Born in Bavaria and desired to go to the sea. Experienced the rough life of a seaman. Entered the United States, became a citizen and eventually becomes a master of a ship for a major oil company. Of the coast of Africa, during World War II, his ship was attacked and sunk. The majority of his crew went to prison. He and ten of his crew escaped in a lifeboat, drifting 800 miles of the coast of Africa. The group was rescued and taken to Freetown, Africa. One of his men was severely wounded in the attack by a German Raider, disguised as a commercial vessel. Schwarz and his men returned to the United States. He received another ship to be the master. The German ship eventually was sunk by a US submarine outside Japan with the loss of hundreds. Richard Schwarz was the author's uncle.