Military Heritageof

Jacob Gerald Langley

Prepared to commemoratehis commissioning as a

Second LieutenantIn the United States Army

December 2011

Jacob Gerald LangleySecond LieutenantUnited States Army

Commissioned December 10, 2011

Jacob has a rich history of ancestors who served their country with distinction in King Phillip’s War, the

French and Indian War, the War of the Revolution, the Civil War, WW1 and WW2. Here are a few of their

stories.

King Phillip’s War

King Philip's War, sometimes called the First Indian War, or Metacom's War was an armed conflict

between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named

after the main leader of the Native American side, Metacomet, known to the English as "King Philip".

Captain Michael J. Pierce 1615-1676

Captain Michael J. Pierce immigrated to the New World in the early 1640s from Higham, Kent, England to Scituate, in what later became Massachusetts. Michael Pierce was the brother of the famous Colonial sea captain, William Pierce, who helped settle Plymouth Colony. Historical records show that Captain William crossed the Atlantic, bringing settlers and provisions to the New World more frequently than any other during the Great Migration.

Captain Michael J Pierce

Captain in the Local Militia Fighting the Indians. Michael Pierce attained the title, Captain, from the Colony court in 1669. Historical records show that he was first given the rank of Ensign under Captain Miles Standish, then later, in 1669, he was made Captain. These titles reflects his role as a leader in the local militia formed to protect the colony from the Indians.

Honored for Heroism in King Phillip's War. Captain Michael Pierce's memory is well-documented in American history. He is honored for the brave manner in which he died in defense of his country. The exact manner in which he died is repeated in more than 20 books and letters detailing the military history of the King Phillip's War. This war took place between 1675 and 1676, and remains one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history. It was also a pivotal point in early American history.

Pierce Park and Monument

Dedicated to Captain Michael Pierce Central Falls, Rhode Island, next to

Blackstone River

The battle in which Captain Michael Pierce lost his life is detailed in Drakes Indian Chronicles (pp. 220-222) as follows:

"Sunday the 26th of March, 1676, was sadly remarkable to us for the tidings of a very deplorable disaster brought into Boston about five o'clock that afternoon, by a post from Dedham, viz., that Captain Pierce of Scituate in Plymouth Colony, having intelligence in his garrison at Seaconicke, that a party of the enemy lay near Mr. Blackstorne's, went forth with sixty-three English and twenty of the Cape Indians (who had all along continued faithful, and joyned with them), and upon their march discovered rambling in an obscure woody place, four or five Indians, who, in getting away from us halted as if they had been lame or wounded. But our men had pursued them but a little way into the woods before they found them to be only decoys to draw them into their ambuscade; for on a sudden, they discovered about five hundred Indians, who in very good order, furiously attacked them, being as readily received by ours; so that the fight began to be very fierce and dubious, and our men had made the enemy begin to retreat, but so slowly that it scarce deserved the name, when a fresh company of about four hundred Indians came in; so that the English and their few Indian friends were quite surrounded and beset on every side. Yet they made a brave resistance for about two hours; during which time they did great execution upon their enemy, who they kept at a distance and themselves in order. For Captain Pierce cast his sixty-three English and twenty Indians into a ring, and six fought back to back, and were double - double distance all in one ring, whilst the Indians were as thick as they could stand, thirty deep. Overpowered with whose numbers, the said Captain and fifty-five of his English and ten of their Indian friends were slain upon the place, which in such a cause and upon such disadvantages may certainly be titled "The Bed of Honor." However, they sold their worthy lives at a gallant rate, it being affirmed by those few that not without wonderful difficulty and many wounds made their escape, that the Indians lost as many fighting men in this engagement as were killed in the battle in the swamp near Narragansett, mentioned in our last letter, which were generally computed to be above three hundred."

Nine Men’s Misery Monument In Cumberland, Rhode Island,

there is a monument commemorating Pierce’s fight called Nine Men's Misery.

The monument is located in a dark, place in the woods, near a former monastery. The monastery is now a public library. The monument consists of little more than a pile of stones cemented together by a monk and marked with a plaque. However, this site is of major historical significance because it is considered to be the oldest monument to veterans in the United States. The inscription on the monument is shown to the right.

NINE MEN'S MISERY

ON THIS SPOT WHERETHEY WERE SLAINBY THE INDIANSWERE BURIED

THE NINE SOLDIERSCAPTURED IN

PIERCE'S FIGHTMARCH 26, 1676

Captain John Holbrook was baptized on 6 April 1618 at St. John the Baptist Church, Glastonbury, Somerset, England. He emigrated with his father and mother in 1635 aboard the "Marygold" as part of Reverend Hull's Company. He and his family settled in Weymouth MA.

Captain John Holbrook fought in King Phillip’s War. Records show that on June 22, 1676, he was at Concord with thirty men from Norfolk, a county which consisted of the settlements on the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers, and as commander he drew the pay for twenty-four men in June, August and September, 1675, and also drew sixteen pounds for his own services.

Captain John Holbrook1615-1676

Jacob Gerald is a descendant of Captain Michael J. Pierce

and Captain John Holbrook

Captain Michael J. Pierce m. Persis Eames> Abigal Pierce Abigal Pierce m. Captain John Holbrook > Elizabeth Holbrook Elizabeth Holbrook m. James Smith (3) > Ebenezer Smith Ebenezer Smith m. Sara Tiffany> Hezekiah Smith (Major) Hezekiah Smith m. Eunice Morris > Nathaniel Smith Nathaniel Smith m. Mary Thompson> Jonathan McGee Smith Jonathan McGee Smith m. Ann Patterson> Joseph Emerson Smith Joseph Emerson Smith m. Margaret A. Borland> Arthur Clinton

Smith Arthur Clinton Smith m. Mary Magdalene Malloy > Cyril Joseph

Smith Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis Smith Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth Megan

Smith Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

Lt. Henry Bowen 1633-1723Lieutenant Henry Bowen was born in 1633 in Wales and immigrated to the United States at age 5 originally landing at Boston.

While living in Roxbury, MA Henry Bowen was a Lieutenant in the militia in Captain Isaac Johnson’s company, and commanded the company upon the death of Capt. Johnson in the Great Swamp Fight of Dec. 19, 1675.

The Great Swamp Fight, or the Great Swamp Massacre, was a crucial battle fought during King Philip's War between colonial militia of New England and the Narragansett tribe in December of 1675.

Jacob Gerald is a descendant of Lieutenant Henry Bowen

Lieutenant Henry Bowen m. Elizabeth Johnson> Elizabeth Bowen Elizabeth Bowen m. Deacon Edward Morris > Lt. Edward Morris Lt Edward Morris m. Bethiah Peake > Eunice Morris Eunice Morris m. Hezekiah Smith > Nathaniel Smith Nathaniel Smith m. Mary Thompson> Jonathan McGee Smith Jonathan McGee Smith m. Ann Patterson > Joseph Emerson Smith Joseph Emerson Smith m. Margaret A. Borland> Arthur Clinton Smith Arthur Clinton Smith m. Mary Magdalene Malloy > Cyril Joseph Smith Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis Smith Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth Megan

Smith Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, began in the Spring on 1754. The dispute

arose over the presence of British and French settlers in the Ohio River but resulted in battles that

were fought far from there. Both the French and English wanted exclusive rights to the area because of its economic potential and plethora of fur-bearing

wildlife. Despite attempts in Europe to solve the territory battle diplomatically, no compromise could

be made and war resulted.

George Patterson 1723-1789

George Patterson was born in Ireland in 1723. He is believed to have immigrated to the US with his parents when he was about 5 years old.

He held many offices in Pelham Ma including deer reeve, school board member, surveyor, and constable. George was one of the "Committee of Correspondence" in 1773 and 1777. He served as Selectman of Pelham during the years 1763,66,69,70,75,77 and 1779. On March 29,1776 he was chosen to be on the Committee of Safety.

During the French and Indian War, George was a soldier in the company of Capt. Robert Letheridge of Pelham, Col. Israel Williams' regiment, which marched by the Captain General’s orders for the relief of the garrison and troops at Fort William Henry at the time it was invested in 1757.

Captain James Gilmore 1702-1758

James, youngest son of Robert and Mary Ann (Kennedy) Gilmore, was born in 1705, in Coleraine, Ireland, and came to the US with his parents in 1718. He and his brothers were among the first settlers in Londonderry, NH. Captain James Gilmore was an officer in the French and Indian Wars

Jacob Gerald is a descendant of Captain James Gilmore and

George Patterson

Captain James Gilmore m. Jean Batiste > Margaret Gilmore Margaret Gilmore m. George Patterson > Adam Patterson Adam Patterson m. Jane Rankin > Ann Patterson Ann Patterson m. Jonathan McGee Smith > Joseph Emerson Smith Joseph Emerson Smith m. Margaret A. Borland> Arthur Clinton

Smith Arthur Clinton Smith m. Mary Magdalene Malloy > Cyril Joseph

Smith Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis Smith Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth Megan

Smith Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

The War of the Revolution

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) began as a war between the Kingdom of Great

Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers. Many of Jacob’s ancestors fought in the War of the Revolution. A few of them

are listed here.

Major Hezekiah Smith and his Sons

Smith Obelesk in Colrain Branch Cemetary, Colrain, Massachusetts, honors Major Hezekiah Smith and his sons of Colrain MA who served in the War of the Revolution.

Hezekiah is a direct descendant of James Smith who immigrated from England in 1635; Jacob is a direct

descendant of Hezekiah Smith.

Major Hezekiah SmithAn Officer of the Revolution

Born 1726 Died 1800Eunice Morris

His WifeBorn 1729 Died 1807

Erected AD 1864 By their Grandson Joseph

Son of CalvinAs a token of respect for his

ancestors

Sons of Maj SmithOren born 1750 died 1823Hezekiah 1753 1843Nathaniel 1755 1835David 1758 1816Rominer 1759 1827Calvin 1764 1837

Obelisk Inscriptions

Major Hezekiah Smith 1726-1800

Prominent in local affairs and Revolution In January 1773, a town meeting was called in Colrain to consider the first statements received from Boston. They were probably Samuel Adams’ “Statement of the Rights of Colonists” and Joseph Warren’s “List of Infringements and Violations of Those Rights”. A committee of 7 members was appointed to represent Colrain and among them was Hezekiah (p. 61).

At a town meeting held 3-7-1774, Hezekiah was one of 7 men appointed to the Committee of Correspondence for the coming year (p. 64).

Hezekiah joined the militia in 1774 to join in the siege of Boston (p. 68).

Hezekiah was named on 5-23-1775 as a delegate to the Provincial Congress meeting in Watertown. It voted to raise an army of 13, 600 men and provide money to defray expenses (p. 68).

Hezekiah was one of the Colrain men with Capt. Robert Oliver in the 24th regiment of Col. Ephraim Doolittle at Charlestown and Winter Hill from August 1 to October 6, 1775 (p. 73-74).

By April 3, 1777, Hezekiah was a major in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment and was in charge of the Commissary Department at Ticonderoga. He and one of his sons were also there in June 1777 when Burgoyne attacked and stayed until evacuation 7-10-1777. They were in the regiment of Col. David Wells. Immediately after the evacuation of Ticonderoga, Cpt. Agrippa Wells’ Company of Col. Porter’s regiment marched to reinforce the northern army. Hezekiah and 2 of his sons (Hezekiah, junior and Nathaniel) served in this company from 7-10-1777 to 8-12-1777. When the fort was reoccupied, he was stationed there again in charge of the stores from 1777-1779 (p. 70-74).

Charles McClellan in “Centennia Gazette” says of his life, “he was a patriot of the most reliable type, and in the stirring event of the revolution, he obtained a deserved prominence both for himself and certainly for three of his sons who were actively engaged in the campaign against Burgoyne”.

Fort Ticonderoga

Major Nathaniel Smith 1755-1835

Hezekiah Smith Jr. 1753-1843

Sergeant Oren Smith 1750-1823Smith , Orin, Colrain. Capt. Robert Oliver's co., Col. Ephraim Doolittle's (24th) regt.; receipt for advance pay, signed by said Smith and others, dated Charlestown Camp, June 27, 1775 ; also, Private, same co. and regt; muster roll dated Aug. 1,1775; enlisted May 1, 1775 ; service, 3 mos. 8 days; also. Sergeant, same CO. and regt; company return dated Charlestown, Winter Hill, Oct. 6, 1775; also, order for money in lieu of bounty coat dated Winter Hill, Dec. 23, 1775. He would have been 24 years old in 1775.

Smith , Hezekiah. Private, Capt. Agrippa Wells’ co.. Col. Porter's regt.; marched from home July 9, 1777; enlisted July 10, 1777; discharged Aug. 12, 1777; service, 38 days, including travel (80 miles) home; company marched to reinforce Northern army after the evacuation of Ticonderoga. Roll sworn to at Deerfield. He would have been 25 years old in 1777.

Smith , Nathaniel. Private, Capt. Agrippa Wells' co.. Col. Porter's regt.; marched from home July 9, 1777; enlisted July 10, 1777; discharged Aug. 12, 1777; service, 38 days, including travel (80 miles) home ; company marched to reinforce Northern army after the evacuation of Ticonderoga. Roll sworn to at Deerfield. He would have been 23 years old in 1777.

Entries from the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War

Hezekiah Smith’s Sons

Major David Smith 1758-1816

Rominer Smith 1759-1827

Smith , David. Capt. Robert Oliver's co.. Col. Ephraim Doolittle's (24th) regt.; order for bounty coat dated Camp at Winter Hill, Nov. 18, 1775.  He would have been 18 years old in 1775.

Smith , " Rominer." Private, Capt. Lawrance Kemp's co.. Col. Leonard's regt.; enlisted Feb. 23, 1777; discharged April 10, 1777; service, 47 days, at Ticonderoga.  He would have been 18 years old in 1777.

Entries from the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War

Hezekiah Smith’s Sons

Jacob Gerald is a descendant of Major Hezekiah Smithand Nathaniel Smith

Hezekiah Smith m. Eunice Morris > Nathaniel Smith Nathaniel Smith m. Mary Thompson> Jonathan McGee Smith Jonathan McGee Smith m. Ann Patterson > Joseph Emerson

Smith Joseph Emerson Smith m. Margaret A. Borland> Arthur Clinton

Smith Arthur Clinton Smith m. Mary Magdalene Malloy > Cyril Joseph

Smith Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis

Smith Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth

Megan Smith Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald

Langley

George Patterson 1723-1789

War of the RevolutionThe Patterson Family

George Patterson was born in Ireland in 1723. He is believed to have immigrated to the US with his parents when he was about 5 years old.

He held many offices in Pelham Ma including deer reeve, school board member, surveyor, and constable. George was one of the "Committee of Correspondence" in 1773 and 1777. He served as Selectman of Pelham during the years 1763,66,69,70,75,77 and 1779. On March 29,1776 he was chosen to be on the Committee of Safety.

In addition to serving in the French and Indian War, George Patterson served his country during the Revolutionary War. He was one of the Minute Men, in the company of Captain David Cowden which marched from Pelham on August 17, 1777. This is the regiment of Col. Ruggles Woodbridge at the Battle of Bennington. George was released on 8.20.1777

Adam Patterson 1753-1823

War of the RevolutionThe Patterson Family

Adam Patterson was born Oct 27, 1754 to George Patterson and his wife Margaret Gilmore Patterson. The family lived in Pelham MA. His grandfather was Captain James Gilmore who served in the French and Indian War.

Adam was mustered into a company under command of Captain David Cowden in Colonel Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment to the first of August, 1775. Adam served 4 enlistments in the Revolutionary War.

Jacob Gerald is a descendant ofGeorge Patterson

and Adam Patterson

George Patterson m. Margaret Gilmore > Adam Patterson Adam Patterson m. Jane Rankin > Ann Patterson Ann Patterson m. Jonathan McGee Smith > Joseph Emerson

Smith Joseph Emerson Smith m. Margaret A. Borland> Arthur Clinton

Smith Arthur Clinton Smith m. Mary Magdalene Malloy > Cyril Joseph

Smith Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis Smith Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth

Megan Smith Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

The Civil War

The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of

Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United

States and formed the Confederate States of America ("the Confederacy"); the other 25 states supported the federal

government ("the Union"). After four years of warfare, mostly within the Southern states, the Confederacy surrendered and

slavery was outlawed everywhere in the nation.

Daniel William Malloy1837-1929Daniel William Malloy was born Sept 27 1837 in Ireland. He arrived in the United States in about 1850 at the age of 13 and settled first in Ohio, then moved to Red Wing Minnesota. He enlisted in the 20th Regiment of the Iowa Infantry, Union Army on January 6, 1865. His enlistment papers listed him as 5’11’’ with blue eyes and brown hair.

Enlistment Papers forDaniel W. Malloy

Daniel William Malloy

Upon his enlistment, Daniel was given a knapsack, a haversack, a canteen and $37. He was sent to Mobile Alabama where he served in the Siege of Blakely, Alabama. He was then transferred to the 34 Regiment Iowa Infantry by order of Major General G. Granger.

At the close of the Civil War, during the Indian uprising in Minnesota, he served under General Sibley at New Ulm.

Siege of Fort Blakely

Battle of Fort Blakely from Wikipedia

The Battle of Fort Blakely

The Battle of Fort Blakely took place from April 2-April 9, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the American Civil War.

Maj. Gen. Edward Canby's Union forces, the XVI and XIII Corps, moved along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, forcing the Confederates back into their defenses. Union forces then concentrated on Spanish Fort, Alabama and nearby Fort Blakely.

By April 1, Union forces had enveloped Spanish Fort, thereby releasing more troops to focus on Fort Blakely. Confederate Brig. Gen. St. John R. Liddell, with about 4,000 men, held out against the much larger Union force until Spanish Fort fell on April 8 in the Battle of Spanish Fort. This allowed Canby to concentrate 16,000 men for the attack on April 9, led by Brig. Gen. John P. Hawkins. Sheer numbers breached the Confederate earthworks, compelling the Confederates, including Liddell, to surrender.

The siege and capture of Fort Blakely was basically the last combined-force battle of the war. Yet, it is criticized by some (such as Ulysses S. Grant) as an ineffective contribution to Union war effort due to Canby's lateness in engaging his troops. African-American forces played a major role in the successful Union assault.

The site of the battle is now a historical park, Historic Blakeley

State Park.

Jacob Gerald is a descendant of Daniel William Malloy

Daniel William Malloy m. Harriet Jane Spates >Mary Magdalene Malloy

Mary Magdalene Malloy m. Arthur Clinton Smith> Cyril Joseph Smith

Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis Smith

Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth Megan Smith

Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

World War I

World War I (WWI) was a major war centered in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918.

It involved all the world's great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (centered

around the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and Russia) and the Central Powers (originally centered around the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy).

Ultimately more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest

wars in history. More than 9 million combatants were killed. It was the sixth deadliest conflict in world history.

Cyril Joseph Smith 1869-1938Cyril Joseph was born Sept 23, 1899 to Arthur Clinton Smith and Mary Magdalene Malloy Smith in Montrose SD. He registered for the draft in 1916 toward the end of WWI.

Cyril’s DraftRegistration CardDated Sept 1916.

Cyril Joseph Smith

WWI Training

Smith. Letter from Arthur Clinton Smith

To his sister Eva Smith Wheeler

Oct 4, 1918 from training camp in WWI.

At right, the transcription of the whole letter is

displayed.

Jacob Gerald is a descendant of Cyril Joseph Smith

Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis Smith

Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth Megan Smith

Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

Korean War

The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was a war between Republic of Korea (supported by the United Nations) and

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (supported by the People's Republic of China, with military and material aid from the Soviet Union). The war was a result of the physical division of Korea by

an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Pacific War at the end of World War II. The Korean peninsula was ruled by Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. Following the surrender of Japan in 1945, American administrators divided the peninsula along the 38th Parallel, with United States troops occupying the southern part and Soviet troops occupying the

northern part.

Bernard Leroy Smith 1932-1950Bernard is the oldest child of Noel Thomas Smith and the grandson of Cyril Joseph Smith. He enlisted as a Private First Class on June 20, 1950 and died in action Dec. 3 1950. He served in the 7th Regiment, Heavy Mortars, 3rd Infant;ry. He died in a mortar shell explosion in Hamhung while serving in the Korean War.

Bernard Leroy Smith is the Nephew of Jacob Gerald Smith’s

Grandfather Gerald Smith

Gerald Francis Smith’s brother is Noel Thomas Smith

Noel Thomas Smith m. Hazel Noyes> Bernard Leroy Smith

Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth Megan Smith

Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

Note: Bernard and Elizabeth are First Cousins. Jacob is Bernard’s First Cousin once removed.

World War II

World War II, or the Second World was a global conflict that was underway by 1939 and ended in 1945. It involved most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually

forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100

million military personnel mobilized. In a state of "total war", the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and

scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by

significant events involving the mass death of civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it

is the deadliest conflict in human history, resulting in 50 million to over 70 million fatalities

Gordon Cyril Smith1923-1947Gordon Cyril Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril J. Smith was born in 1923 in Sioux Falls, S. D. and attended Loyola High School and Loyola University. He enlisted in the navy in 1943.

Ens. Gordon Cyril Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril J. Smith of 3462 Broadway, Huntington Park, was identified yesterday as one of the two pilots who were killed Wednesday when their two trainer planes collided at 3000 feet near Foley, Ala. The other flyer has been identified as Lt. William Knapp, formerly of Washington, DC.

The 24-year old pilot was born in Sioux Falls, S. D. and had attended Loyola High School and Loyola University. He enlisted in the navy in 193 and received flight training in the naval air corps al Alburquerque, NM, Athens GA and Memphis, TN. The day after he received his wings, Ens Smith married Betty Mae Zeuert of Chicago, IL at Holy Name Cathedral there. Besides his widow, he leaves his 5 month old daughter, Donna Mary, his parents and ghree brothers, Gerald, John and Richard, all of Huntington Park, adn two sisters Joan and Margaret of Huntington Park.

Remains will be taken to Chicago IL for requiem mass at Holy Name Cathedral Tuesday. Military burial will follow at Great Lakes IL.

Obituary of Gordon Cyril Smith

Gerald Francis Smith1925-1981

Gerald Francis Smith was born Apr 29, 1925 as the second son of Cyril Joseph Smith and Helen Ragan Smith. His older brother Gordon had joined the Naval Air Force to fight in WWII. Gerald took the B12 officer training test, but did not hear right away. Fearing he would be drafted, Gerald enlisted in the Navy prior to his 18th birthday in April 1943, without his parent’s permission.

Gerald Francis Smith He went through boot camp in San Diego and he was

made a Corpsman as a result of a test that he took that he did well on. While he was in Corps School, he would look at the bulletin board every day to see if he was being called to ship out to the Pacific. All his buddies were and they were getting killed.

  After Corp School, he worked at the Naval Hospital in

Corona, CA. Then he got notice that he was accepted into the B12 program. So he went to his commander to go and they said, “Tough luck, you have to stay.” He called some friends to pull some strings and he was sent to Greencastle, IN to DePauw University to be a midshipman there. He was there about 2 years and they then sent him to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

  At Ann Arbor they discovered that he had tuberculosis

(TB), which was probably contracted when he worked at the Naval Hospital. They sent him to Great Lakes Training Center Hospital in Chicago, IL at first, then at his insistence, they sent him to Corona California as a patient and he was discharged from the Navy from there.

Gertrude Norma Guest Smith

Gertrude Norma Guest Smith was born June 2, 1925 to Joseph W. Guest and Norma Guest Montgomery in Berea, Ohio. Norma graduated from St. Luke Hospital’s Nursing Program in 1946. The following year, Norma and 3 friends came west to work with wounded veterans at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles.

Jacob Gerald is a descendant of Gerald Joseph Smith and

Gertrude Norma Guest Smith

Cyril Joseph Smith m. Helen Louise Regan> Gerald Francis Smith and Gordon Cyril

Gerald Francis Smith m. Gertrude Norma Guest> Elizabeth Megan Smith

Elizabeth Megan Smith m. Bart A. Langley> Jacob Gerald Langley

Gerald Francis Smith’s Brother Gordon Cyril is Jacob’s Great Uncle