PVT Robert James Smith

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Robert James Smith was born in Marquette, Michigan on 11 Nov 1921. He was the 3rd of Leo Francis and Catherine Ada (Murphy) Smith's 9 children. His father worked as a woodsman and later in road construction and reported a 1939 income of $512. His mother had died suddenly in 1934.

Robert was drafted in November 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that would take place on 6 Jun 1944 to liberate Nazi occupied France. He took part in that landing and fought with the unit through Saint-Lo, Vire, Brest, and Baesweiler, Germany only to be killed in action near Setterich, Germany.

PVT Smith rests forever in Netherlands American Cemetery.

Brother, Donald Leo Smith, served as a Torpedoman 1st Class in the submarine service in the South Pacific during the war.