Charles Andy Smith (1921 - 1945)

Born 10 Oct 1921 in Glenwood, Pike, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 23 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Seaman 1st Class Andy Smith served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 11 Feb 1942
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Seaman 1st Class Andy Smith was Killed in Action during World War II.

Andy Smith was awarded the Purple Heart.

Charles was born in 1921, the son of Henry Edward Smith 1885–1973 and Lela Pearl Andrews 1893–1975.

Charles enlisted in the naval reserve on 11 Feb 1942, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 18 Apr 1942, where he served as Seaman 1st Class.^{[1] [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. Charles was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[3][4][5]

Charles is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32065132:1143?_phsrc=&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Charles+Andy&gsln=Smith&ml_rpos=1&queryId=68851645cf6664d5d1d5759ef16be234
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/30414610:1143?_phsrc=&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Charles+Andy&gsln=Smith&ml_rpos=12&queryId=68851645cf6664d5d1d5759ef16be234
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/106149:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=24d0acd8e1091f3d2d7dfaad5e4b6a6c&_phsrc=EzO7777&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3855:1122
5. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/35962:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=24d0acd8e1091f3d2d7dfaad5e4b6a6c&_phsrc=EzO7779&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56777637/charles-andy-smith: accessed 20 September 2023), memorial page for S1 Charles Andy Smith (10 Oct 1921–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56777637, 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/194062347/charles-andy-smith: accessed 20 September 2023), memorial page for Charles Andy Smith (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194062347, 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:XMLY-X87 : Wed Sep 20 21:15:27 UTC 2023), Entry for Ed Smith and Lela Smith, 1930
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQKV-L85 : Thu Jul 27 16:11:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Ed H Smith and Lela P Smith, 1940
• Charles 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