On Thursday, May 18, 2023, Gold Star Mothers, Janice Chance, Donna Robinson and Stephanie White attended a special military event at the Yingling-Ridgely VFW and Auxiliary Post 7472 located in Ellicott City, Maryland. At the age of 102 years, Colonel Louis J. Schott, United States Marine Corps Reserve (Retired), received a Silver Star Medal, the Nation’s third highest award, in recognition of his battlefield gallantry displayed during combat operations in Okinawa on June 20, 1945. Colonel Schott was virtually presented his Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony.
Also celebrating this long overdue recognition of Schott’s WWII valor were Maryland’s US Senator Chris Van Hollen, Maryland’s US Congressman John Sarbanes, US Congressman and Retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General Jack Bergman from Michigan, US Congressman and Marine Corps Veteran Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin, Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball, Former Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, Schott’s family members, and Schott’s fellow Veterans from the Marine Corps League, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion Post 156.
