Kenneth Dean Smith (1925 - 1945)

Born 3 Jul 1925 in Lost Island Township, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 20 in Philippine Sea

Problems/Questions Profile manager: v. Wilson [send private message]

Biography

Seaman 2nd Class Kenneth Smith served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 13 Jan 1944
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 2nd Class Kenneth Smith was Killed in Action during World War II.

Kenneth Smith was awarded the Purple Heart.

Kenneth was born in 1925. His parents were Myrtle R Hendrickson and Floyd Amaziah Smith.^[1]

Kenneth enlisted in the naval reserve on 13 Jan 1944, after training, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 25 Apr 1944, where he served as Seaman 2nd Class. ^[2]

In July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was sent on a secret mission to deliver the components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian Island without an escort, on the return trip, still without escort, it was attacked by a Japanese submarine. The USS Indianapolis sank in 12 minutes on 30 Jul 1945 with some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard going down with the ship. With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, only 316 of the nearly 900 men set adrift survived the 4 days in shark infested water before rescue. Kenneth was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. ^[3][4]

Kenneth is honored at three memorials: Crown Hill Cemetery, Ruthven, Palo Alto County, Iowa; USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ "Iowa, Birth and Stillbirth Records, 1921-1947", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZB-QS8W : Tue Aug 15 00:28:27 UTC 2023), Entry for Kenneth Dean Smith and Floyd A Smith, 3 Jul 1925
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30447225:1143
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/98980:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=fa0d9cf661d4b932e44b5c6d1bbb7925&_phsrc=EzO8681&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/19982:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=fa0d9cf661d4b932e44b5c6d1bbb7925&_phsrc=EzO8682&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78610814/kenneth-dean-smith: accessed 29 August 2023), memorial page for Kenneth Dean Smith (3 Jul 1925–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 78610814, citing Crown Hill Cemetery, Ruthven, Palo Alto County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by pattyk (contributor 47252810).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56785568/kenneth-dean-smith: accessed 29 August 2023), memorial page for S2 Kenneth Dean Smith (3 Jul 1925–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56785568, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194068770/kenneth-dean-smith: accessed 29 August 2023), memorial page for Kenneth Dean Smith (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194068770, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).

• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMV8-T26 : Thu Aug 03 21:40:34 UTC 2023), Entry for Floyd A Smith and Myrtle R Smith, 1930
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7NS-TBX : Mon Jul 24 11:42:14 UTC 2023), Entry for Floyd Smith and Myrttle Smith, 1940
• Kenneth is included on the USS Indianapolis in World War II Wikitree Space Page https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II
• U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/199335947:2238?tid=103024165&pid=270044799952&queryId=a78bba5793fd735832335593bf806075&_phsrc=aQN31&_phstart=successSource