Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
SMITH, Otis - Date of
birth
12 June 1914 -
Age
30 -
Place of birth
Butts County, Georgia -
Hometown
Butts County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
20401575 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
A Company,
1st Battalion,
121st Infantry Regiment,
8th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 December 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Obermaubach, Hürtgen Forest, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 12 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert A. Smith (father)
Sara O. (Fincher) Smith (mother)
Ethel G. Smith (sister)
Vallie M. Smith (sister)
John H. Smith (brother)
Raymond M. Smith (brother)
Elizabeth O. Smith (sister)
Aaron L. Smith (brother)
Robert A. Smith (brother)
Elsie M. Smith (sister)
Thomas E. Smith (brother)
Ira W. Smith (brother)
More information
T/Sgt Otis Smith was a stone mason.He joined the National Guard in Jackson, Georgia on 16 September 1940.
He was wounded in action in France in July 1944. For this wound he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal a first time.
T/Sgt Smith was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action. The citation reads: On 23 November 1944 Sgt Smith led his platoon through difficult forest terrain until it was pinned down by the fire from a well-concealed machine gun emplacement. Moving ahead alone, Sgt Smith successfully flanked the enemy position and killed the three occupants. Although he was pinned down on his forward position for a half hour, he finally managed to crawl back to his company with valuable information concerning enemy dispositions. His unselfish courage and devotion to duty reflects great credit on himself, his organization and the military service.
T/Sgt Smith is remembered at Stodghill Cemetery in Worthville, Butts County, Georgia with a memorial marker.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Butts County GA
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet/Rachel Rooks