Retired Marine Corps General, Christian Franklin Schilt, 91, a member of the first organized American Air Unit to go overseas during World War I, died Thursday January 8, 1987 in Norfolk, Virginia.

General Schilt was born March 18, 1895 in Olney, Illinois son of Fred W. and Anna C. Joerris Schilt.

General Schilt was awarded a Medal of Honor for heroism during the conflict in Nicaragua in 1928.  He retired in 1957 after two years as director of aviation at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington.

A native of Richland County Illinois, General Schilt graduated from Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute, Indiana.  In 1917 he enlisted in the Marines, joining the First Marine Aeronautical Company in the Azores on an anti-submarine patrol assignment.

He was selected for officers’ training and after graduating from flight school in 1919, received a commission.  His later assignments included duty tours in Haiti, Santo Domingo, the Virgin Islands and Nicaragua.

When two Marine Patrols were ambushed and cut off by rebel bandits at Quilali, Nicaragua, General Schilt voluntarily made ten flights into the besieged town, evacuating 18 casualties and bringing medical supplies and a replacement commander despite hostile fire, low fog and tricky air currents.  Part of the town had to be burned and leveled to make a landing strip on the main street.  The plane, which had no brakes, had to be stopped by men dragging from the wings.  The citation commended him for feats of  “almost superhuman skill of the highest order”.

General Schilt was assigned to the American Embassy in London in 1941 as naval air attaché.  He served during World War II in the Guadalcanal Campaign and in the late 1940’s commanded divisions in North Carolina, Peleliu and Okinawa.   He was promoted to General in 1945.  During the Korean War, he was Commander of the First Marine Aircraft Wing.  His honors included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit Bronze Star and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

His wife was the late Elizabeth Weber Schilt.  He is survived by two sons, John F. and Christian F. Schilt, Jr. and four daughters, Martha S. Stewart, Alice S. Magee, Eleanor S. Hill and Susan S. Lawless.

Graveside services held in Arlington National Cemetery.

Published in The Washington Times (D.C.) – Tuesday, January 13, 1987