Lieutenant Commander Elvin L. Schlegel

Lieutenant Commander Elvin Schlegel passed away on February 28th in N. Charleston, SC.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Schlegel of Summerville, SC; three sons: David and wife, Deborah Schlegel of Raymond, ME; Richard and wife Kimberly Schlegel of Waynesboro, PA and Michael and Jacqueline Hilbert of Johns Island, SC. His son, Commander Robert Schlegel, preceded him in death, killed in the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. He also has 7 grandchildren and a sister, Flora Kline, who resides in Virginia Beach, VA.

Lieutenant Commander Schlegel was born and raised in Northampton, PA and graduated from Northampton High School in 1952. Immediately upon graduation, he volunteered for active duty in the U.S. Naval Reserve and received recruit training in Bainbridge, MD. He also graduated from Hospital Corps School at Bainbridge and completed the remainder of his tour of active service at the Naval Hospital at Bainbridge, being released to inactive duty as a Hospital Corpsman Third Class.

In 1958, he decided to enter the regular Navy and was assigned to the Naval Shipyard Dispensary. From there he attended Medical Administration Tech School at Portsmouth, VA and upon graduation was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service in Brooklyn where he served in the USNS GENERAL W. H. GORDON.

He reenlisted in 1962 as a Hospital Corpsman First Class and was transferred to the USS SARATOGA. Upon completion of sea duty he was transferred to Fleet Air Wing Three at NAS, Brunswick, Me. While at Fleet Air Wing Three, he received a commission as Ensign, Medical Service Corps.

Upon commissioning, he attended a brief orientation at OCS, Newport, R.I. He also attended the Naval Justice School also at Newport. Upon graduation he was transferred to the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, PA as Assistant Chief of Patient Affairs. In 1967 he was transferred as a Lieutenant Junior Grade to USS YORKTOWN as Medical Administrative Officer and H Division Officer. After being involved in operations surrounding the capture by North Korea of the USS PUEBLO, the YORKTOWN deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam.

Lieutenant Commander Schlegel then returned to the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia as the Administrative Assistant to the Administrative Officer. In 1972 he was transferred to the Naval School of Health Care Administration in Bethesda, MD, graduating in 1973. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Administration from George Washington University and later received a Masters in Public Administration from Golden Gate University.

His next duty station was as Patient Affairs Officer at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, N.H. When the hospital was downsized to a Regional Medical Clinic he became the Executive Officer. His last tour of duty was as Officer in Charge of the Branch Clinic at NAS, Brunswick, ME prior to retiring in 1977.

Upon retirement his jobs included President of St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Claim Representative for John Hancock Insurance Company. He also volunteered in the Northern Lehigh School District, Slatington, PA.

Lieutenant Commander Schlegel’s awards include the Navy Commendation Medtal, two Navy Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, two Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, two Vietnam Service Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm leaf.

A service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Navy Memorial Fund or Tunnel to Towers.

Messages of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.