Schwartz left Northeast High School in his junior year to enlist in the Marine Corps because, his family recalled, be wanted to do something for his country and felt joining the Marines was the best way to do that. The ammunition carrier was sent to Vietnam and assigned to Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Schwartz was killed on May 11, 1969, in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province. He was 18 years old. Survivors included his mother and two brothers.