Ralph C. Smith
Encyclopedia
Ralph Corbett Smith was a highly decorated Major General
of the United States Army
. After receiving early training as a pilot from Orville Wright he served General John J. Pershing
's army against Pancho Villa
, became decorated for bravery in World War I
and commanded an infantry division in combat in the Pacific in World War II
. At his death Smith was the oldest surviving general officer of the Army.
and served in the Colorado National Guard
. He was an early aviator and was given flying lessons, as a young officer, by Orville Wright, and his pilot's license, signed by Wright, bore the number 13 because he was the 13th person to receive one.
, against Pancho Villa
just before the United States entered World War I
.
In the first world war Smith won the Silver Star
with an Oak-Leaf Cluster for two instances of bravery with the Infantry in France
. He was wounded in action in the Meuse-Argonne offensive in 1918. Between the world wars his duties including teaching at West Point and attending, and then instructing, at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas
.
He was a temporary Colonel when the United States entered World War II. In 1942, he became a Major General and took command of the 27th Infantry Division (United States). In 1943, troops of his division captured Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands
in the Pacific, which became the first central Pacific island to be reconquered by the Allies.
In 1944, the general's division took part in the hard struggle for the mountainous island of Saipan
in the western Pacific during which he was relieved of his command by Lieutenant General
Holland M. Smith of the U.S. Marine Corps
, commander of the V Amphibious Corps
. Marine General Smith contended that under Army General Smith the 27th Division had "failed to attack on time," costing vital Marine lives to save the island.
An all-Army board of inquiry later exonerated the Major General, and he went on to serve as the military attache at the United States Embassy in Paris
and CARE's chief of mission for France. While he worked for CARE he also oversaw operations in other western European countries.
Smith retired from the Army in 1948.
's Hoover Institution
on War, Revolution and Peace.
He died in 1998 of a lung ailment.
In 1980, he remarried, to Hildy Jarman, she died in 1995.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. After receiving early training as a pilot from Orville Wright he served General John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
's army against Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
, became decorated for bravery in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and commanded an infantry division in combat in the Pacific in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At his death Smith was the oldest surviving general officer of the Army.
Early life
Born in Nebraska, Smith attended Colorado State CollegeColorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
and served in the Colorado National Guard
Colorado National Guard
The Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is a state agency of the Government of Colorado. It supervises both the Colorado National Guard , and non-military state safety agencies.The Department consists of the Department of Military Affairs, and the Division of Veterans' Affairs, and...
. He was an early aviator and was given flying lessons, as a young officer, by Orville Wright, and his pilot's license, signed by Wright, bore the number 13 because he was the 13th person to receive one.
Military career
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army in 1916 and was involved in the Army's unsuccessful Mexican Punitive Expedition, whose commanding general was John J. PershingJohn J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
, against Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
just before the United States entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In the first world war Smith won the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with an Oak-Leaf Cluster for two instances of bravery with the Infantry in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was wounded in action in the Meuse-Argonne offensive in 1918. Between the world wars his duties including teaching at West Point and attending, and then instructing, at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
He was a temporary Colonel when the United States entered World War II. In 1942, he became a Major General and took command of the 27th Infantry Division (United States). In 1943, troops of his division captured Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
in the Pacific, which became the first central Pacific island to be reconquered by the Allies.
In 1944, the general's division took part in the hard struggle for the mountainous island of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
in the western Pacific during which he was relieved of his command by Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Holland M. Smith of the U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, commander of the V Amphibious Corps
V Amphibious Corps
The V Amphibious Corps was a formation of the United States Marine Corps and was composed of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions during World War II. They were the amphibious landing force for the United States Fifth Fleet and were notably involved in the battles for Tarawa and Saipan in 1944...
. Marine General Smith contended that under Army General Smith the 27th Division had "failed to attack on time," costing vital Marine lives to save the island.
An all-Army board of inquiry later exonerated the Major General, and he went on to serve as the military attache at the United States Embassy in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and CARE's chief of mission for France. While he worked for CARE he also oversaw operations in other western European countries.
Smith retired from the Army in 1948.
After retirement
General Smith was a fellow at Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
's Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution
The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
on War, Revolution and Peace.
He died in 1998 of a lung ailment.
Personal life
His first wife, Madeleine, died in 1975.In 1980, he remarried, to Hildy Jarman, she died in 1995.
Additional reading
- Hyperwar The War in the Pacific. Campaign In the Marianas http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Marianas/USA-P-Marianas-10.html