World War II Honoree

Robert L. Smith

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON AUGUST 3, 1944 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED AS A RIFLEMAN, MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 745. DEPARTED THE U.S. ON FEBRUARY 15, 1945 BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH COMPANY F, 158TH ‘BUSHMASTERS’ INFANTRY REGIMENT, OPERATING SEPARATELY AS A UNIT IN THAT THEATER, THROUGH THE LUZON AND SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS CAMPAIGNS AND INTO THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN WHEN THE WAR ENDED. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (JAPAN) AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON AUGUST 16, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.