James Kenneth Smith, 90, passed away in his home on September 17, 2013. He was born in Fontana, KS on December 22, 1922. James is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gail Smith; sister, Eleanor B. Smith of Vero Beach; daughters, Pam Runge and husband Mark Runge of North Carolina; Gail Hudmon and husband Grady Hudmon of Vero Beach; grandchildren, Heather Runge Williams and husband Keith Williams; Mark Runge and wife Suzanne Runge; Gail Hendricksen and husband Travis Hendricksen; great-grandchildren, Megan, Andrew and Ayden Williams; Madison Runge ; Garrett, Brian and Victoria Whisenant and Travis Hendricksen.
James is a WWII Army Veteran, having served in the European Theater. He served with the 93rd Boat Company Aviation in Washington and then assigned to the 1st Infantry, 26th Regiment, Company I. He remained with that company until the end of the war and then was sent to the Nuremburg where he provided security for Judge Jackson at the Nuremburg War Trials. He was released from active duty in 1946.
In 1941, the regiment once again stood with its sister regiments and prepared for war in Europe. In WWII, the 26th Infantry led America's first-ever amphibious assault in North Africa, fought at the Kasserine Pass, assaulted Sicily at the Amphibious Battle of Gela, invaded Normandy, conquered the first German city of the war at Aachen, vaulted the Rhine and attacked all the way to Czechoslovakia by the war's end. The regiment conducted three amphibious assaults, and earned seven battle streamers, a Presidential Unit Citation, and five foreign awards. http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=2438612&popcount=1&tcount=11.
Beginning another occupation of Germany, the Blue Spaders bore the United States national colors at the Allied Victory in Europe parade, and served as guards at Nuremburg War Crimes Trials. Thus began the lengthy stay in Germany, first as conquerors and later as friends and allies.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice House. Online condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.