Edwin Smith looks up at the U.S. Flag being presented by the Glasgow chapter of Rolling Thunder. Gage Wilson/Glasgow News 1)
By GAGE WILSON
Glasgow News 1
It was a big day for Edwin Smith. A local World War II Veteran and centenarian, welcomed a special guest Wednesday morning to his residence at Hometown Manor Assisted Living.
U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie visited Smith to award him medals for his service that he never received. The records of his service were thought lost to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973 that destroyed a majority of the records there.
Guthrie’s office and Smith were fortunate though, after combing through the records that survived, Smith’s were found.
“One of my great joys has been the handful of occasions that I’ve been able to present medals to our World War II veterans,” Guthrie said. “It’s amazing what these veterans have been through. One veteran I spoke to was awarded a Purple Heart but he never went to pick it up, because he didn’t feel like he was wounded enough from what he saw.”
Smith enlisted after Christmas in 1941 and served in the U.S. Air Force becoming a second lieutenant and pilot. While co-piloting a B-29 during a nighttime training exercise, tragedy struck as the plane collided with another B-29. Smith miraculously was able to parachute out of the plane and was one of just two survivors with 18 others losing their lives.
The first medal Smith received was the American Campaign Medal, which is awarded for service within the American Theater between December 1941 and March 1946. Smith was also given the World War II Victory Medal, awarded to all those that served during the war.
Matt Mutter with the Barren County Veterans Association also awarded Smith with a patriot award, which is an annual honor bestowed to exemplary service men and women in Barren County.
“It was real nice of you all to come here this morning,” Smith said, “hearing the congressman speak, and being around my friends and family, this community is just so wonderful.”
Comments