Edward C. Smart
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, June 8, 1918, p. 2
Eddie Smart was the son of John and Luella Lytle Smart and just a boy of three when enumerated in the 1900 Federal Census of Marion Township, Marion, Ohio. Born in October, 1896, Eddie was their only child. His father died in 1904, and ,by the taking of the 1910 census, Eddie was enumerated with his mother and his new stepfather, Chauncy Delong, and two new siblings, Lelah, 3, and Elizabeth, 2, in Scipio Township, Allen County, Indiana. They eventually lived in Hicksville, Ohio, just across the state line.
At 17 years, 5 months old, Edward enlisted in the local National Guard on February 5, 1914. He served in Company E, 2nd Infantry with his Hicksville National Guard until August 22, 1917. He went quickly up the ranks, and made sergeant by August 21, 1917.
Photo provided by Dianne Grimm
On September 30,1917, he was given an Honorable Discharge and commissioned into the AEF and sent overseas to participate in the Meuse-Argonne campaign. He wrote back to his family, and he was known for his descriptive letters. There he attended Officers' Training School and was made Second Lieutenant.
The Hicksville Tribune noted on Oct. 3, 1918:
"I had a letter from Edward Smart a few days ago. He is well and doing fine and is bound to make good and get his commission. The platoon sure hated to see him leave us although they all joined in wishing him the best luck in his new work."
In January 1919, the Tribune noted that no one had heard from or about Edward Smart. It was worrisome, as the last letter received from him was October 8, 1918. Months... Then word arrived that Edward C. Smart had been killed in action on October 15, 1918, while leading his company in France. The chaplain of the command had informed his family.
Scipio Cemetery, Allen County, Indiana - not far from Hicksville, Ohio
Edward's friend, Ralph Schumaker, wrote to the newspaper in Hicksville, giving information on his friend's decease. What a gift that must have been to his family. From a part of the letter printed in the Hicksville Tribune, April 3, 1919:
"RALPH SHUMAKER WRITES IN MEMORIAM
GLOWING TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF HIS COURAGE, LIEUTENANT EDWARD C. SMART
... It was my good fortune to have known Lt. Smart ever since May, 1915, when he, as a Corporal of Company E, 2nd Infantry of Hicksville, became my military instructor. He proved a good instructor as many present members of the company can testify. He had earned a Sergeantcy by June 19, 1916, when we were called into the service of the United States for Mexican border patrol. He remained with the company till the end of his enlistment on February 4, 1917, when he was furloughed to the National Guard Reserve.
As First Sergeant of the company, he made a friend of every member of the company, and we one and all missed him even if it were for only a little afterwards that the company remained on the border.
July 15, 1917, when the active members of the old company were called to the service of the United States for participation in the great world war, he was eager to volunteer again, but as a Reservist, he could do nothing until the Reserves were called.
August 15, 1917, he, with the Reserves, were called and he reported for duty with the company that he had always labored so hard for. As an old member of the company, his knowledge of military instruction proved almost indispensable in the training of the many new men that the company had acquired through the influence of such soldiers as he had always been.
On August 14, 1917, he, with fifteen other members of the company, of which I was one, was transferred to Company E,4th Ohio Infantry at Camp Perry, O.
August 23, 1917, he was again transferred to Headquarters Company, 4th Ohio, now 166th Infantry. I was one of the eight Hicksville boys that were transferred with him. He was made Sergeant of the Signal Platoon and continue till his being detailed to Officers' Training School.
October 18, 1917, he, with his regiment left the Land of Liberty to do battle with the Hun who had outraged humanity and civilization. He arrived in France Nov. 1, 1917. After a period of training in which he played no small part, we entered the trenches in the Lorraine sector on Washington's birthday, 1918, and remained there for almost 4 months. He participated in the Champagne defensive of July 4 - 20, having charge of the platoon since June 14th. By forced marches, we were taken to the Chateau Thierry sector which we entered on July 23rd.
After pushing the Hun for 22 kilometers, we were allowed to drop back into the Reserve where he left us on or about August 12 for Officers' Training School near Langres. This closes the history with the company that he had served so faithfully...
By frequent letters, we learned that he was successful at school, being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 7th Infantry of the 3rd Division.
In the Argonne-Meuse offensive, there were many hard places to be taken. He, with his platoon, were ordered to make the attempt and in the fulfillment of that task, he was mortally wounded while at the head of his command. Although he was fast sinking away, he urged his command onward, and by his inspiration, he gave them the courage to rout the Hun from his nest. After the stronghold of the Hunt had been taken, he allowed himself to be taken to a 1st Aid Station where he was treated without success.
After death had claimed him for his own, his remains were given a hero's burial by the men of his platoon, and at Cunel, France, he awaits the judgement day and a home eternal..."
U.S. Army Transport Steamer, The Crook
But it's not quite the end of the story. Lt. Edward Smart's body wa disinterred on August 17, 1921, and shipped from Antwerp, Belgium on the ship, Crook, leaving on December 28, 1921. The body was shipped, addressed to the Hicksville undertaker, J. M. Hoack, arriving at Hoboken, New Jersey, on January 14, 1922. It arrived in Hicksville on January 28, 1922, and a funeral service was held on February 1st.
"Lieut. Edward C. Smart, whose funeral was held Sunday under direction of the American Legion Post which bears his name, was a Hicksville High School boy when he enlisted in company E.
The funeral service at Huber Opera House was the most largely attended of any ever held in Hicksville.
Rev. G. W. Whyman of Bryan delivered the funeral oration and W. L. Manahan read the obituary. Prayer was offered by Rev. W. H. Bransford and the music was furnished by the Legion Band. Harmonic quartet, a duet by Mrs. Daisy Tuttle and Mrs. Jeff Hoff and a piano solo by A. W. Roper.
Lieut. Smart's remains were borne to Scipio Cemetery where they were placed beside his father who died several years ago."
In Memoriam
Edward C. Smart
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