GEORGE W. SMITH

SMITH

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 5/14/2002 at 22:58:35

Decatur County Journal
Thursday, June 9, l92l

WOODLAND NEWS:

A large number from here attended the funeral and burial of GEORGE SMITH, youngest son of MR. and MRS. HUGH SMITH, of Garden Grove, whose body arrived from France, Saturday morning. The funeral was conducted at the Garden Grove M.E. Church by the Pastor, the American Legion boys also having charge. Burial was in the Garden Grove Cemetery. Another one of our brave heroes laid to rest in home soil. May God, in His infinite mercy, be with the sorrowing relatives. Our hearts are saddened for Woodland Township can claim him as one of their best and bravest soldiers who gave his life for his country, as his life was mostly spent here.

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'Military Funeral at Garden Grove Last Sunday'

GEO. W. SMITH, son of MR. and MRS. HUGH SMITH, who died overseas while serving with the American Army, was laid at rest in the Garden Grove Cemetery last Sunday with military honors.

GEORGE W. SMITH, the youngest son of MR. and MRS. HUGH SMITH, was inducted into military service in the Great World War at Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 25th, l9l8. He was assigned to duty as a private, serial No. 3322l80, in Co. F, 35lst Infantry Regiment, 88th Division.

He remained at Camp Dodge until the middle of August when his regiment was ordered to Camp Mills, L.I. They were here but a few days when they embarked for England. The regiment rested for a short time at Riverside and then sailed for France. The last word received direct from him was dated Oct. 3rd, l9l8, and was postmarked France. He was taken sick with influenza just before his regiment left for the front line trenches and he was moved to a base hospital. Here he passed away Friday, October l3th, l9l8, aged 24 years, l month and 22 days. His body was laid to rest in grave No. l73 in cemetery No. 758. Here it reposed until exhumed and sent back to its native land, arriving at Hoboken Pier, New York, some ten days ago. Under military escort the body arrived in Garden Grove Friday morning, June 3rd, and was turned over to the sorrowing parents.

The funeral was held in the Methodist Church, of which the deceased was a member, Sunday afternoon, June 5th, 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. G.J. Winslow, assisted by Rev. Wm. Jones, of the Presbyterian Church. The interment was in charge of the Point Le Grove Post of the American Legion, who laid the remains away with full military honors. The national colors were dipped over the open grave as the casket was reverently lowered. As it came to rest, the firing squad fired a salute over the final resting place, and then taps were sounded.

GEORGE is mustered out of service here but he lives in that land yonder, where the brave go who make the supreme sacrifice for their country's welfare.

This was probably the largest funeral ever held in Garden Grove and was indeed very impressive. The Legion boys conducted the ceremonies in a very pleasing and dignified manner, both at the church and cemetery. The services made a deep impression on the very large number of people present.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
List Administrator; Decatur County, Iowa GenWeb
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu
May l4, 2002