Elzie Bufford SMITH

Spouse : Pearlie M.

Parents : John Benton & Lizzie Reece SMITH

Half Siblings : Clay M, Edith, Lester Nathaniel, John B, Henry Grady & Walter

Source : William Perennes

 CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Saint Laurent N°3582

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

This Soldier was killed in action near Hill 192, Normandy, France. May his legacy endure and his sacrifice inspire others.

Remembering and Honoring this Soldier of World War II and his supreme sacrifice for his country, Private First Class  Elzie B “JACK” SMITH of Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia.

He was born in 1912 and fell in battle on 28 July 1944 in Normandy, France.

He is the husband of Pearlie M Smith of Nashville, Tennessee and the son of John & Lizzie Reece Smith of Ellijay.

Jack Smith entered the service on 10 April 1942 at Fort McPherson, Georgia.

PFC Smith is a member of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.

🇺🇸 BATTLE FOR HILL 192 - NORMANDY

Attacking across the Aure River on 10 June, the division liberated Trévières and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, a key enemy strong point on the road to Saint-Lo.

After three weeks of fortifying the position and by order of Commanding General Walter M. Robertson, the order was given to take Hill 192.

On 11 July under the command of Col. Ralph Wise Zwicker the 38th Infantry Regiment and with the 9th and the 23rd by his side the battle began at 5:45am. Using an artillery concept from World War I (rolling barrage) and with the support of 25,000 rounds of HE/WP that were fired by 8 artillery battalions, the hill was taken.

Except for three days during the Battle of the Bulge, this was the heaviest expenditure of ammunition by the 38th Field Artillery Battalion, and it was the only time during the 11 months of combat that 2nd Division artillery used a rolling barrage.

The division went on the defensive until 26 July. After exploiting the Saint-Lo breakout, the 2nd Division then advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray on 15 August 1944.

This honored Soldier is at rest today in the hallowed grounds of the Normandy American Cemetery Plot J Row 24 Grave 34, Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

“A man is not dead until he is forgotten”

ABMC Presentation: Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

Source : Ancestry

Source : Ancestry

2^nd INFANTRY DIVISION - INDIAN HEAD

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
26 Octobre 1917	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  303
	Casualties/Victimes 16 795
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
8 Jun 44 Normandy
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. John C. H. Lee (Nov 41 - May 42) Maj. Gen. Walter M. Robertson (May 42 - Jun 45) Brig. Gen. W. K. Harrison (Jun 45 - Sep 45) Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond (Sep 45 - Jun 46)	Campaigns/Campagnes Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44) Northern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44) Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45) Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45) Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
DIVISION CHRONICLE After training in Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July. Exploiting the St. Lo break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15 August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26 September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March. The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Gottingen 8 April, established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved 200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the GermanCzech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, reaching that city as the war in Europe ended.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Après s'être entraînée en Irlande et au Pays de Galles d'octobre 1943 à juin 1944, la 2e Division d'infanterie traverse le chenal pour débarquer à Omaha Beach le jour du 1er au 7 juin 1944, près de Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. Attaquant de l'autre côté de la rivière Aure, la division libéra Trévires, le 10 juin, et attaqua et sécurisa la colline 192, le principal point d'appui de l'ennemi sur la route de Saint-Lô. Avec la montée de la colline le 11 juillet 1944, la division est passée sur la défensive jusqu'au 26 juillet. Exploitant la percée de Saint-Lô, la 2 e division avança à travers la Vire pour prendre Tinchebray le 15 août 1944. La division se dirigea ensuite vers l'ouest pour rejoindre la bataille de Brest, la forteresse fortement défendue capitulant le 18 septembre 1944 après un combat de 39 jours. La division a pris un peu de repos du 19 au 26 septembre avant de passer à des positions défensives à St. Vith. L'offensive des Ardennes allemandes à la mi-décembre a contraint la division à se replier vers des positions défensives près d'Elsenborn, où la campagne allemande a été stoppée. En février 1945, la division attaqua, reprenant le terrain perdu et s'empara de Gemund le 4 mars. Atteignant le Rhin le 9 mars, le 2d s'avance vers le sud pour prendre Breisig, 10-11 mars, et pour garder le pont de Remagen, du 12 au 20 mars. La Division a traversé le Rhin le 21 mars et a avancé à Hadamar et Limburg, en soulageant des éléments de la 9ème Division Blindée, le 28 mars. Avançant rapidement dans le sillage de la 9ème Armored, la 2d Division a traversé la Weser à Veckerhagen, 6-7 avril, capturé. Göttingen, le 8 avril, établit une tête de pont à travers la Saale, le 14 avril, s'emparant de Merseburg le 15. Le 18, la division s'empare de Leipzig, épongée dans la région, et a quitté la rivière Mulde; les éléments qui avaient traversé la rivière ont été retirés le 24 avril. Relâché sur la Mulde, le 2d se déplace de 200 miles, 1-3 mai, à des positions le long de la frontière Tchécoslovaque près de Schonsee et Waldmunchen, et attaque dans la direction générale de Pilsen, atteignant cette ville comme la guerre en Europe a pris fin.