Boatswain’s Mate, First Class EARNEST WADE SMITH

Boatswain’s Mate, First Class EARNEST WADE SMITH, U. S. Navy. Husband of Nelda Jean Smith, 15 Beauregard Avenue of, Maplewood, and son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Smith. Brother of Seaman 2nd Class WILLIAM WEBB SMITH. He attended Bossier High School and was with A. and P. Company prior to entering the United States Navy on November 12, 1941. From the U. S. Naval Receiving Station, San Diego, Califobbrnia, he went aboard the USS Concord at New London, Connecticut, then to the Amphibious Training Base at Camp Bradford, Naval Operations Base, Norfolk, Virginia, and the AT B at Fort Pierce, Florida He was stationed at the Amphibious Base ATO at Lido Beach, Long Island, New York, and the A TB at Oceanside, California, prior to embarking on the USS Gage APA 168. Boatswain’s Mate First Class Smith fought in the Coral Sea. He made the great amphibious assault landing on Normandy Beach on June 6, 1944, on D-Day at H-Hour. He made the Okinawa assault landing on D-Day at H-Hour. He also served with the Amphibious Forces in the Occupation of Japan. He has the Presidential Unit Citation, the Asiatic Pacific Theater (PTO) Ribbon with five bronze Campaign Stars, the European African Middle Eastern Theater (ETO) Ribbon with one bronze Campaign Star for Normandy, and the American Theater Ribbon. He was honorably discharged December 5, 1945. 

Source:

1- THE FIGHTING MEN OF LOUISIANA – LOUISIANA HISTORICAL INSTITUTE – 1946