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Personal info

Full name
SMITH, Allen Edward
Date of birth
1 June 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Wakefield, Washington County, Rhode Island
Hometown
Providence County, Rhode Island

Military service

Service number
O-1284227
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
unknown
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
325th Glider Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 October 1944
Place of death
Katerbosch, Holland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
J 19 2

Immediate family

Members
Herbert Smith (father)
Grace Smith (mother)
Herbert Smith (brother)
Jane Smith (sister)
Sylvia A. (Boyd) Smith (wife)
Jennifer G. Smith (daughter)

More information

1st Lt Allen E. Smith graduated from East Greenwich Academy and attended Rhode Island State college. He was working with the U S Engineers in Point Judith, Rhode Island.
He enlisted in July, 1941. He was stationed at Trinidad for three months and returned to the US in December, 1942 and selected for Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a second lieutenant at Fort Benning in the spring of '43.

On October 2, the 325th attacked the Mook plains until they reached the Hamlet at Katerbosch. The fog that had concealed them was lifting and they were in the open without cover. Heavy losses ensued. The men dug in and were in the area for several days.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, via Stichting Adoptie Graven Amerikaanse Begraafplaats Margraten