Edwin Lee Smith (1927 - 1945)

Born 12 May 1927 in Shiawassee, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 18 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

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

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

Edwin Smith was awarded the Purple Heart.

Edwin was born in 1927. His parents were Harry P Smith 1903–1975 and Theresa Becker (Lux) Smith Shepard 1907–1998

Edwin enlisted in the navy about Feb 1945, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on his 18th birthday, 12 May 1945, where he served as Seaman 2nd Class.^[1]

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. Edwin was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4]

Edwin is honored at three memorials: Lux Cemetery, Marion, Osceola County, Michigan; USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32069433:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=06807db70bf1413841e9eb5852cae589&_phsrc=Mod31&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63232:1122?ssrc=pt&tid=8644254&pid=360086784663
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/165810:2324?ssrc=pt&tid=8644254&pid=360086784663
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8485:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=4342ad5dcbe03a87b4147f4af5919023&_phsrc=Mod3&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194063004/edwin-lee-smith: accessed 19 September 2023), memorial page for Edwin Lee Smith (12 May 1927–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194063004, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56774048/edwin-lee-smith: accessed 19 September 2023), memorial page for S2 Edwin Lee Smith (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56774048, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Coleman ✿ (contributor 47076912).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143923770/edwin-lee-smith: accessed 19 September 2023), memorial page for Edwin Lee Smith (12 May 1927–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143923770, citing Lux Cemetery, Marion, Osceola County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Meauwataka (contributor 48513981).

• Edwin 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
• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7MD-RB2 : Thu Aug 03 19:51:55 UTC 2023), Entry for Harry Smith and Thressa Smith, 1930
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K41G-KS2 : Sun Jul 30 12:38:34 UTC 2023), Entry for Harry Smith and Mabel Smith, 1940