Robert Glenn Smith
Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Robert G. “Boots” Smith served as a corpsman with the Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
He was killed in action at Betio, Tarawa atoll, on 20 November 1943.
Branch
United States Navy Regular
Service Number 360 09 71
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 19, 1921
at Brownwood, TX
Parents
William & Floy Smith
Education
Howard Payne College
(Violin student)
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
December 9, 1939
at Houston, TX
Home Of Record
1408 Vine Street
Brownwood, TX
Next Of Kin
Parents, Mr & Mrs. W. C. Smith
Military Specialty
Hospital Corpsman
Primary Unit
2nd Amphtrac Bn.
Campaigns Served
Pearl Harbor
Solomon Islands
Tarawa
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
For the Betio operation, PHM1c Smith was attached to Company C, 2nd Amphtracs.
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Smith served as a senior hospital corpsman with the Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion. Although formally on the muster roll of Headquarters Company, he was attached to Charlie Company for the Betio operation.
“Doc” Smith boarded an LVT-1 “Alligator” on the morning of 20 November 1943, and rode the tractor to Red Beach 3 in support of assault troops from 2/8th Marines. Japanese gunfire took a heavy toll on men and machines, and if Smith made it to shore, he did not last long. A heavy shell struck his LVT, and the vehicle burst into flames. Smith was killed by shrapnel or in the resulting fire; his cause of death is listed alternately as “enemy shell fire” or “burns, multiple, extreme.”
Burial Information or Disposition
“Location of grave unknown.”
A memorial marker was erected in Cemetery 11, Grave 4, Row 2, Plot 4.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, William & Floy Smith.
Location Of Loss
PhM1c Smith was killed aboard an LVT during landing operations at Betio.
