COAST GUARD HONORS WHITEWATER MAN

It didn't take a building dedicated in his honor to convince the parents of Matthew E. Schlimme that their son was a hero, but they are proud he is being recognized by others.

The United States Coast Guard on Thursday will dedicate the Machinery Technician Matthew E. Schlimme Industrial Facility in St. Louis in honor of the Whitewater man who died in a rescue effort off the coast of Washington.

On Feb. 12, 1997, Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew E. Schlimme and two other Coast Guardsmen were washed overboard en route to aid a sailboat in 24-foot seas. Before being swept overboard, Schlimme made sure a fourth crew member, seaman apprentice Benjamin Wingo, was buckled in, thus saving the life of Wingo, the lone survivor of the accident.

"That boy would be dead if it wasn't for Matt," said Schlimme's mother, Haroletta Schlimme, who, with his dad, Larry, live in their home near Burfordville where Matthew grew up. "He was a hero and that's why they are dedicating this building to him."

According to the Coast Guard, it names facilities in memory of heroic or distinguished personnel. This particular facility was named for Schlimme because he died in the line of duty and was from Missouri.

The Schlimme facility, which will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Thursday, was built to replace the industrial portion of the old Base St. Louis, which was destroyed by a 1993 flood. The $9 million building will provide a production site for aids to navigation equipment and will house the St. Louis Electronic Support Detachment.

Arnold Bowen Jr. of Millersville, who was best friends with Schlimme since they were in first grade, said it's fitting the building is a production site since Schlimme was such a good mechanic.

"He was a hell of an engineer and a talented mechanic," said Bowen, who recalled how he and Schlimme were always tinkering with things. As teens they even replaced the transmission in Bowen's first car, a 1966 Ford.

Mrs. Schlimme is sure Matthew would be proud of having a building dedicated to him, though she thinks her son might also be a bit embarrassed by all the attention.

"He would feel he didn't deserve this more than the other two boys," she said. "He didn't like to be noticed. He just quietly went about his job without looking for recognition."

Matthew's death hit the family hard and was especially devastating since he was only a few weeks from completing his tour of duty when the accident occurred.

"He had put in his four years and was looking forward to coming home," Mrs. Schlimme said. "He told me that you have to get away from home to realize what you have at home."

While Matthew's death came as a shock, no one who knew him was surprised that he died helping people. In fact an interest in helping people and a desire for a law enforcement career were reasons he decided to go into the Coast Guard, Mrs. Schlimme said.

Bowen said he was surprised when his friend decided on the Coast Guard. "Matt was always scared of the water. But he always tackled his fears head on," Bowen said.

Bowen said he was crushed when he heard the news of Schlimme's death. He said he would always remember the times he and Schlimme would cruise the countryside of the Millersville, Burfordville area, how they would shoot guns and ride motorcycles, how they would joke around, always keeping an eye open for something they could kid each other about.

"He was a true friend," Bowen said. "If he said he would do something, he'd do it."

"If Matt was your friend, he was always your friend, regardless," Mrs. Schlimme said.

As with most of those who come to be called heroes, part of the credit for Schlimme's heroism goes to the way he was raised.

Schlimme grew up on a farm where chores weren't an option so he knew what work was, his mother said. He went to church each Sunday and was raised to respect other people and help whenever he could, she said.

"That's what gave him his foundation," Mrs. Schlimme said. "But a lot of it was totally him. It's just the way he was."

It was just in Schlimme's natural-born personality to be kind and considerate and to always go out of his way to help others, Mrs. Schlimme said.

As difficult as it was to lose a son like Schlimme, his mother said the Coast Guard has been wonderful in the support it has given his family.

"To name this building after him is wonderful," Mrs. Schlimme said. "But the Coast Guard has honored Matthew every day since the accident by the way they have treated his family. They have done all they could do to make it easier for us."

Mrs. Schlimme said a Coast Guard official told her after her son's death that the Coast Guard is a family and the Schlimmes would always be considered part of that family. On Thursday the Schlimme family will join the Coast Guard family for the building dedication.

That dedication will include remarks from Rear Adm. Erroll Brown, commander of Maintenance and Logistics for the U.S. Coast Guard; Capt. Kevin Schumacher, commanding officer of the Integrated Support Command in St. Louis, and Angie Schlimme, Matthew's sister.

There also will be the unveiling of a mural of the 44363, Schlimme's vessel, going out for the last time at the mouth of the Quillayute River, where the accident occurred. The mural was painted by Chief Warrant Officer Terry Michalski, who is ship's supervisor at the facility in St. Louis and coincidentally was based Station Quillayute 20 years ago and had painted a mural there.

Michalski said because the casualty assistance officer who worked with the Schlimme family came from the St. Louis facility, the men who work there have taken a personal interest in Schlimme and his family. They are proud the building will be named after him.

Mrs. Schlimme said it's nice that the building named in Schlimme's honor is so close to the people who knew and loved him.

"I'm proud he will be remembered for what he did," Mrs. Schlimme said. However, she pointed out, Matthew's family was always proud of him and that long before the building dedication, they considered him a hero.

"It's not often that you get to know heroes in this life," she said, "let alone be the mother of one."

BUILDING DEDICATION

The Machinery Technician Matthew E. Schlimme Industrial Facility in St. Louis will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Thursday in honor of the Whitewater man who died in a rescue effort off the coast of Washington. The building, part of the U.S. Coast Guard's Industrial Division, is located on Foot of Arsenal Street, Building 17.