He attended Mitchell St. school in Oneonta before moving with his parents to Binghamton, NY. in 1933. His Army enlistment papers reported he graduated from high school and attended college for two years.

He enlisted in the Regular Army on August 8, 1939 and served at Fort Niagara, New York and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. While at Fort Jackson, he married Jeanette Dotman on April 13, 1941.

Jeanette was seven months pregnant when Charles left for overseas on May 12, 1944.In a 1991 newspaper story about her she recalled that she, "Went with him down to the Lackawanna Station the day he left and he said to her, 'I have a feeling I'm never coming back'". He was on the back of the train and as he was waving goodbye, a freight train came by and cut them off. Just like that he was gone. "In your heart", Jeanette said, "you keep waiting for one of those telegrams to come. You always expect one. I had my coat on and was about to go out somewhere when the yellow cab pulled up. Later, I got this letter from the Army talking about how he had gone out onto the field to rescue a wounded man and he was killed by a German sniper. Except they called it 'mortally wounded.' " They have a son, Wayne Charles that summer (June 23, 1944), a son Charles never knew but did see in the pictures Jeanette sent him. (Jeanette remarried and lived until 2011). His son Wayne lived until 2021 and left a wife and two children. .

First Sgt. Smith was part of the 90th Infantry Division which on November 9, 1944 attacked "Fortress Metz". According to the 90th Infantry Division's After Action Reports, from Nov. 9 to Nov. 19 there was "heavy and vicious fighting as the Germans resisted stubbornly from extraordinarily fine defensive positions. " The heroic actions of the 358th and 359th Infantry Regiments in crossing the Moselle River during this attack are well documented. (For a detailed account see "The Moselle Crossing", 90th In fantry Division After Action Reports, November 9-19, 1944 noted in the Sources below).

First Sgt. Smith is killed in action on November 12, 1944 near Metz from a sniper while trying to save a wounded man. His remains are returned home and he was laid to rest in the Kattelville Cemetery, Kattelville, NY. He was 27 years old and was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. His widow was present at the dedication of a monument to WWII veterans at the corners of Louisa and Robinson Streets in Binghamton, NY on Memorial Day 1993.

If you have information to correct or add to this story please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com.

Sources

Find a Grave record for Charles Smith accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75353484/charles-eugene-smith; February 28, 2023.

Find a Grave record for Wayne C. Zebrowski accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/224138254/wayne-c-zebrowski, March 1, 2023.

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 06; Assembly District: 01; City: Oneonta Ward 06; County: Otsego; Page: 18

New York State Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vita Statistics, Certificate and Record of Marriage, Reg. Num 887, Cattaraugus County, January 29, 1913.

"The Moselle Crossing", 90th Infantry Division After Action Reports, November 9-19, 1944, accessed at http://www.90thidpg.us/Research/90thDivision/History/AAR/november44.html, March 1, 2023.

The National Archives, website query for serial number 06976596, accessed at https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&tf=F&q=06976596&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=299298, March 1, 2023.

The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) For the State of New York; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 573

"Tributes Stand Proud", Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin, Binghamton, NY, June 1, 1993.

"Widow's life always: What if?", Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin, Binghamton, NY, December 4, 1991, pg. 20.

Supporting Files