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name
SMITH, James S - Date of
birth
13 September 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Kentucky -
Hometown
Russell, Greenup County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
6985951 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
G Company,
2nd Battalion,
11th Infantry Regiment,
5th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
11 September 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Dornot, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Howard Smith (father)
John E. Smith (brother)
More information
T/Sgt James S. Smith enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 October 1939.He had a Post Graduate degree and worked as a motionpicture projectionist before he enlisted.
T/Sgt Smith was acting as a platoon sergeant on duty with G Company which was evacuating the east bank of the Moselle River on the night of 10 September 1944 near Dornot, France. He had his platoon loaded on boats for the crossing when it was realized there was no room for him. He ordered the boats across and started to swim with his clothes on. The river was about 100 yards wide with a swift current. When the Company mustered, Sgt Smith was missing and no trace of him was found.
Source of information: Leo Minne, Raf Dyckmans Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, "A footsoldier for Patton" - Michael C. Bilder/James G. Bilder, The 5th Infantry Division in the ETO, IDPF
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Dave Hansen