WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC William D. Smith

 

Private First Class

William Donald Smith

William D. Smith was the youngest of the seven children of Charles and Martha (Groll) Smith. Born on October 21, 1923, in Holgate, Henry County, Ohio, the family suffered a tragedy when the mother, Martha, died at about age 36 in 1925.

William attended two years of high school at Defiance High School and then went to live in Findlay while he worked at the A & P Tea Company.

Draft card

On his draft card, he gave both a Defiance address, Latty Street, and a Findlay address. Mrs. Edna Benien, an aunt who raised him, lived on Latty Street and always knew where he would be. His sister, Imogene Smith, signed the draft card on the other side. At the time, William was 5'8" and 145 pounds.

In January 1942, William married Audrey J. McDonald and they had one daughter, LaDonna. On February 2, 1943, William enlisted in the Army, 101st Infantry, 26th Division.

After training at Camp Campbell in Kentucky and Camp Gordon in Georgia, he left for overseas on August 21, 1944.  He was part of the Ranger unit attached to the 101st Infantry - an elite group known for their intelligence, physical fitness and stamina, and their strong discipline. Often, they were sent ahead to begin offensive operations.

The group arrived in Cherboug, France, on September 7, 1944, and their offensive against a strong German Army began on November 8. It was heavy fighting against the Germans as the 101st pushed through France. On November 12, 1944, the day before PFC William Smith's death, they were up against a very tough German counterattack.

On November 13, 1944, PFC Smith met his death in the Lorraine campaign. The irony was that that same day, the Army was to get almost 800 replacement soldiers for his unit.  

His obituary appeared in the Crescent-News on November 28, 1944:

"William Smith Killed In Action

Former A & P Store Worker Gives Life in France Nov. 13

Pfc William D. Smith, 21, son of Charles Smith, route 3, Defiance, was killed in action somewhere in France on Nov. 13, according to a telegram from the War Department received Monday by his wife, Audrey in Tiffin.

He is the 46th Defiance county man to lose his life in this way.

Pfc Smith was a member of the Rangers attached to an infantry unit.

He was inducted though the Defiance county selective service board Feb. 9, 1943; was trained at camps in Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina, and was sent overseas on Aug. 21, 1944, going directly to France.

He was born in Holgate, Oct. 21, 1923, but had spent the majority of his life in Defiance. He attended St. John's Lutheran grade school and Defiance High School. He was produce clerk at the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.'s supermarket before entering the service.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and memorial services will be conducted from the church at a later date.

Pfc Smith was married to Miss Audrey McDonald in January 1943, and has an infant daughter, LaDonna. Both make their home with Mrs. Smith's parents in Tiffin.

In addition to his wife, daughter and father, survivors are two brothers, Clifford Smith, Toledo, and Lavon Smith, Defiance; four sisters, Mrs. Margaret Wagner, Jewell, Mrs. Imogene Smith, Defiance, and Mrs. Martha VanAuker and Mrs. Gladys Green, Adrian, Mich. and an aunt, Mrs. Edna Benien of Defiance with whom he made his home after the death of his mother in 1925."

PFC Smith was buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint Avoid, Departement de-la Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Robert Carpenter, Researcher