Elwin Edward Smith
Field Music Corporal Elwin E. Smith served with the Marine detachment of the USS Lexington (CV-2).
He was killed in action at the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 289521
Current Status
Remains lost at sea.
Pursuit Category
Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
September 18, 1919
at Wilmore, Kansas
Parents
Eads Edward Smith
Eleanor Marie (Nygaard) Smith
Education
Coldwater High School (1937)
Occupation & Employer
Wolcott & Lincoln Grain Company
of St. Louis, MO
Service Life
Entered Service
July 29, 1940
at Kansas City, MO
Home Of Record
Cherokee, OK
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Eleanor Smith
Military Specialty
Sight Setter
Primary Unit
USS Lexington
AA Battery #2 / Gun 2
Campaigns Served
Coral Sea
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Letter of Commendation
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Field Music Corporal Elwin Smith served as a member of the Marine detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. In addition to his regular duties as the detachment musician, his battle station was in the port side forward gun gallery, manning a 5″ antiaircraft gun. As a sight setter, Smith’s role was to adjust the sights of the Mark 12 gun, tracking targets on the direction of the gun captain or the ship’s Fire Control center.
Smith was at his post on 8 May 1942, during the battle of the Coral Sea. At 1122 hours, an aerial bomb struck the Lexington’s flight deck, penetrated the thin armor, and exploded in the ammunition locker of Gun #6.
The first Japanese torpedo plane was spotted off the port bow at 11:15 a.m., about 3,000 yards out, and we received the order to commence firing. Simultaneously we picked up speed and began evasive maneuvers. The sound of all our guns firing was deafening and suddenly we felt a violent vibrating blow to our ship [a torpedo hit on the port side forward].
The enemy torpedo planes, after launching their torpedoes, began strafing our gun positions and on my Gun 10 three of our men were wounded and one was killed from these strafing attacks. At about 11:25 a.m., while still under attack from enemy torpedo planes, enemy dive bombers began their attacks and one bomb hit on the flight deck on the port side forward and exploded in the ready ammunition locker for our Marine Gun 6, killing all fourteen members of that gun crew.
Captain Frederick Sherman gave the order to abandon ship at 1707 hours, and the Lexington was scuttled by the destroyer USS Phelps later that evening. The carrier went down on an even keel, “with her head up,” as one surviving officer put it. “Dear old Lex…a lady to the last.”
The bodies of eighteen Marines were either left aboard the Lexington or lost over the side during the battle. All members of #2 Anti-Aircraft Battery were posthumously commended for their bravery at the Coral Sea.
Burial Information or Disposition
Corporal Smith ultimately went down with his ship. The Lexington is considered to be his final resting place.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Eads & Eleanor Smith.
Location Of Loss
The last reported location of the USS Lexington on 8 May 1942.
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