Wayne C. Smith

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Wayne C. Smith
Lt. Tom Fernandez receiving silver star from gen wayne smith.jpg
General Wayne C. Smith issuing the Silver Star after the Battle of Triangle Hill in November, 1952.
Born(1901-12-04)December 4, 1901
St. Joseph, Missouri, US
DiedNovember 13, 1964(1964-11-13) (aged 62)
Buried
West Point Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1925–1957
RankMajor General
Commands held11th Airborne Division
7th Infantry Division[1]
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Soldier's Medal
Spouse(s)Mildred L. Smith[2]
RelationsMajor Wayne C. Smith Jr. (son)
Commander Robert M. Smith (son)
Captain Carl R. Smith (son)[2]

Wayne Carleton Smith (December 4, 1901 – November 13, 1964) was a major general in the United States Army.[2]

Early life[]

Smith was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1921 and graduated in 1925. His first assignment was as a platoon leader of the 15th Infantry in Tientsin, China.

World War II[]

During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater as Chief of Staff of the from 1943 to 1945 and was promoted to brigadier general in 1944. He received the Soldiers Medal for saving two lives in the waters off Hawaii.

Post-World War II[]

Korean War[]

During the Korean War, General Smith briefly commanded the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky from November 1951 to January 1952. He was then given command of the 7th Infantry Division, serving in combat in Korea, in July 1952. He was promoted to Major General in September of the same year. He was a key commander during the Battle of Triangle Hill. He relieved of command by Major General Arthur Trudeau in March 1953. For his service with the 7th Infantry Division, Smith was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Later career[]

Following the Korean War, Smith returned as commander of the 11th Airborne Division from May 1953 to May 1955. Shortly after his return from Korea, Smith qualified as a Master Parachutist at age 52. He then served as chief of staff to the Joint United States Military Advisory Group in the Philippines from 1955 to 1957.

Retirement and death[]

Smith retired from the Army in 1957. He died in Farmington, Maine in 1964. He is buried with his wife in the Post Cemetery at West Point.

Awards[]

Distinguished Service Cross citation[]

GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 57 (February 25, 1955)

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major General Wayne Carleton Smith (ASN: 0-16207), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General of the 7th Infantry Division. Major General Smith distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Kumhwa, Korea, during the period 14 through 17 October 1952. When the Seventh Infantry Division was committed to wrest the strongly defended Hill 598 from a numerically superior hostile force, General Smith assumed the position at an extremely vulnerable observation post in order to closely direct the attack upon the enemy, and remained at this vantage point throughout the first morning's operations despite dangerously accurate shelling of the area by Communist forces. Realizing that the assault echelons were halted short of their objective by devastating fires, heavy casualties, and adverse terrain, he immediately left the comparative safety of the observation post to personally reorganize his command for renewed attack and instill in the troops the will to win. Exposing himself to intense hostile fire, he traveled throughout the battle area, sharing the hazards and discomforts of his men, encouraging them to maximum effort, and supervising critical supply and evaluation activities. As a result of his presence in forward areas and sincere concern for the welfare of his troops, morale surged upward, enemy defenses were overrun, and highly strategic terrain was secured by the Seventh Infantry Division. Throughout the remainder of the action, he was constantly in the danger area, employing sound military tactics and forceful leadership to inspire his men to successfully repulse large-scale enemy counteroffensives, enable rapid relief of combat-weary battalions, and insure expeditious organization and consolidating of the newly-adjusted main line of resistance. Dominating and controlling the vital situation through sheer force of his heroic example, General Smith's valorous conduct and demonstrated courage under fire contributed significantly to the United Nations' first armed bid for world peace.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Boose 2005, p. 79.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Wayne C. Smith, 62, Ex‐Major General". The New York Times. November 14, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 1, 2015.

Bibliography[]

  • Donald, Boose (2005). US Army forces in The Korean War 1950–53. Osprey Pub. ISBN 9781841766218. OCLC 869301559.
  • M., Paul (17 November 2009). Combat operations of the Korean War : ground, air, sea, special and covert. ISBN 9780786444366. OCLC 900944143.
  • Gen Wayne Carleton Smith at Find a Grave



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