Mark Robert Schmidt arrived at West Point from Minnetonka, a suburb of Minneapolis, MN. He was born in Germany and raised as an Army brat in a loving family. His father, Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Schmidt, was a West Point graduate and a career Army officer. Mark’s mother, Marlys Christensen, was a wonderful woman from Minnesota. Mark had two brothers, Matthew and Thomas. He had three sisters, Ann, Joan, and Jane. 

As a child, Mark came to a strong belief in God. Mark and his brother Matt shared a room when they were 7 or 8 years old. Being mischievous, competitive, and separated in age by only a year, they were great friends. Their rambunctious behavior often antagonized their father. One night, as they lay in bed, they shared thoughts of how to atone for the lack of respect that they had recently shown to their parents and to their Creator. After a thoughtful silence Mark stated: “I know what I’m going to do when I die and see Jesus in heaven. I’m going to look at him and say I’m really, really sorry and I really mean it Jesus.” Being very happy with this mutually derived solution, they peacefully went to sleep. Mark carried this silent confidence in God’s mercy the rest of his life.

Mark and his family accompanied his father on assignments around the world. Mark finished his global travels at his father’s favorite post, which was Okinawa. He graduated from Kubasaki High School. Colonel Schmidt’s commitment to excellence strongly influenced Mark’s decision to attend West Point. Colonel Schmidt was a Star Man in the Class of 1955 and served at West Point during a portion of Mark’s boyhood. Mark carried those West Point memories into manhood and accepted an appointment to USMA after attending the University of Minnesota for one year. 

Mark’s zest for adventure and happy approach to the rigors of cadet life were sources of comfort and entertainment for his classmates. Although not a Star Man like his father, Mark never struggled academically and had time to pursue his love of flight. Mark was air assault and airborne qualified. He was a member of both the Sport Parachute Team and the Aero-Astro Club. His professional decision to join Aviation was natural.

Mark’s fascination with flight extended into aerial excellence on the basketball court. Mark often lifted weights with Jesse Nutt, his good friend from Company C-2. Mark combined the strength homed in these workout sessions with an innate jumping ability to execute a two-hand reverse dunk with ease. When the First Class light came on after dinner, especially during the second semester, Mark and his A-2 classmates hustled to the gym to play basketball. Mark and his friends became such an excellent team that they routed the Department of Physical Education (DPE) basketball squad during the 100th Night celebration. A DPE loss of such magnitude to cadets seldom happened. Mark’s contribution to the win and the stunning victory are cherished memories for a team that included Sam Burkett, Dave Pursell, Billy Peck, Bob Hayes and John Lloyd.

Although an intense competitor, Mark’s gregarious style generated fun for everyone around him. During yearling year, Mark roomed with Doug Burrer and Jorge Ayala during the time that Women at West Point was filmed. Mark and his roommates provided a lot of attention to the movie’s star, Linda Purl, which irritated her husband, who was also a cast member. Becoming friends with the film crew, Mark, Doug, and Jorge were invited to partake in the cast’s food and refreshments located just outside their barracks window. One day, after the three cadets went to class, the crew opened their barracks window and left a lot of food. According to Murphy’s Law, the room was soon inspected, and all three cadets received major demerits for food on the windowsill.

Mark died in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident, approximately two weeks before he would have graduated from the U.S. Army Flight School at Fort Rucker, AL. He died alone, and there were no witnesses to the accident. At the time of his death, Mark was returning to his home in the early evening after visiting our classmate Brian Magerkurth and his wife, Val. Mark was in a very happy mood on the night of his death according to his good friend, John Lloyd. Mark was clearly looking forward to his father’s attendance at flight school graduation. In preparation for the move to his first assignment, Mark had found a potential buyer for his motorcycle. Mark left the Magerkurths to polish the bike for a possible sale. 

Mark’s friends demonstrated the same love for him and his family as Mark had shown them throughout our four years at West Point. John Lloyd’s flight class graduated two days after Mark’s death. Immediately after graduation, John and his visiting parents flew directly to Minnesota to attend Mark’s funeral. Another classmate and true friend, Wayne Sauer, escorted Mark’s body back. 

Outwardly calm and collected, Mark continually challenged himself and lived at Mach 1. He would have performed admirable service to our nation as an Army aviator. Mark was an insightful maverick who maintained a cavalier attitude with respect to both academics and cadet regulations. More importantly, Matt Schmidt recalls that, “Mark was a very generous man who would give a stranger the shirt off his back. He loved his family and the very deep friendships that he had developed throughout his life.” We deeply miss this loyal and devoted friend.

— Mark’s loving family and A-2 classmates