Gottfried was born on August 24, 1924 in New York to John (born in Germany) and Antonia (born in Yugoslavia) Schroer. In 1930, they lived in Queens. His siblings were Joseph, Dorothy, Alma, John, Alfred and Jack. They lived in Queens in 1940 as well.
Gottfried enlisted in the Army on February 10, 1943.
His last known residence was in the Bronx.
Source: Social Security Death Index, 1925, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses, WWII Enlistment Records