World War II Honoree

Edward G. Smith

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ada, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED IN THE AIR CORPS AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON OCTOBER 29, 1940 AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, ATTENDED THE 10 WEEK AIRPLANE AND ENGINE MECHANIC SCHOOL AT CHANUTE FIELD, ILLINOIS, AND QUALIFIED IN THAT MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS 747). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON JULY 16, 1942 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH THE B-25 MITCHELL BOMBER-EQUIPPED 446TH BOMB SQUADRON, 321ST BOMB GROUP, 57TH BOMB WING, 12TH AIR FORCE, ENGAGED IN OFFENSIVE AIR OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER. PARTICIPATED IN THE EGYPT-LIBYA, TUNISIA, SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, NORTHERN APENNINES, PO VALLEY, SOUTHERN FRANCE, AND AIR COMBAT BALKANS CAMPAIGNS. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON AUGUST 29, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP CHAFFEE, ARKANSAS. EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ARMY AIR FORCES TECHNICIAN BADGE, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EAST CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.