Robert J. Smith

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Marines

Robert J. Smith enlisted in the Marine Corps on November 6, 1942, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.

He served as a Technical Sergeant in charge of ordnance and demolition crew in Iwo Jima Western Carolines Island, Palau, and Philippines.

Mr. Smith shared the following: "I served boot camp in Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif. After boot camp, I was sent to ordnance school at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, OK. Being in the top 5% of my grad class, I was promoted to Corporal.

"I was then assigned as a drill instructor in charge of one of the Marine barracks housing 280 Marine students at the school. Stayed in Norman as a drill instructor until I shipped overseas.

"While overseas as a member of SQ 253-MAG 21, we disarmed bombs and other ordnance to make air fields safe. Also repaired all small arms in the SQD. They called us the Demolition SQD."

Mr. Smith was honorably discharged November 3, 1945, at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 366.