The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the December 2022 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Otto C. Schwarz, USS Houston CA-30 Survivor, Mr. John K. Schwarz, son of Otto, Executive Director of the USS Houston CA-30 Survivors’ Association, and the 2022 United States Navy Memorial Squadron One Student Interns. Countless stories could have been selected for the December story of the month. This particular story showcases a chance meeting and the sharing of service memories focused on sacrifice, survival, humility, and the resiliency of the American spirit. This story was presented by the son of a World War II Prisoner of War to a new generation of American leaders who were preparing to enter their senior year of high school. This story highlights one of many examples of how the Navy Memorial celebrates, recognizes, honors, and informs the public of the extraordinary story of the Sea Services.

On Friday, July 15th, Dr. Fash, National Coordinator of the United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program and Student Interview Program learned of an email from Mr. John K. Schwarz, son of Otto, and Executive Director of the USS Houston CA-30 Survivors’ Association & Next Generations that was sent to the Navy Memorial. Mr. Schwarz offered to make a presentation to the Navy Memorial focused on the story of the USS Houston CA-30 and the actions of her crew during WWII. Knowing the extraordinary story of the USS Houston, Dr. Fash corresponded with Mr. Schwarz and inquired about the opportunity of interviewing him at the Navy Memorial’s Asiatic Fleet Room, a location dedicated to the ships of the Asiatic Fleet, including the USS Houston. Dr. Fash oversees a national effort, led by the Navy Memorial, to interview, archive, and preserve the stories of our Nation’s Veterans, Active Service Personnel, and their families. Beginning in 2007, the United States Navy Memorial has published over 2800 Veteran Stories to its Interview Archive, which are preserved and presented to a national audience for free on its website.

At the time, Dr. Fash was working with an inaugural class of interns from California who were part of a pilot program designed to welcome students from across the country to Washington D.C. The goals of the new program are for students to participate in training to conduct oral histories, as well as experiences, to bring the past to life and preserve stories for future generations. After completing the oral history training, the student team had visited the Vinson Hall Retirement Community and interviewed veterans and their family members from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Cold War.

As Dr. Fash and Mr. Schwarz spoke, the Internship plan was discussed with the culminating experiences focusing on visiting Arlington National Cemetery on July 22nd. In the morning, the students would learn stories of those buried at Arlington National Cemetery and bring to life the experiences of those honored. In the afternoon, the students were selected by the Navy Memorial to present a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Dr. Fash asked Mr. Schwarz if he could tell him the location of the USS Houston marker at Arlington National Cemetery. Over the weekend, the student interns had participated in training within the Asiatic Fleet Room at the Navy Memorial. Dr. Fash shared the history and meaning of the room. Much of the discussion focused on the ships represented which included the story of the USS Houston. Dr. Fash shared the objective of the internship and the students’ passion for honoring Veterans and their memory with Mr. Schwarz . Upon learning of Dr. Fash’s intent to visit the USS Houston marker, Mr. Schwarz immediately volunteered not only to share the location, but to drive to Arlington. Upon arrival he would personally present the history of the USS Houston, the significance of the marker, and stories of the survivors who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, including his father, as well as his mother.

In the early morning hours of Friday, July the 22nd, Mr. Schwarz met the internship team. The four student interns who will forever be recognized as the inaugural class (Squadron One) were: Matthew Kropelnicki, Carlos Benavides, Artyom Yusupov, and Kieran Pederson. Overseeing the new Navy Memorial initiative were Dr. Fash, Mr. Fash, a veteran Social Studies educator of 44 years and member of the Navy Memorial teacher network; Nicole Kropelnicki, College Coordinator, St. Vincent de Paul High School; and Andrew Campbell, Programs and Engagement Coordinator at the Navy Memorial. The presentation made by Mr. Schwarz to the four student interns was an extraordinary experience. His words brought deep meaning to the service and sacrifice of the USS Houston, HMAS Perth, and the brave soldiers and sailors of our American crew and allies from Australia, Britain, and the Netherlands who are "Still Standing Watch in Sunda Strait." Mr. Schwarz then walked the students to specific grave sites of USS Houston survivors, each with the inscription of Prisoner of War, indicating the harrowing experiences of those who not only had to abandon ship but were held by the Empire of Japan on hell ships. Those who survived were sent to prison camps and forced to work along the Death Railway for the remainder of WWII.

Mr. Schwarz, so intrigued by the students and the mission of the Navy Memorial’s Story of Service Program, requested to be a spectator to the students’ presentation to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Mr. Schwarz went above and beyond and joined the internship effort to create a meaningful learning experience for the student interns. He was instrumental in the movement of the wreath and transporting the team in preparation for the presentation. Mr. Schwarz brought the past to life for the students of the Navy Memorial Internship Pilot Program and forged a new relationship with the organization through collaboration with Dr. Fash based on their shared efforts and passion of honoring, recognizing, celebrating, and informing the public about the actions of the men and women of the Sea Services.

The United States Navy Memorial honors Chief Boatswain’s Mate Otto C. Schwarz, USS Houston CA 30 Survivor, Mr. John K. Schwarz, son of Otto, and Executive Director of the USS Houston CA-30 Survivors’ Association, and the 2022 United States Navy Memorial Squadron One Student Interns. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.