Coleman Co., TX - Obituaries - Cpl. Garland Coleman Smith

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The Abilene Reporter News
Abilene, Taylor County, Texas
Wednesday, January 19, 1944

Second Son in Coleman Family Killed in Italy

COLEMAN, Jan. 18

War struck its second tragic blow home to Mrs. Violet Audrey Smith, 717 North
Neches Street, Tuesday, when she was notified a second son, Cpl. Garland
Coleman Smith, 26, had been killed in action.

Another son, Pvt. Lloyd Earl Smith, 24, was killed in action in September 1943.
The boys, both members of the old Coleman National Guard Company, were
together when Earl was fatally wounded.

Corporal Garland Smith died on 16 December 1943, somewhere in Italy, the War
Department's official notification stated. A member of Co. B, 142 Infantry,
 36th division, he trained at Camp Bowie, Blanding and Edward, had been overseas
since April and took part in the initial invasion of Italy early in September.

Born in Coleman 13 February 1917, he had resided here most of his life. His wife,
the former Florence Harmess and their two children, Betty, 5 and Jerry, 2,
living in Coleman. In addition, the young soldier is surivved by his mother, two
brothers, five sisters.

Corporal Smith wrote his mother of being recommended for the Silver Star and 
was commended by the commanding general of the 36th division for his heroic
action. Ordered to leave a hill position being heavily shelled by 
artillery and swept by small arms fire, Smith remained until the last,
administered first aid to a wounded soldier and carried him to safety.