1st Sgt William G. Smith 35135609
First Sergeant William “Bill” Gustave Smith “Smitty” Sr. 35135609 US Army. He was born on October 16, 1914, in Cleveland Ohio, the son of Gustav ‘Gus’ Schmitt and Elizabeth Ann Webster Schmitt the family changed their name to Smith before William was born.
In October 1940 Smitty was 5 foot 8 inches tall weighed 145 pounds he had brown hair and hazel eyes. He was living in Cleveland, Ohio and working at H J Humphrey’s Company. Also, before World War Two Smitty served in the Ohio National Guard in the 37th Infantry Division.
By August 1942 he was serving as a Sergeant in Company F, 112th Headquarters, 82nd Infantry Division. In September 1942, Sergeant Smith along with many other men from the 82nd Infantry Division were transferred to the 98th Infantry Division to be Cadre to help train the 98th Infantry Division for combat. He would remain in this until the summer of 1943 when the 63rd Infantry Division was formed and large parts of the 98th Infantry Division Cadre many of whom were the same men that were transferred from the 82nd Infantry Division were sent to Camp Blanding Florida and were the Cadre for the 63rd Division. Sergeant Smitty was assigned to Company F, 253rdInfantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division.
In January 1944 he was a Staff Sergeant serving in F Company by the next January he would be the First Sergeant of the company. According to the 63rd Division Unit history and this story has been retold by many of the veterans of Fox Company, around January 10, 1945 in “Sarreguemines. On one occasion when the 2nd Battalion of the 253rd Infantry was located in the asylum, 1st Sgt. Bill Smith of Company “F” was advised that there was a large supply of potbellied stoves in a nearby barn. Since there was no heat in the asylum buildings and the men were building fires on the floors of the rooms to keep warm, Bill decided to “requisition” 15 of the stoves. Bill said that the “requisition order” was in the form of a submachine gun, and unfortunately, he had forgotten that the barn was on French soil and the Americans and the French were allies. The “requisition” constituted robbery in France, and the owner of the barn called the Military Police. He the barn owner either wanted his stoves back, or $15 apiece, or Bill’s stripes. Too bad that Bill’s guys had to give up their stoves and go back to freezing.” Smitty got demoted for the event. Smitty would be acting 1st Sergeant again in February. Smitty would also be made official 1st Sergeant again after Capt. Carlos W. Heath Jr. was removed from command for the events of February 24, 1945 and Lt. Frank A. Schaafsma, took over command of Fox Company.
On February 17, 1945 in the vicinity of Neunkirch France. When vital communications with the forward outpost had been severed Sgt Smith acting first Sgt. Volunteered to lead a group of 4 men to repair the Vital line. After a heavy concentration of enemy artillery fire. Sgt. Smith was separated from the party and went alone he succeeded in locating the break and restored the vital communications.
On February 24, 1944 he was back in the machine gun platoon serving as a Technical Sergeant. When the German ambush sprung on Fox Company it his 4th Platoon 1st which included the machine gun platoon and mortar platoon. Sgt Smith moved his machine gun into position and opened fire on the Germans the machine gun platoon. His Bronze star citation is hard to read but it looks like “By keeping his weapon ahead of the platoon … his aggressive action saved the lives of many riflemen.” Also, on February 24, he was wounded in the upper left thigh from a gunshot wound. Sergeant William Smith went AWOL from the hospital because he was going to be sent to a replacement depot and would end up serving in a different unit. He had been training the men of Company F since 1943. Because of this he saw it as his duty to see the men through the war. Therefore, he stole a jeep and drove it to the 253rd Infantry Regiment Headquarters and told them that he went AWAL from the hospital and why. The officer that he talked to told him to go back to Company F. Sergeant Smith decided to keep the jeep and for the remainder of the time in Europe Fox Company had an extra Jeep.
He like most of his company was wounded on April 6, 1945. Most of the NCO’s were wounded or killed and all but one officer was wounded or killed. Because of this he remained with the company until the next day April 7th before he finally went to the hospital. After he was released from the hospital. He had 1 more unbelievable adventure left in him before the war could end. According to First Sergeant William “Bill” Gustave Smith “Smitty” Sr.
“On April 27, 1945 F Company left Gunzburg by truck at 0700 for Klosterlechfeld, arriving at 2000 on the 28 of April. Where we were relieved by “A” Co, 30th Div. and then traveled to Landa. The last orders I had, on the morning of April 28 was that we were to take Munich. That morning I was acting as Exec. Officer, as well as being 1st Sgt. After I completed my duties, I jumped into my jeep to catch up with the troops. After driving for a distance, I began to wonder why I wasn’t catching up to the troops. But I kept going. I actually drove into Munich for about 200 yards. Looking around I saw many, white sheets hanging from the windows of the houses. I then realized Munich was an open city. Being all alone with my 45 pistol and a tommy gun – I did not know if there were any snipers in the area. So I decided to turn around and get out fast. Back at Bn. Hqs. I asked Col. Christinson where the troops were? He said “didn’t you get the word? The 36 Division is coming to-take Munich.” Hell! in a way I had already taken Munich. That evening, while waiting to be relieved by the 36 Div. a Lt. Robert Graham came to take over our Co. Robert was a S/Sgt. in our Co. before being sent to OCS. As a joke, before he entered the room we all turned our backs on him. When he did enter and asked for the Exec.. Officer we replied “Who wants to Know” and then we turned to face and greet him. I guess that’s the Army for you… always giving the Old Divisions the glory, after we did all the dirty work.”
According to Lt. Lawrence “Mack” Castleberry, when Mack 1st entered Fox Company, Sgt Smith was offered a commission to Lieutenant and lead 4th Platoon. After Smitty met Mack and saw how well Mack knew his stuff he declined the offer knowing that the platoon would be in better hands with Mack leading it.
First Sergeant William “Bill” Gustave Smith “Smitty” Sr. was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, 3 Bronze Star Medals 2 for valor, 2 Purple Heart Medal, the American Defense Medal, The American Theater of operations, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with 2 battle star, and the World War Two Victory Medal.
Smitty came home from the war with a very unusual souvenir a Fox. The Fox was the mascot for Fox Company that was found in late February or early March 1945 by Grover Dees, (KIA April 6, 1945) Robert Bane, and Thomas. The fox walked across Europe with Fox Company, and after the war was over Smitty was not going to leave behind one of their soldiers. Smitty continued his job as 1st Sgt until his death. He wrote and called all the men and kept up to date on what everyone was doing, and he put together many of the Fox Company reunions though the years. All while working and being a family man too he had one son and two daughters. Smitty died on June 10, 2002, in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of 87. He is buried at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens Chesterland, Geauga County, Ohio, USA
