Grand Island in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Charles A. Smith
August 15, 1915 - March 19, 1945
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
1. Charles A. Smith Marker
Private First Class (PFC) Smith graduated from Kenmore High School and was an officer in his family's business, Smith Boys, Inc. He enlisted in the Army for officer training in April 1943.
PFC Smith was wounded in action in France on February 10, 1945 and spent three weeks recovering in a Paris hospital. In a March 18 letter to his parents, he wrote that he was with the First Army and handling mail. He was killed in action in Germany the next day, four months after his brother George E. Smith lost his life in a war transport plane crash in California. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
PFC Smith was married and had a six year old son. He was buried in the temporary Henri Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium and his remains were returned to the United States in December 1947 when a funeral was held and he was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Erected 2021 by Grand Island VFW Memorial Post 9249, Grand Island American Legion and Grand Island Moose Lodge 180.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is February 10, 1945.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Edward P. Pierce (here, next to this marker); William S. Gillen (here, next to this marker); Charles N. DeGlopper (here, next to this marker); Howard W. Salton (here, next to this marker); George E. Smith (here, next to this marker); Eugene F. Dinsmore (here, next to this marker); Francis K. Goodchild (here, next to this marker); William L. Rohde (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Island.
Also see . . . DeGlopper Memorial. (Submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
2. Grand Island Roll of Honored Dead
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 4, 2022
3. Monument and Markers at the DeGlopper Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 8, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2, 3. submitted on May 7, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
