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name
SMITH, Neal Howard - Date of
birth
22 March 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama -
Hometown
Elmore County, Alabama
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34394018 -
Rank
Corporal -
Function
unknown -
Unit
F Company,
2nd Battalion,
309th Infantry Regiment,
78th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 December 1944 - Place of
death
Kesternich, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 2 | 30 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Cecil H. Smith (father)
Winona Smith (mother)
Doris E. Smith (sister)
Laurens K. Smith (brother)
Sara A. Smith (sister)
More information
Cpl Neal H. Smith graduated from Wetumpka High School in 1940. He attended Auburn's Alabama Polytechnic Institute for two years where he studied aeronautics.He enlisted at Fort McClellan, Alabama on 7 October 1942.
The bottom photo shows his temporary grave at Margraten, before the cemetery became a permanent memorial site. The picture was sent to Pvt Richardson's family by the mother of Cpl Smith. They were best buddies and he died a day before Neal was killed. When their remains were reburied on the spot where they still rest today, they weren't buried next to each other.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com - John F. Staley, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, Auburn University memorial, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Rich Carey, The Birmingham News 25 March 1945