Medal of Honor: Christian Frank Schilt – U.S. Marine Corps – Nicaragua – January 1928

Name: Christian Frank Schilt
Rank: First Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: Marine Expeditionary Force (Nicaragua)
Place: Quilalí, Nicaragua
Entered Service At: Illinois
Born: Richland County, Illinois
Other Awards: Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross (with Gold Star)

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Summary of Action

In January 1928, during an insurrection at Quilalí, Nicaragua, a Marine expeditionary force found itself isolated after sustaining severe casualties. The situation was critical: wounded Marines required evacuation, supplies were desperately needed, and command leadership had to be reinforced—yet no safe landing field existed, and the town was under hostile fire.

First Lieutenant Christian Frank Schilt, a Marine aviator, volunteered to attempt an aerial evacuation under conditions widely considered impossible. With the village partially burning and enemy infantry firing on the landing area, he used the only available “airstrip”—a rough, rolling street within the town itself.

Over the course of three days, Lieutenant Schilt repeatedly flew into Quilalí, taking off and landing a total of ten times under direct hostile fire. Each approach and departure required extraordinary precision and nerve, as the aircraft operated at the limits of performance in confined, dangerous conditions.

Through these daring flights, Lieutenant Schilt evacuated wounded Marines, transported a relief commanding officer into the besieged town, and delivered critical supplies and assistance. His actions directly saved three lives and provided hope and survival to others who otherwise faced certain death.

Lieutenant Schilt’s courage, skill, and voluntary assumption of extreme risk exemplified the highest traditions of Marine aviation and set a lasting standard for aerial medical evacuation under fire.

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Medal of Honor Citation

During the progress of an insurrection at Quilalí, Nicaragua, 6, 7, and 8 January 1928, 1st Lt. Schilt, then a member of a Marine expedition which had suffered severe losses in killed and wounded, volunteered under almost impossible conditions to evacuate the wounded by air and transport a relief commanding officer to assume charge of a very serious situation.

1st Lt. Schilt bravely undertook this dangerous and important task and, by taking off a total of 10 times in the rough, rolling street of a partially burning village, under hostile infantry fire on each occasion, succeeded in accomplishing his mission, thereby actually saving 3 lives and bringing supplies and aid to others in desperate need.