Service News
Sgt. Raymond L. Smith, of the army air corps stationed in Saipan, has been commended for his skillful marksmanship in shooting down Japanese aircraft while in aerial combat on bombing missions over Japan, according to word received Tuesday by his wife, Louise, who with their daughter, Barbara Ann, resides with Mrs. Smith’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dean, 1332 Knoll avenue.
He was commended in a communication signed by Lt. Col. Frank L. Davis. Sergeant Smith, who entered service in August, 1944, has been overseas since, Nov. 1, 1944.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, May 06, 1945, Page 8
Sgt. Raymond Smith Missing in Pacific Area
Sgt. Raymond L. Smith was reported missing in action over Kyushu since Apr. 18, according to a war department telegram received yesterday by his wife, Louise, 1332 Knoll avenue.
A right wing gunner on a B-29, Sergeant Smith has been overseas since last November, stationed on Saipan. In the last letter received from him by his wife, which was dated Apr. 17, he wrote that he expected to begin a rest leave very soon.
Sergeant Smith, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Smith, 329 Jorden avenue, entered service in Aug., 1943, before which he was employed at Waterloo Mattress Co.
He has two daughters, Barbara Ann, 14 months old, and Donna Starr, two weeks old.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, May 20, 1945, Section Two, Page 15 (photo included)
Raymond Leslie Smith was born May 4, 1925 and died Apr. 18, 1945 and is buried in Hillside Cemetery, Marble Rock, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
