Leonard T. Schroeder Jr. holds a unique place in history as the first Allied soldier to set foot on Normandy during D-Day. Leading Infantry Rifle Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, his landing craft was among the very first to reach Utah Beach, where he led his men, under heavy enemy fire, ashore.
Schroeder’s actions and those of the troops who landed in France that fateful day turned the tide of the Second World War, marking the beginning of the end of Germany’s hold over Europe.
Leonard T. Schroeder’s early life
Born in Linthicum Heights, Baltimore, Maryland, on July 16, 1918, Leonard T. Schroeder was a talented athlete with exceptional leadership abilities. While attending the University of Maryland on a full athletic scholarship, he became involved in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, which led him to receive a commission as a second lieutenant in 1941.
Prior to the United States entering World War II, Schroeder trained soldiers in the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at Camp Gordon, Georgia. By the time the nation had entered the conflict, he was in command of Infantry Rifle Company F, 2nd Battalion, which was training in Florida.
First Allied soldier to step foot in Normandy on D-Day
On the morning of June 6, 1944, Leonard T. Schroeder was aboard the first Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) to reach Utah Beach, the very one carrying Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., the son of former US President Teddy Roosevelt. As the first wave of vessels approached the shore, Allied air support shelled German positions. This created craters in the ground and seafloor, which forced Schroeder’s LCVP to stop prematurely and drop its ramp.
The US Army captain subsequently led the men of Infantry Rifle Company F through waist-deep seawater, holding his weapons above his head to keep them dry. The rough waters and intense enemy fire made their landing perilous, yet their determination never wavered.
Infantry Rifle Company F’s mission was to break through German defenses and advance inland, to liberate the village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. Despite sustaining a gunshot wound to his left arm, Schroeder pressed on. It was only after being shot a second time that he stopped, waking up on a stretcher after suffering significant blood loss.
When he turned to his side, Schroeder noticed a tag attached to his arm, signalling he was in need of an amputation. Not wanting to lose the limb, he tore off the tag and wouldn’t to let doctors amputate – he even refused morphine during his evacuation, as he was worried medical staff would perform the operation while he was knocked out.
While doctors were ultimately able to save his arm, Schroeder wasn’t able to return to the frontlines. Instead, he traveled back home to the United States, where he promoted the sale of war bonds.
Leonard T. Schroeder continued to serve
After World War II, Leonard T. Schroeder continued his military career, first serving in Japan as part of the occupation forces, then in Korea, Vietnam and in various postings across Europe. During the Korean War, he was an air operation officer, tasked with coordinating bomb strikes and air support for ground troops.
Schroeder’s service spanned 30 years, during which he held various command positions and contributed to military strategy and training. His bravery and leadership earned him numerous decorations, most notably the Silver Star with “V” Device, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
In 1971, Schroeder retired from the US Army, having reached the rank of colonel. He and his wife settled in Largo, Florida, where he remained active in veterans’ organizations and shared his experiences with those willing to listen. In an interview with VSD in 1994, he commented on his actions on D-Day, saying:
“Today, I realize that to be the first man ashore is an immense honor, yet I do not merit it more than anyone else. Five of my men died down there at Normandy. They alone are the heroes.”
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Leonard T. Schoreder passed away on May 26, 2009, at the age of 90. His life and service have been commemorated with various honors, including his induction into the Army ROTC Hall of Fame.