Homer Leroy Smith (1920 - 1945)

Born 12 May 1920 in Washington Township, Kosciusko, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 25 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Fireman 2nd Class Homer Smith served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1 Jul 1941
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Fireman 2nd Class Homer Smith was Killed in Action during World War II.

Homer Smith was awarded the Purple Heart.

Homer was born in 1920. His parents were Presley E Smith and L Anna Correll. He married Ruth Edith Richardson Smith (m. 1941).^[1]

Homer enlisted in the naval reserve on 1 Jul 1941, he was stationed on the USS Indianapolis on 23 Jun 1945, where he served as Fireman 2nd Class. ^[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. Homer was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. ^[3][4]

Homer is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[5][6]

Sources

1. ↑ "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8YQC-RCPZ : 30 December 2021), Homer Leroy Smith, 1941
2. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32069451:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=28ce8cb3ef61ac0f03b56159eaed81ea&_phsrc=xRs33&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/142004:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=835598d9ebf45175b4c5ea25b86a6ce5&_phsrc=EzO7742&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/39418:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=835598d9ebf45175b4c5ea25b86a6ce5&_phsrc=EzO7743&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194064181/homer-leroy-smith: accessed 01 September 2023), memorial page for Homer Leroy Smith (12 May 1920–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194064181, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56763497/homer-leroy-smith: accessed 02 September 2023), memorial page for F2 Homer Leroy Smith (12 May 1920–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56763497, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).

• Homer 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
• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4BJ-9LF : Thu Aug 03 15:12:08 UTC 2023), Entry for Presley E Smith and Anna Smith, 1930
• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1Y1-C9G : Thu Jul 27 03:17:55 UTC 2023), Entry for Presley Smith and Anna Smith, 1940
• "Indiana, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZK-XFB2 : 8 January 2021), Homer L Smith, 1941