The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-09-07
Fulls Creek Boy
Killed In Action
Mother Of Staff Sergeant
Eurl Smith Notified OF Her
Son Fdlling In Bottle

Falls Creek, Pa. - Sorrowful wal
the community of Falls Creek wher
| the War Department notified Mrs
Laura Smith, that her son Staff Ser
geant Earl G. Smith had been killed
in action on July 80, in the North
African area. Previously, word had
been received advising he had been
missing in action.
Sergeant Smith, also known as
Pete" was a Ball Turret Gunner on
a B-24 bomber, had almost completed
the Air Corps required Tour of Mis-
sions, and had engaged in many major
bombing mission from base i'm Italy
However, no details are available con-
cerning the mission which resulted in
the fatal news.
The popular Falls Greek boy, who
was very well known in Dubois and
the entire district because he had been
a prominent athlete as a member of
Falls Creek High School football and
basketball teams, later in various soft
ball and baseball organizations, en-
listed in the Glider Corps in November,
1912.
His extensive training began with
an indOctrination course at Clarion
State Teachers College, where he re-
ceived pre-fight training. From Clarion,
he transferred to HondO, Texas, then
SheDDard Field Texas
Completing advanced training at the
latter field, he was ordered to Panama
City, Florida, for gunner training,
upon successfully completing this as
sgnment, departing for Salt Lake
City, Utah, where he was assigned to
a crew of a B-24. Additional crew
training courses were completed at
Boise, Idaho, and Topeka, Kansas
From there he embarked for overseas
assignment last March.
From a base in Italy, he participated
in numerous missions over Nazi fOrti-
fications and had written home of
some experiences. He was known to
have been nearing the completion of
the required number of combats as he
indicated in the last letter received
from him, which was dated July 27,
from Italy. But, three days later, fate
decreed that he should make the SUI
preme sacrifice. On July 80 his crew
was ordered to major objective from
which he failed to return, being listed
as missing, until Saturday, when his
mother received the tragic notification
of his death.
One of Falls Creeks most popular
young men, held in the highest esteem
by large numbers of friends, news of
his death was received with keen re-.
gret. Likewise, those in Dubois who
learned of his death were shocked.
School with the class of 1880, Pete.
was a clean cut lad, possessing a fine
personality, with Il character that re-
fiected his outstanding Christian man
hood
He was always highly regarded for
his fine sportsmanship in athletic
circles and respected for his ability
and clean manner of competition.
Prior to entering service he was a
caster for the jackson China Company, ),
Falls Creek, where he was one of the
firms most popular employees. He was
affiliated with Local Union No. 104,
N. B. of O. L.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs.
Laura J. Smith, Third Street, the
following sisters: Maude, Akron, O..
Mrs. Elmer Seegar San Pedro, Cal.
Mrs. Charles Miller, Falls Creek; and
Mrs. Clair Lukehart, Falls Greek,
whose husband is i'm service i'm Alaska
the following brothers, William, Falls
Greek; Norman b., Cleveland, Ohio
and Pfc. James +. Smith, now at
w. Va; after serving in
the Army for nearly two years in the
Southwest Pacific