William Schroeder (Kent State massacre)

William Knox Schroeder (July 20, 1950–May 4, 1970) was a student at Kent State University, Ohio, when he was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970.

Related Topics:
July 20 - 1950 - May 4 - 1970 - Kent State University - Ohio - Ohio National Guard - Kent State shootings

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At age 17, Schroeder applied for the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship. He received the Academic Achievement award from both the Colorado School of Mines and from Kent State University, where he was a psychology student. He also earned the Association of the United States Army award for excellence in history.

Related Topics:
Reserve Officer Training Corps - Colorado School of Mines

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Schroeder was killed with a shot in the back from an M-1 semi-automatic military rifle. According to reports, he was not taking part in the Vietnam war protests that preceded the shootings, but simply going from one class to the next. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2773389 His college roommate, Lou Cusella, stated that he believed Schroeder was trying to flee when shot. "Bill was 332 feet away from the nearest National Guardsman, not much of a threat. He was shot with a textbook in his hand." http://www.udayton.edu/news/nr/050100.html Three other students were killed in the shootings: Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller and Sandra Scheuer.

Related Topics:
M-1 - Vietnam war - Allison Krause - Jeffrey Miller - Sandra Scheuer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The shootings led to protests on college campuses throughout the United States, causing hundreds of campuses to close because of both violent and non-violent demonstrations. The Kent State campus remained closed for six weeks. Just five days after the shootings, 100,000 people demonstrated in Washington DC against the war.

Related Topics:
United States - Washington DC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~