SMITH, Eben A. 1895-1918
SMITH, BRONSON, HANSMIRE
Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 5/31/2010 at 16:38:52
Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
20 Aug 1918, Page 9Waterloo Boy Is Reported Missing by His Comrades
Eben Smith, son of Mrs. Kate Bronson, 618 Columbia street, is believed to have been killed in action about July 25, a letter from his cousin, Herschel P. Smith, to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. I. Smith, advises. Herschel Smith secured his information from comrades of his cousin who say he was missing after an engagement.
Mrs. Bronson has received no notification from the war department of the death of her son, nor has she been advised of his being wounded. She is in a quandary, as she feels her nephew would not have written the information carelessly.
Eben and Herschel Smith left Waterloo about Dec. 2, 1918. Eben had previously seved in the regular army and been discharged. He was a sergeant in Co. I, 80th infantry. Herschel Smith was in another company.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
12 Sep 1918, Page 10Sergeant Smith's Death Confirmed; Date Not Known
Sergt. Eben A. Smith, Co. I, 30th infantry, was killed in action in France some time between July 22 and 29, his mother, Mrs. Kate Bronson, 618 Columbia street, has learned. First news came in a letter written by his cousin, Herschel Smith, dated July 29. After telling of seeing Eben on the twenty-second he referred to his death incidently. Official confirmation is contained in a telegram from the war department received yesterday but the wrong date is given. The telegram advises he was killed March 19, whereas he did not sail until April.
Sergt. Smith was born in Tyrone, Pa., and would have been 24 years old in November. He served in the marine corps for four years and was at Vera Cruz during the Mexican trouble. He received an honorable discharge March 23, 1917, and came home for a visit. Dec. 8, 1917, he enlisted in the infantry. He was a sergeant and expert rifleman with the marine company.
His mother and sister, Mrs. J. C. Hansmire, are the only close relatives. Two aunts, Mrs. C. I. Smith and Mrs. W. R. Walker, reside here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
16 Sep 1918, Page 8Memorial Service for Sergt. Smith at St. Paul's M. E.
Memorial service for Sergt. Eben Smith, son of Mrs. Kate Bronson, 618 Columbia street, who was killed in action in France in July, was conducted yesterday at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul's M. E. church. The pastor, Rev. C. E. Luce, preached from the text, "I have fought a good fight" and in the course of his sermon pinned a gold star on the church service banner. This is the first gold symbol to be added to the flag.
The French and American national anthems and "Nearer My God to Thee" were sung by Messrs. and Mmes. Clarence Dewey and Graham Messinger. Rev. J. E. Johnson read the scripture and offered the prayer.
Mrs. A. C. Allen, Cedar Rapids, an aunt of the dead soldier, Mmes. W. H. Weirich, formerly of Jacksonville, Ill., and C. A. Walker, Duluth, Minn., were present for the service.
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[Waterloo Evening Courier, Saturday, August 6, 1921]
Eben A. Smith 1893-1918
Two marks of distinguished service to the nation will record forever the patriotism of Sergt. Eben A. Smith, whose remains will be laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery tomorrow afternoon. One of these, the distinguished service cross presented by the United States government and the other, the croix de guerre, given by the French government.
Sergt. Smith's deed, which brought him before the country as a man deserving of one of the country's highest honors, was to continue to lead his platoon into action at Chateau Thierry after he had been struck down by a high explosive shell's concussion. Shortly afterward he was killed on July 25. 1918. His cousin, Herschel Smith, Waterloo, was within a half-mile of him at the time.
Eben A. Smith was the son of Mrs. Kate Bronson. 1015 Fairview Avenue, and was born Nov. 25. 1893, at Tyrone. Pa. He came to Waterloo at an early age and spent most of his life here. Four years were spent in the marine corps by Sergt. Smith previous to his world war service. He enlisted Dec. 8, 1917, with his cousin Herschel. They left for overseas April 1, 1918, both of them members of the Thirtieth, infantry. Sergt. Smith had been detailed to attend a school for commissioned officers a few days before his death.
He is survived by his mother, a sister, Annabelle Hansmire, Waterloo, and the following aunts, Mrs. C. I. Smith, 117 Parker Street; Mrs. W. R. Walker, 1805 Third Street West; Mrs. Lizzie Allen, Cedar Rapids.
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