Born: August 6, 1916
Died: June 16, 1944
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (killed)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
Alan Smith enlisted in the Marine Corps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He listed his home state as Pennsylvania and attended boot camp at Parris Island. He joined D Company of the First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at New River, North Carolina.
With Dog Company:
Smith's specialty was the M1917 Browning heavy machine gun. He was assigned to a team of six other Marines; one squad leader, a gunner and assistant gunner, and the rest - like Smith - carrying ammunition.
In August 1943, the First Separate Battalion became First Battalion, 24th Marines. Smith and his fellow gunners thus became members of the new Fourth Marine Division.They fought on the island of Namur in February, 1944, and the following month were transferred to Able Company.
With Able Company:
Alan Smith's squad, led by Corporal Anthony Pramberger, trained together with Able Company's machine gun platoon at Camp Maui, They survived the landing on Saipan and the first day of combat without a hitch. However, on the night of June 16, 1944, they were placed in an exposed position guarding the battered lines. Exactly what happened to them is unknown, but the squad was wiped out to a man. Other members of the company tried to go to their aid, but were driven back by heavy artillery fire, suffering several more casualties before abandoning the effort. Eventually, help reached the stranded Marines.
Five of the gunners survived, but suffered serious wounds. Alan Milton Smith was killed outright, leaving his wife and a newly-born son behind.
Smith's name at the American Memorial Park Court of Honor, Saipan.
He was buried in the Fourth Marine Division cemetery, then later reinterred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Photo by Shirley Wilson, FindAGrave.com volunteer.