Killed in action November 20, 1943 on Tarawa
Buried: October 1947, Fort Levenworth National Cemetery, Kansas
Awarded the Purple Heart
The Akron News-Reporter
Thursday January 6, 1944
Word was received last week by Mr. and Mrs. Guy Smith that their only son, Floyd, has been killed in action, somewhere in the South Pacific. The date and place of his death were withheld, but will be released at a later date, no doubt.
Floyd Smith, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Smith, who reside south of Cope, was born July 16, 1922 and was 21 1/2 years of age at the time of his death.
He enlisted in the marine corps October 2, 1942, received his boot training at San Diego, and at the end of that six weeks period, was sent across with a replacement battalion.
He is survived by his parents and three sisters, Mrs. Grace Wilson, Mrs. Ethel Miller and Mrs Vera Spencer.
1947 Newspaper Article
Cope Marine Killed in the Pacific: Floyd Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Smith of Cope received the sad news Thurs., December 24, 1943, in a telegram from the War Department that their son Floyd had lost his life in preforming his duty in the service of his country in the South Pacific war area. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps that saw so much action in the South Pacific and was killed during the invasion of Tarawa on November 20, 1943.
Floyd Smith, deceased war hero whose body was returned to this country for burial, represented Cope at a beautiful honorary memorial service held in Kansas City, Mo. Memorial Hall on Sunday, October 19, 1947. His body lay in state along with one from each of the other states of Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. The military escorts that accompanied each casket to its final resting place stood at attention by the side of each casket during the services and each casket was covered with an American Flag.
Floyd was born July 16, 1922 to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Smith eleven miles southwest of Cope. He attended a one room rural school which was called the Fremont school for the first 8 years of his schooling, then went to Cope high school for 3 years.
He spent his entire life until he enlisted in the US Marines helping his father farm on the farm where he was born. He was the youngest child and the only boy of the family. He had three older sisters, Mrs. Vera Spencer, Mrs. Grace Gerhart and Mrs. Ethel Miller.
Thanks to Gold Star Veterans website for providing this information.
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