Richard Gerald Smith was born August 28, 1914 to John C. Smith (1891-1919) and Eva Markle (1895-1965). His parents were married on March 23, 1913 in Oneonta, NY. His father dies in 1919 when Richard is only 5, leaving his mom to take care of the three boys. The 1920 U.S. Census recorded the family living on Columbia St. in Oneonta with his grandparents Christopher and Mary Smith. With them was living his aunt Mary, his mom, Eva, his brothers John and George and his cousin Pauline Koelle. By 1930 things had changed again for the family. Census records for that year record him living on Main St. in Oneonta with his mom, a boarder and his brothers John and George. He was a graduate of St. Mary's School and Oneonta High School class of 1935. where he was known as "Dick" and was active in sports and clubs. 

He lived at 19 Church St. in Oneonta, NY at the time he registers for the draft. He was 26 years old and his mother, Eva, was living in Unadilla, NY just down the Susquehanna River from Oneonta. He was employed by R.L. Deighton, a Karmelkorn Shop on Main St. He was drafted into the service on July 7, 1942.  He was 5'-11" tall and weighed 150 pounds.  He had grey eyes and brown hair and received his basic training at Fort Eustis, Newport News, Virginia. (WWII Army Enlistment records noted his enlistment date as June 23, 1942). Fort Eustis was an anti-aircraft artillary training center. He is soon promoted to sergeant and transferred to Camp Stewart, Georgia.

While at Camp Stewart, Sgt. Smith was operated on for acute appendicites. Two weeks later his mother is notified that his condition was critical so she traveled to see him. Sgt. Smith's Hospital Admission Card File record indicated he was in a Coast Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Unit at the time of his admission into the Hospital. He died at an army hospital at Camp Stewart, GA on May 22, 1944 more than two weeks after an operation.

His body was returned home to Oneonta and buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Emmons, New York after a requiem mass celebrating his life was held at St. Mary's Church. His name is etched on a plaque that hangs in the main hallway of his high school. He is also memorialized on a plague honoring all WWII fallen from Oneonta in Neawha Park, Oneonta, NY.

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

Find a Grave, accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235479431/richard-smith, January 18, 2023.

Find a Grave, accessed at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235479479/eva-m-smith, January 18, 2023.

Joint Base Langley-Eustis, History, accessed at https://www.jble.af.mil/About-Us/Fort-Eustis-History/, January 18, 2023.

Sgt. Richard Smith Dies in Army Hospital, Unadilla Times, May 26, 1944, pg. 1

Year: 1920; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: T625_1255; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 211

Year: 1930; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0032; FHL microfilm: 2341370

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

Obituary for Mrs. Eva M. Smith, Oneonta Star, Oneonta, NY, December 17, 1965, pg. 12

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U.S., City Directories, Oneonta, 1935, pg. 62, "Deighton".