John William Smith

John William Smith's family immigrated to the United States in 1882 from Durham, England, six years before he was born. Before World War I, John worked as a laborer in the coal mines of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and the tire factories of Akron, Ohio. He and his wife Gertrude had their first child in 1917.

But as of July 26th, 1918, John was in the U.S. Army. This picture shows him with his nephews Ralph and Roy Graffius. Within a month, he'd be deployed to France.
Born in 1888, John William Smith was just over 30 years old when the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne kicked off in September. He served in the Supply Company of the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment (155mm), 89th Division.

The 89th Division picked up where the 32md Division left off on 20 October, mid-way through the battle. As they pushed north to the Hindenburg line, they would fight continuously for the next three weeks, all the way up to the until the armistice on November 11th.

In "To Conquer Hell," the author describes the 89th Division's experience in repositioning artillery pieces on recently taken ground.

"Topping a hill, [they] came upon the remains of enemy trenches that the American artillery -- which included huge howitzer and railway guns -- had demolished. They 'were filled with a hash of blood and entrails that looked like the offal of a packing plant. There were no wounded men -- few corpses that one could identify as such."

Working in the Supply Company would prove to be a blessing, though. John survived the war without being wounded, and returned to Ohio in May 1919, where he resumed working in the tire factories. His second child, a daughter, was born in 1920.

John William Smith died in 1953, long enough to see eight grandchildren. On this, the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day/Veteran's Day, I remember my great-granduncle.