I hope I get back alive, but I don’t know whether I will.
Winfred in a letter to his mother
Private Winfred Glain Smith was born on July 8, 1919 to James Arthur and Laura Chance Smith of Seymour. He was inducted into the US Army on October 17, 1942, but had only been overseas for three months when he was killed the day before his 25th birthday in France. Private Smith was dating Lizzie Lee Matthews (May 6, 1920 – April 11, 2017), whom he mentions in a letter preserved by his mother. Lizzie never married.
Private Smith’s nephew, the artist Randall Ogle donated a surviving letter from Smith, as well as a few pictures, which you may view below. Unfortunately, the Maples History Center has not been able to locate a picture of Smith during his time in service.
Winfred’s page at the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial: https://www.etvma.org/veterans/winfred-g-smith-10560/
