Elmer Leon Smith

Elmer Leon Smith. Image Source: Tecoan, 1937. UA50-01. University Archives, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.

Elmer Leon Smith was born in Ayden on December 28, 1916, to John Smith, Jr. (1893-1951) and Charity Worthington Smith (1893-1917). Smith’s mother passed away within two months of his birth, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents, Richard M. “Dick” Worthington (1866-1948) and Emma Worthington (1862-1945), in nearby Winterville.

An impressive student, Smith graduated from ECTC in 1937. During his four years at ECTC, Smith majored in history and social science, was a member of the Men’s Athletic Association, the Poe Society, the Pitt County Club, Tau Sigma Sigma, and played on the baseball team. Census records relate that prior to enlisting in the Army Air Corps on November 12, 1941, Smith lived with his grandparents and helped to work their family farm.

After enlisting at Fort Bragg, Smith rose to the rank of second lieutenant in the 339^th Bomber Squadron, 96 Bomber Group. The 96^th Bomber Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across German-occupied Europe from May 1943 through April 1945. Smith completed five B-17 combat missions over German-occupied France before going missing in action over Paris, September 15, 1943. The Allied bombing of the western suburbs of Paris on September 9 and 15, 1943, resulting in 395 dead, was among the deadliest conducted over France prior to its liberation from German control the following year.

By the end of March 1944, six months after Smith’s B-17 was downed, the War Department concluded he had been killed in action the day he went missing. That conclusion circulated slowly: when ECTC held a memorial service in May of 1944 for five alumni lost the year before, tribute was paid to Smith – along with Morris Abeyounis and Herbert Hemby Burnette – as missing in action. They were later added to the list of those lost in service to their country.

The War Department awarded Smith, posthumously, an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for his extraordinary achievements in air combat and a Purple Heart. Smith’s grandfather accepted the awards on his behalf.

Smith was buried in the Caleb Worthington Cemetery in Winterville. There is also a gravestone remembering Smith in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Epinal, France.

Sources:

• “Carolinas Casualties.” Charlotte Observer. March 28, 1944. P. 9.
• “Carolina Casualties.” Charlotte Observer. October 25, 1943. P. 17.
• “Carolina Men Award Winners: Two States Well Represented in 1,213 Decorations Bestowed By Lt. Gen. Eaker.” Charlotte Observer. November 30, 1943. P. 22.
• “Casualty List.” News and Observer. October 24, 1943. P. 9.
• “Decorations Given at Seymour Johnson Field: Next-of-Kin Are Presented Decorations for North Carolina Heroes.” News and Observer. March 23, 1944. P. 12.
• “Decorations Go To Carolinians.” News and Observer. November 30, 1943. P. 5.
• “Epinal American Cemetery.” American Battle Monuments Commission. https://www.abmc.gov/Epinal
• “Memorial Service Held To Honor War Dead.” Teco Echo. May 26, 1944. Pp. 1, 4.
• “Missing In Action.” Herald-Sun. October 24, 1943. P. 5.

Related Materials

Elmer Leon Smith. Image Source: Tecoan, 1935. UA50-01. University Archives, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.

Eler Leon Smith’s Draft Registration Card. Image Source: U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Ancestry.com

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