Happy 100th Birthday to World War II vet, self-described life-long teacher and first inductee to Santa Rosa's 100 Club, Karl M. Schmitt.
PFC Schmitt is a native of Louisville, Kentucky who from an early age had an interest in history and current events that would eventually lead him to the University of Texas - Austin where he is now a Professor Emeritus of Government.
After graduating from St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky in June 1940 Karl was admitted to the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. 
It was in the Fall of 1942 in what was to be his junior year Karl was formally sworn into the Army Enlisted  Reserve Corps on September 23, 1942 in Washington D.C. He was eventually called to report for duty on February 22, 1943 (Washington's Birthday) to Camp Lee, Virginia, near Petersburg. From Camp Lee Karl's next assignment was Fort McClellan in northeastern Alabama for 13 weeks of basic infantry training. 
From Alabama to Norfolk, Virginia Karl would embark a Liberty Ship, the William S. Few bound for Bizerte, Tunis on September 3, 1943. From North Africa he traveled across the Mediterranean to Naples bound for the infantry of the 45th Division. The war would eventually send Karl through Italy into France and then Germany. After almost two years on the battle fields of Europe Karl would return to the United States on May 28, 1945.
By September of 1945 Karl would return to Catholic University in Washington D.C.. On December 27, 1947 Karl would meet Grace Leary at her college classmate's wedding to his college roommate. They were immediately attracted to each other and after a whirlwind courtship were married at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Bayside, Queens, New York on June 18, 1948.

Photo: Karl was wounded near Wigen, France on January 8, 1945. This photo was taken in Vaucouleurs, France as he was returning to Company K, 180th Infantry Regiment.