Frank Smith was born on April 16, 1916 to Theodore (1879-1939) and Clarissa May Spencer (1889-1961) in Unadilla, NY. According to a family tree in FamilySearch, his mom had been married twice before. First to Melvin Jay Lown who died in 1910, then to Guy Lafayette Hewitt who passed in 1914.The 1925 NY State Census recorded the family living in Colesville, NY. His step-sisters Hazel M Loren and Florence Loren were living with him at the time as were his older brother George, his younger sister Rosenna and younger brother Martin. By 1930 the U.S. Census recorded he lived on Adams St. in Unadilla, NY with his mom and dad and his two younger siblings, Roseanna and Martin. They also had a boarder at the time. Both his parents were from New York and his dad was unemployed at the time of the 1930 Census. 

That same 1930 Census recorded that Frank was in school. As of this writing, I was unable to verify if Frank graduated from school or not. His Army enlistment papers show his level of education to be "Grammar school". He married Margaret Ahrens on May 9, 1936 in Unadilla, NY. His dad, Theodore passes in 1939 when Frank was 23. At the time he registers for the draft on October 16, 1940 he was 24 years old and worked for Elmore Milling Co. on Main St. in Oneonta, NY. He and his wife had moved to London Ave. in Oneonta, NY. He was 6'-1" tall and weighed 168 lbs. He had blue eyes and brown hair. He was drafted into the Army on December 20, 1943 in Utica, NY. He got assigned to the 26th Infantry Regiment, which was part of The Big Red One that fights its way across Northern France, Belgium and then entered Germany near the Huertgen Forest.

The Battle of the Huertgen Forest (Schlacht im Hurtgenwald) was the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hurtgenwald. It became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought in its history. The battles took place between September 13, 1944, and February 10, 1945.

On November 7, the New York Times reported, "Our forces made small gains in the Huertgen forest sector against stubborn resistance. Extensive minefields covered by artillery and small arms fire hindered our progress southwest of the town of Huertgen..." Pfc Smith was killed in action near Hurtgen, Germany on November 6, 1944. First reported as Missing in Action, he was officially declared killed on February 19, 1945. He was initially buried in the Henri Chapelle Cemetery, Belgium, Grave 163, Row 9, Plot JJ and later on December 11, 1947, as his widow wished, was returned to the United States and laid to rest in the National Cemetery (Woodlawn) in Elmira, NY., Section C, Grave 3252. He was escorted home by S/Sgt. James H Criss on the SS Robert Burns.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com. 

Sources

Family Tree for Spencer, accessed at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/portrait/LJP8-9BN, January 19, 2023.

Find a Grave, accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1191418/frank-smith, January 19, 2023.

Find a Grave, accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94628040/theodore-t-smith, January 19, 2023.

Find a Grave, accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94628068/clarissa-may-smith, January 19, 2023.

G-2 Journal and File, 7 Nov 44 – 14 Nov 44, First Division Museum, accessed at https://firstdivisionmuseum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=5d51b39f-52d3-4177-b65e-30b812011812%2Fiwfd0000%2F20141124%2F00000180, January 19, 2023.

New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index, certificate 15643.

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 01; Assembly District: 01; City: Colesville; County: Broome; Page: 21

The New York Times, Tuesday, November 7, 1941.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Unadilla, Otsego, New York; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0052; FHL microfilm: 2341371

Supporting Files