SGT William Irving Smith

courtesy of Jdrhook

SGT William Irving Smith was born 17 Apr 1925 in Rockland, Delaware. He was the youngest of 9 children born to James Russell and Ella Anna (Badders) Smith. His father worked in a paper mill owned by Jessup & Moore Company and the later Delaware Paper Mills in the same place. After finishing school, William went to work for San-nap-pak Manufacturing Company, another paper mill that made feminine hygiene products,  in Rockland.

William was drafted in August 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to Europe perhaps as late as June 1944. PFC Smith was transferred from the replacement depot to K Company 116th Infantry on 24 Jul 1944. However, he had been promoted to SGT by 7 Aug 1944 when he was wounded and evacuated to hospital. SGT Smith died of his wound(s) on 8 Aug 1944 near Vire, France.

SGT Smith was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Cherry Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery in Cherry Hill, Maryland.