(Above) Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Schneider
CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. – The Arkansas National Guard mourns the loss of one of its former leaders, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Schneider, who passed away in his Panama City Beach, Florida, home on Sunday, August 1, 2010, at the age of 86.
General Schneider completed a total of 38 years of dedicated service to the military prior to his retirement from the Arkansas National Guard in 1981 when he served as the assistant adjutant general over the Arkansas Air National Guard. General Schneider’s service also included 13 years as commander of the 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group – now designated as the 188th Fighter Wing – in Fort Smith.
“The Guard is what it is today because of the leadership this organization has enjoyed throughout our history,” said Maj. Gen. William Wofford, the adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard. “General Schneider was one of those great leaders.”
“He not only served this organization proudly here at home, his sense of selflessness and dedication to this nation led him into overseas service during World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Berlin Crisis,” said Wofford. “He was not only a leader of troops, he was a leader of leaders. His was a true patriot whose service will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with his Family.”
Funeral services for General Schneider will be held Friday, August 6, at 10:30 a.m. at the Olmstead Chapel, followed by interment with military honors at the Cleburne County Memorial Gardens located in his former hometown of Heber Springs.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Schneider of Panama City Beach, Florida; his daughters and Barbara’s daughters, Carol Glidewell and her husband, Jim, of Ft. Smith, Nancy Huett and her husband, Tom, of Thorsby, Alabama, Judy Roberts and her husband, Brad, of Canton, Georgia, Michele Horsey and her husband, Keith, of Roland, and Cherie Locke and her husband, Russell, of Pine Bluff. He is also survived by their nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren as well as other relatives and his many friends.
Military Biography
Brigadier General Edward Schneider was born in Pryor, Oklahoma on July 18, 1924. He attended public schools there, graduating from high school at Perry, Oklahoma in 1942. He attended Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) at Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Brigadier General Schneider’s military career began in 1943 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps to attend pilot training. He received his wings and his commission as a Second Lieutenant on May 23, 1944. He served in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations during World War II. In February 1946, he was discharged from Active Duty and assigned to the Army Reserve Corps as a First Lieutenant.
In 1949, Brigadier General Schneider accepted an appointment as First Lieutenant in the Arkansas Air National Guard and was assigned to the 154th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Little Rock, Arkansas. In August 1950, he was called to extended active duty with the 154th Tactical Fighter Squadron during the Korean Conflict. Upon his release from Active Duty in October 1953, he returned to the Arkansas Air National Guard. In November of that year, he transferred to the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Fort Smith, Arkansas and was assigned as Base Supply Officer, both as an air technician and militarily.
Assuming command of the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in May 1960, Brigadier General Schneider was also appointed as the Base Detachment Commander (civilian air Technician). He was again called to extended active duty in October 1961 during the Berlin Crisis, being released from Active Duty in August 1962. He assumed command of the 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in July 1964, and served in that capacity until January 1977, at which time he was assigned as the Executive Support Staff Officer of the Headquarters, Arkansas Air National Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base, Jacksonville, Arkansas. On February1, 1978, he was named commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard, Retaining his civilian position as Executive Support Staff Officer.
On July 1, 1979 Brigadier General Schneider resigned his position as Commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard and was reappointed to the position of Executive Support Staff Officer. On May 31, 1980 he resigned and was appointed as Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Arkansas National Guard and was promoted to Brigadier General. He retired from the United States Air Force and Air National Guard of Arkansas as a Brigadier General in 1981 after proudly serving his country for more than 38 years.
Brigadier General Schneider’s awards and decorations include: the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with eight devices, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.
