Oral history interview with Herbert A. Smith [sound recording], 1982.

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Oral history interview with Herbert A. Smith [sound recording], 1982.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/632333878

Herbert A. Smith discusses his career in the Army National Guard, including active duty in World War II and commanding the 32nd Division. Smith describes being inspired by his brother, who was in the Rainbow Division, to join the Wisconsin National Guard. Promoted through the ranks from buck private to 1st sergeant, he discusses the ranking system and interviews used to determine promotions, and, six years after enlistment, becoming the Commanding Officer of Company H, 127th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division. Smith describes civilian jobs he had while in the Guard, including running a construction crew. He discusses getting a cold reception when assigned to the 3rd Battalion and transferring to 2nd Battalion a year later in order to be closer to his family. He mentions people in the 1920s and '30s being motivated to enter service by an interest in the military or to earn spending money, and he describes high turnover and low attendance rates. Smith tells of taking over a disorderly company and being given three weeks to get it into shape before a federal inspection. He talks about a lack of discipline in the Guard and his own efforts to build up discipline and military courtesy in Company H. He describes the company's equipment including machine guns they turned into training devices through inventive use of lights and buzzers. Smith touches on conflict between Guard and regular Army officers and mentions a situation where General Gill was giving him trouble during a Command Post Exercise. He touches on being sent to Camp Livingston (Louisiana) after the attack on Pearl Harbor to straighten out some command problems and to guard facilities. Smith mentions training for three months in a Battalion Commander's and Staff Commander's Course and touches on changes that allowed battalion commanders to have battalion executive officers. He addresses the Buna Campaign, stating they really weren't prepared equipment-wise to take out pillboxes. Smith describes being placed in reserve on the island, combat along the Soputa Trail, not being able to understand garbled messages from command due to an electrical storm, and expecting assistance from an air strike that never came. He reports his battalion was given a job originally intended for a whole regiment, and he talks about requesting reinforcements, being sent the 126th Infantry who were commanded by a different Herbert Smith, and Colonel Mott coming and unexpectedly taking control of the Division. Smith talks about seizing a prime moment in battle and commanding the capture of Coconut Grove (Buna). After Buna, he mentions that replacements filled in the thinned ranks, but the division did not lose the esprit of a Guard division. He touches on his impressions of General Harding and his opinion about Harding's being relieved, and Smith refutes claims in regard to E- and G-Companies that, "The boys won't fight; they're throwing their rifles." He touches on going on reconnaissance. Smith says the only malaria-suppressant available then was quinine and everyone on Buna got malaria, including him. He states malnutrition was a problem and describes being on one-third rations and losing forty-one pounds. Smith talks about having a personal conflict with one of his commanders, General Gross. He describes Camp Cable (Australia) and his unit's good rapport with Australia's 41st Division. Upon return to the United States in 1947, he mentions having thirty days at home before assignment to Fort Benning (Georgia) at Colonel McNab's request. Smith expresses regret that the 32nd Division was disbanded because it had been such a successful unit. He gives his impressions of General MacArthur, General Krueger, and Colonel Eldon Hale. Smith talks about going to the post hospital for a painful fistula, coming down with a severe case of malaria, and being sent to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (Sydney, Australia). He describes the food at the troop commanders' table aboard the Monterey, a Matson luxury liner. He touches on his sons' service in the military. Smith talks about being nearby when a 32nd Division troop train crashed and going to the scene with his wife, who took messages from the troops to give to their families.

Sound recording : 4 sound cassettes (ca. 150 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 3 sound cassettes (ca. 150 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 74 p.Military papers : 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7884614

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center

Related Entities

There are 16 Entities related to this resource.

Krueger, Walter, 1881-1967

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Smith (1901-1989) rose to the rank of Major General and served with the 32nd "Red Arrow" Infantry Division. Enlisted in the National Guard 1919 and commissioned in 1923, Smith led the 2nd Battalion of the 128th Infantry during the Battle of Buna in World War II, and he was commanding officer of the 32nd Division during the Berlin Crisis. From the description of Oral history interview with Herbert A. Smith [sound recording], 1982. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat ...

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Australia. Australian Army. Australian Division, 41st.

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Harding, Edwin Forrest, 1886-

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Doherty, Thomas P.

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Doherty served with the 112th Public Affairs Detachment of the 32nd Division in the 1970s. His major research focus is the Battle of Buna, and he has recorded several oral histories with 32nd Division veterans. From the description of Oral history interview with Thomas Doherty, [videorecording], 2002. (Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center). WorldCat record id: 777000554 ...

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Wisconsin. National Guard. Infantry Division, 32nd.

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United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 128th

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United States. Army. Infantry Division, 32nd

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