Staff
Sergeant William Reid “Skinny” Smith
706th
Ordinance Light Maintenance Company
Husband
to my Great Aunt Emma Gabersek, sister of Johnny and Frankie, Uncle
Reid served with the Army in the Pacific with the 706th
Ordinance Light Maintenance Company. He entered the service on
December 27th, 1944 serving until August of 1946. He
quickly gained the rank of Staff Sergeant organizing Motor Pool
personnel to repair vehicles after battle. Although Uncle Reid’s
duties did not put him in harms way, he certainly saw first hand the
results of war. I have good memories of Uncle Reid,
visiting my boyhood home in their oversized Airstream Trailer.
That silver bullet seemed as big as the Hindenberg to me as it sat in
our driveway. Taking his repair skills from the Army, he made his
living as Diesel Engineer working for General Motors in Michigan.
Uncle Reid and family visited McKeesport as often as possible, but like
most families, and as time by, those good old days pass into
history. I have since renewed my kinship with my long lost
cousins while working on this tribute. Sadly, Uncle Reid died in
2000 followed shortly by Aunt Emma. He is survived by sons Darren
and Duane, who have lost brother Regis in 2006.
Biography
Hometown – West Newton, PA
4-1/4 Months Infantry Training 521, Private
7 Months Scout 761, Private First Class
6 Months Machinist 114, Tec 4
5 Months Foreman, Automotive Repair Shop 337, Tec 3
706 Ordinance Maintenance Company
Good Conduct Medal -
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign
Medal
Japanese Occupation Medal
WWII Victory Medal
M1 Rifle Marksman Badge
Inducted 20 December, 1944
Troop Ship 31 July, 1945 - Pearl - 23 August 1945 arrived
Philippines
Occupation of Japan
Departed Japan 13 July 1946
- Arrived United States 25 July 1946
Fort Meade - Discharged 3
August 1946 - Pittsburgh - Home
Taken verbatim from Uncle Reid's discharge papers as it reads:
"Foreman, Automotive Repair Shop--Served with the 706th Ordinance
Maintenance Company in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Supervised 4 machinists and 24 mechanics and welders in duties
concerned with making general repairs to all types of military vehicles
up to 10 tons in size and construction equipment and the machining of
parts and in repair and maintenance work. Kept shop records,
assigned men to duties, checked work of men. Requisitioned
supplies and equipment used by shop."
Emma, Regis, and Reid Smith
Rest in Peace
Aunt Emma is the sister of Johnnie and Frankie Gabersek.
I have no idea what Uncle Reid is holding.
A penguin, monkey, a transmission?
