On this day, Corporal Bruce Connor Smith of Charlie Company, 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, was born in Kosse, Limestone County, Texas, on July 6, 1920. He was killed in action on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Corporal Smith died at 23 years of age in Normandy, France. On June 12, 1944, he was first buried at Plot B, Row 6, Grave 52 of the temporary American Military Cemetery of Hiesville. He was reinterred at Plot J, Row 7, Grave 133 of the temporary American Military Cemetery of Blosville on July 4, 1944.
On December 12, 1947, Corporal Smith was disinterred and prepared for a final reburial back home. His body was moved in a casket by truck to Cherbourg, France, where he was put aboard the USAT McCarley. He returned to the U.S. with the McCarley, arriving in New York Harbor on April 5, 1948. His remains then traveled by train to Texas and arrived at the Taylor train station on May 7.
On Sunday, May 9, 1948, Corporal Smith was reburied for the last time with full military rites by the Graham D. Luhn Post of the American Legion. He rests eternally at the City of Taylor Cemetery, Williamson County, Texas.
Besides his posthumously awarded Purple Heart Medal, he was also the recipient of a medal for being the third best anti-tank sharpshooter in the United States Army.
His mother received a heartfelt letter from a lady who was a total stranger to her. She had read of Corporal Smith’s death, and wrote:
“I know you are proud of your son, and I know that others, like me, will appreciate his sacrifice when they read the article in the Dallas News. You may think it strange that I wrote this short letter, but I have carried that clipping in my purse ever since I read it, and I thought perhaps you might like to know that others as well as you appreciate a noble American such as your son was.”
May Corporal Bruce Smith rest in peace.
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸
God Speed Bruce Smith 🫡🇺🇸🫡