Captain James was receiving the Purple Heart at a Medals Ceremony.
Nov. '44 -- Coming off Mountain. Ed Smith is in the left of the photo wearing a pistol.
Two photographs of my Dad, Edward J. Smith.
My Dad and a buddy in Southern France, Oct. '44.
Unknown GI digging potatoes. Southern France.
Fort Meade Maryland just before going overseas. Ed Smith on right.
Group of Fellas: On the back of this picture, my Dad had written: Tex, Walldo, Lt. or Lu??, Stat (?), Bonner, Olson
Italy 1944. A torn picture with my Dad and a friend. Ed Smith on the right.
Medal Ceremony at which Capt. James received the Purple Heart. Ed Smith in center of picture.
My Mom and Dad at Mayo General Hospital in Michigan, 1945.
Nov. '44 -- My Dad's in this picture. Southern France. (Sorry, not very clear.)
Four pictures labeled "Some of the Boys" -- Preparing for the invasion of Southern France. There were no names on the backs of the pictures, but they're so clear so I thought I'd send them in case somebody might recognize himself or a loved one.
[Note: This first photo is also in Mike Kane's pics, see Group 31.]
  Uncle Irv Letter -- "Irv" or Herman Smith was my Dad's older brother. He was in the 422nd, I think. Before my Dad and his brother went overseas, they worked out a code because they knew their letters would be censored. When they wrote a letter to each other, if they circled the comma in the salutation, that meant there was a message. The first letter of every tenth word spelled the message. By doing that, they always knew where the other was. At one point, my Dad realized he was within 80 miles of his brother. He managed to get a two-day pass and hitched a ride with the mail carrier and surprised Herman. This letter you see here is a letter my uncle wrote to the gal back in Chicago who edited the Harris Brothers Company newsletter. Both my Dad and uncle worked for Harris Brothers before going into the army. So that's their story, and it's a pretty good one I think. |