This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sheila Rae Myers, HM3
to remember
Schwyhart, Robert Marion, CAPT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Lincoln Township, IA
Last Address Tempe, AZ
Date of Passing Sep 25, 2001
Location of Interment Lincoln Township Cemetery - Dolliver, Iowa
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
As with many chaplains, when he was young Robert Schwyhart wasn't sure if he would go into the ministry even though he spent much of his time at the church and participating in church activities. It's apparent that he did and he served many years in various churches before joining the Navy.
Besides the many men and women who appreciated the work he did during his career, two significant events stand out. The first is his service aboard the USS Vincennes, which he was on at the time it was attacked by the Japanese. The first strike was from the enemy shells. He was highly involved in various taks, especially the care for the wounded. The second strike was from a Japanese torpedo which damaged the ship enough to cause it to sink. Lieutenant Schwyhart was one of the survivors. The break shown in his duty stations in this profile reflect the time was granted for "survivor's leave".
The other highly noted service in his career is the time he spent in Korea with the 1st Marine Division.
Although these two events stand out, he was highly praised and commended for his work throughout his career. He also gained a lot of recognition from civilian organtions during his civilian career as a Baptist minister.
Other Comments:
Bronze Star
United States Marine Corps
Headquarters, 1st MArine Division, San Francisco, Calfornia
For meritorious achievement in connection with operations against the enemy while serving as First Marine Division Chaplain, in Korea, during the period 15 September to 2 November 1950. Discharging his responsibilities with great skill and industriousness, Commander Schwyhart contributed immeasurably to the spiritual comfort and morale of the officers and men of the First Marine Division. Displaying a high degree of courage, professional skill and devotion to duty, he on numerous occasions traveled with the front line units, and while subjected to enemy fire adminstering solace and spiritual comfort to the wounded and dying Marines. Commander Schwyhart's display of initiative, excellent judgment and executive ability materially contributed to the spiritual welfare of the Division. He mst effectively supervised and coordinated the assignment, training and work of the chaplains in subordinate units. His advice to the Commanding General in religious and moral actvities of the command was of immeasurable assistance to the success of the Division. Commander Schwyhart's initiative and courageous actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Commander Schwyhart is authorized to wear the Combat "V".
Oliver P North
Major General, US Marine Corps
Navy Commendation Medal
For meritorious service from June 1965 to June 1968 in various positions of responsibility in the Chaplain Corps. As Officer in Charge, Chaplains Indoctrination School, Naval Schools Command, Newport, Rhode Island, from June to September 1965, Captain Schwyhart was responsible for the eminently successful revision of the orientation curriculum. Serving as Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains for Plans, on the Staff of the Cheif of Chaplains, from September 1965 to June 1967, Captain Schwyhart, in response to the communications of the Chaplain Corps in the Vietnamese conflict, contributed substantially to the establishment of one of the most comprehensive religious ministries to shore-based combat personnel in the history of naval warfare. He was a key figure in formaulating plans and conducting research which resulted in the widely renowned Navy-Marine Corps Personal Response Program designed to promote cross-cultural communication and understanding in Southeast Asia. From June 1967 to June 1968, Captain Schwyhart served as District Chaplain, Twelfth Naval District Staff Headquarters. His tour of duty was marked by an outstanding series of orientation conferences and tours for civilian clergy of the San Francisco Bay area and seminary students, in addition to large numbers of Navy Chaplains. These conferences and tours have greatly enhanced the civilian community's awareness of the role of the Navy Chaplain. Captain Schwyhart's inspiring leadership, distinctive accomplishment's, and sincere dedication to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
T.H. Moore
Admiral, United States Chief of Naval Operations
Alexander D Goode Award (Four Chaplains Award)
Chaplain Robert M Schwyhart, Division Chaplain, First Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific has been selected by a committee of Chaplains, appointed by the Chief of Navy Chaplains, to receive the Alexander Goode Award. The committee has chosen Chaplain Schwyhart as the Navy Chaplain who best exemplified in his chaplainacy the spirit which motivated the four immortal chaplans who gave their lives on the ill-fated USS Dorchester.
CDR Robert M. Schwyhart, ChC, U.S. Navy has expressed his firm faith in God by exemplfying to his me whom he served, the First Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, great steadfastness in the face of adversity; notable courage when circumstances tended to promote fear and discouragement; a broad charity which manifested itself in service to all his men regardless of their creed, rank, or promotion; the spirit of sacrifice which caused him to give of his strength with compassion and to suffer hardship and danger with equanimity; and faithfulness in his stweardship of the things of God which was consistant with that of the four chaplains in whose memory this award is presented.
Description On October 10, Lieutenant Commander Bruce Hyatt was leading a force of one destroyer, USS Endicott and five minesweepers on a minesweeping patrol off Wonsan. The five minesweepers were the USS Pirate as flagship, USS Incredible, USS Kite, USS Redhead and USS Pledge, all similarly armed and built during World War II. On the morning of October 12, the formation was steaming in a channel between the islands of Rei-To and Soku-Semu when at 11:12 am, the warships changed course to 258 degrees into unswept waters. The channel is 2,000 yards (1,800 m) wide and 14 miles (23 km) long.
At 11:54 five contact mines were discovered in intervals of 50 yards (46 m) and disposed of. Six minutes later at 12:01, a helicopter from the Endicott reported that there were three lines of mines off Rei-To, Soku-Semu, Koto and Roto. The specific position of the mines was not clarified but still the American vessels altered their intended course and headed for the field. Due to the threat of contact, Lieutenant Commander Hyatt ordered his ships to battle stations and the crews to disperse themselves evenly across the ships in order to minimize casualties caused by an explosion.
While making the wide turn into the direction of the mines, USS Pirate struck a mine at 12:09 along frame sixty-two on the starboard side. A giant column of water was sent up and at the same time the North Korean shore batteries from Kei-To and Soku-Semu began to shoot shells at the stricken ship. As soon as the communists engaged, the Endicott and the remaining minesweepers returned fire on at least three separate batteries.
Pirate began listing to port at about twenty degrees and when it reached fifteen, Lieutenant Cornelius E. McMullen ordered the evacuation of his ship. Within four minutes, the Pirate was hit, capsized and sank completely, taking down six enlisted men. Around sixty men went adrift, some in life rafts. At 12:04, just as the minesweeper turned over, the shore batteries resumed their shooting, this time on the sailors in the water.
Because of the accurate battery fire, the American ships could not achieve a complete rescue of the survivors for over four hours. Dozens of the adrift men were wounded by shrapnel and one man was killed. Five minutes after the Pirate was hit, the Pledge was engaged in a gunnery duel with one of the batteries. Simultaneously, the Pledge was hit by an artillery shell and struck a mine. Her commander, Lieutenant Richard O. Young, ordered his men to seal hatches and save the ship but about forty-five minutes later the crew abandoned the vessel and the Pledge was underwater. Five men were killed.
The KPA shore batteries were eventually silenced after several hours of fighting, enabling the American rescue of the remaining survivors. USS Redhead was heavily damaged in the battle; she received several hits from the batteries while rescuing survivors from both the Pirate and the Pledge. A total of twelve United States Navy sailors were killed in action and at least forty-three were wounded.
