergeant for his act of heroism and returned to action a few months later. On May 2, 1966, SGT Schwerdtfeger was struck by a grenade near Bao Trai, South Vietnam during Operation Maili, killing him instantly. Schwerdtfeger was six weeks shy of his 19th birthday when he died. His mother had sent him a wristwatch for his birthday to replace the one damaged in the February incident, but it arrived after his death. His body was buried at Rock Island National Cemetery.