Alfred T. Smith
Alfred T. Smith | |
---|---|
![]() Smith as commander of the 3rd Infantry Division in 1937 | |
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | November 25, 1874
Died | November 27, 1939 Washington, D.C. | (aged 65)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1894-1938 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Unit | U.S. Army Infantry Branch |
Commands held | Company E, 12th Infantry Regiment Company I, 12th Infantry Regiment 54th Infantry Regiment 34th Infantry Regiment 18th Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division Philippine Division 3rd Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Pancho Villa Expedition World War I |
Awards | Silver Star Order of the Crown of Italy (Commander) |
Spouse(s) | Annie Y. Pike (m. 1903-1939, his death) |
Alfred T. Smith (November 25, 1874 – November 27, 1939) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and World War I, he attained the rank of brigadier general and was most notable for his command of the Philippine Division (1935-1937) and the 3rd Infantry Division (1937-1938).
Early life[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Alfred_T._Smith_%28US_Army_brigadier_general%29_2.jpg/220px-Alfred_T._Smith_%28US_Army_brigadier_general%29_2.jpg)
Alfred T. Smith was born in Washington, D.C. on November 25, 1874, the son of Theodore Smith (1846-1884) and Lydia Smith (1854-1918).[1][2] Smith's father was a first lieutenant in the 15th Infantry Regiment,[3] and Smith's desire for a military career was known among friends and family from an early age.[4] He attended the public schools of Washington, and was an 1894 graduate of Central High School.[4] While in high school, Smith joined the High School Cadets, an organization which took part in military drill and ceremony competitions.[5] He commanded the regiment's Company D with the rank of captain, and his company won the city's annual contest in May 1894.[5]
Start of career[]
In September, 1894 Smith enlisted in the United States Army as a private with the intention of qualifying for an officer's commission.[4] Assigned to Company H, 6th Infantry Regiment,[4] Smith served at Fort Thomas, Kentucky and attained the rank of sergeant.[6] He performed well on his 1896 competitive examination, and when he was nominated in 1897 for appointment as a second lieutenant, the members of his company demonstrated their esteem by presenting him with an officer's sword and the uniform insignia of his new rank.[7]
In May 1897, Smith received his second lieutenant's commission in the Infantry branch.[8] He was assigned to the 12th Infantry Regiment at Fort Niobrara, Nebraska.[8] During the Spanish–American War, Smith served in Cuba with the 12th Infantry.[9] He took part in the Battle of El Caney and the Siege of Santiago.[9] After the war, he received promotion to first lieutenant by brevet in recognition of his gallantry.[9] He received promotion to permanent first lieutenant in March 1899.[10]
Continued career[]
After his service in Cuba, Smith was assigned to the 12th Infantry in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War.[11] His posting included leading the effort to reestablish civil government in San Miguel, Bulacan.[11] During his service in the Philippines, Smith was commended twice for heroism and was recommended for promotion to brevet captain.[10]
Smith was recommended for promotion to permanent captain in February 1902.[12] He briefly commanded Company E, 12th Infantry at Fort Douglas, Utah and in May 1902 was transferred to command of the regiment's Company I at Fort Bliss, Texas.[13] In 1904, Smith commanded Company L when an ad hoc battalion of 12th Infantry units deployed for service in the Philippines.[14]
After leaving the Philippines in 1906, Smith remained with the 12th Infantry, this time assigned to Fort Niagara, New York.[15][16] In 1909, Smith returned to the Philippines with the 12th Infantry.[17] This posting also included temporary detached duty in Nagasaki.[18] By the time the 12th Infantry returned to the United States in 1912, Smith was serving as the regimental adjutant.[19]
Smith remained with the 12th Infantry, this time assigned to the Presidio of Monterey, California.[20] In 1914, he was designated to take the course at the School of the Line at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.[21] He graduated in 1914 and performed temporary duty with the 12th Infantry at the Presidio of San Francisco before returning to the School of the Line to serve on the faculty.[22] He then returned to the 12th Infantry, this time on the Texas-Mexico border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.[23]
World War I[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Alfred_T._Smith_%28US_Army_brigadier_general%29.jpg/220px-Alfred_T._Smith_%28US_Army_brigadier_general%29.jpg)
In July 1916, Smith was promoted to major.[24] In September, he was assigned to Ohio State University as professor of military science.[25]
From 1917 to 1919, Smith was the U.S. military attaché in Argentina, and was assigned to duty in Buenos Aires.[26] During the war, Smith was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel, then temporary colonel.[27][28] In 1919, he traveled to Europe and performed unspecified special duty in the Netherlands.[29] After returning, he was assigned as commander of the 54th Infantry Regiment at Camp Grant, Illinois.[30]
Later career[]
In 1920, Smith was assigned as a student United States Army War College.[31] While taking this course, Smith reverted to his permanent rank of major, and was quickly promoted to permanent lieutenant colonel and permanent colonel.[32][33] In 1921, he was assigned as a student at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[34]
After graduating from the Staff College in 1922, Smith was assigned to duty with the Organized Reserve Corps on the staff of the Third Corps Area at Fort Howard, Maryland.[35] In 1928, Smith was assigned to command the 34th Infantry Regiment at Fort Eustis, Virginia.[33]
Smith was chief of the War Department's Military Intelligence Division from January 3, 1931 to January 2, 1935.[36] He was promoted to brigadier general in January 1932.[37] From February to May 1935, Smith was assigned to Fort Devens, Massachusetts as commander of the 18th Infantry Brigade, a unit of the 9th Infantry Division.[38]
From June 1935 to January 1937, Smith commanded the Philippine Division.[26] From July 1937 to January 1938, he commanded the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington.[26] Smith left the Army for disability in May 1938, a few months before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64.[26]
Later life[]
By virtue of his service in the Philippines, Smith was a member of the Military Order of the Carabao.[39]
In retirement, Smith was a resident of Washington, DC.[26] He died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on November 27, 1939.[26] Smith was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[26]
Awards[]
Smith received the Citation Star for his heroism in Cuba.[26] When the Army created the Silver Star decoration in 1918, Smith's award was converted to the new medal.[26] He was also a recipient of the Order of the Crown of Italy (Commander), which was presented by the King of Italy to recognize his services on that country's behalf during World War I.[26]
Family[]
On February 24, 1903, Smith married Annie Y. Pike (1879-1952),[40] the granddaughter of Albert Pike.[26] They were married until his death and had no children.[26]
Smith had one sister, Frances (1877-1940).[3] She was the wife of Army Colonel Glenn Hedges Davis (1869-1922).[3]
References[]
- ^ "U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925, Entry for Alfred T. Smith". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. July 3, 1919. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "1890 United States Federal Census, Family Schedule for Lydia J. Smith Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1890. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ a b c Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy (1922). Fifty-third Annual Report. Saginaw, MI: Seemann & Peters. p. 59 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d "Enlisted in the Army: An Ambitious High School Boy Who Wants to Rise from the Ranks". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. September 22, 1894. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "The Prize Won: Company D of the High School Cadets the Victors". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. May 26, 1894. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Washington Boy's Success". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. July 23, 1896. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Esteemed by His Men". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. May 17, 1897. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Army and Navy Orders". The Washington Times. Washington, DC. June 3, 1897. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "The Army: Brevet Appointments". Army and Navy Journal. New York, NY. February 11, 1899. p. 557 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Bravely Won His Straps". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. November 10, 1900. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "A Filipino Police Force". The New York Times. New York, NY. August 4, 1900. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Appointed by the President". The New York Times. New York, NY. February 18, 1902. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Late Locals: Frank L. Winn and Alfred T. Smith". Deseret News. Salt lake City, UT. May 23, 1902. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Twelfth Infantry Leaves for Philippines". El Paso Herald. El Paso, TX. February 23, 1904. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mrs. Alfred T. Smith". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. June 7, 1906. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Capt. Alfred T. Smith". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. October 14, 1906. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Port of Honolulu: Passengers Arrived". The Hawaiian Gazette. Honolulu, HI. July 16, 1909. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Transfers Army Men to Nagasaki". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. April 24, 1910. p. 58 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Coming First U.S. Infantry and Its Officers". The Hawaiian Star. Honolulu, HI. February 3, 1912. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Registered at Army Headquarters". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, CA. March 25, 1913. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Officers Are Assigned". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. July 22, 1914. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Army and Navy Changes of the Day". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. July 28, 1914. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gen. Alfred T. Smith Arrives at Army Base". The Boston Globe. Boston, MA. February 4, 1935. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Show Big in the Army: Promotions Since July 1; In the Infantry". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. July 26, 1916. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Army Orders". El Paso Times. El Paso, TX. September 24, 1916. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Brig. Gen. A. T. Smith Dies After Illness of Four Days". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. November 28, 1939. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
- ^ "Mrs. Lydia J. Smith Dead". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. April 16, 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Happenings in Society: Col. and Mrs. Alfred T. Smith". The Washington Times. Washington, DC. June 27, 1919. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Col. A. T. Smith". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. August 22, 1919. p. 8 – via GenealogyBank.com.
- ^ "Personal Matters: Alfred T. Smith". Army and Navy Register. New York, NY. July 31, 1920. p. 125 – via Google Books.
- ^ "War College Orders". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. May 30, 1920. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Army Orders: Alfred T. Smith". New York Herald. New York, NY. June 12, 1920. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Colonel Smith to Command at Eustis". Daily Press. Newport News, VA. March 7, 1928. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ordered to Kansas". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. May 29, 1921. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ordered to Reserves". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. July 4, 1922. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Records, War Department Military Intelligence Division, 8/26/1918-4/19/1947". National Archives Catalog. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "Promote Officers". Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, TN. January 13, 1932. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Army Orders". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, HI. January 19, 1935. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "War Chiefs Meet at Carabao Dinner". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. February 9, 1930. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Washington, D.C. Compiled Marriage Index, 1830-1921, Entry for Alfred T. Smith and Annie Y. Pike". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. February 24, 1903. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
External links[]
- "ANC Explorer". Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington, VA: Office of Army Cemeteries. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- 1874 births
- 1939 deaths
- Military personnel from Washington, D.C.
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- United States Army War College alumni
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Order of the Crown (Italy)
- American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
- American military personnel of the Philippine–American War
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- United States Army generals
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery