Pvt. Kenneth Donald Smith was born in Norquay, Saskatchewan, Canada on February 24, 1915, to James A. Smith and Elizabeth M. Currie-Smith and had two sisters. His mother died in 1928. His family resided at 1608 North 15th Avenue, Melrose Park, Illinois, and he graduated from Lincoln School in Maywood, Illinois. He attended Proviso Township High School but left after two and a half years to return to Canada. It appears he did not remain there long and returned to the United States and lived in Bellwood, Illinois, before living in Elgin, Illinois, and later Wilmette, because he worked at Illinois Tool Works in Elgin. He married Lois Schultz on August 13, 1938, and they became the parents of a daughter.
When the Selective Service Act became law on October 16, 1940, he registered for the draft and named his wife as his contact person. On January 28, 1942, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserves and named his wife as his next of kin. His wife resided at 1010 South Greenwood, Maywood, Illinois. His serial number was 882 362 and did his basic training as a member of the 13th Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Camp Pendleton, California. In April 1942, he was with the 1st Guard Company, Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot, Oahu, Hawaii. He became a naturalized US Citizen on December 21, 1942. On July 13, 1943, he was called up to active duty.
He was sent to New Zealand where he became a member of the 6th Joint Assault Signal Company, Headquarters Battalion, 6th Marine Division. The 6th JAS was a small assault amphibious unit. After fighting on Guadalcanal, the 6th was sent to New Zealand where he joined the division. He next fought in the Gilbert Islands. The 6th next landed took part in the Battle of the Mariana Islands and landed on Okinawa. It was during the landing on Okinawa, on June 19, 1945, that he was killed. He was buried, in a shroud, in Plot B, Row 31, Grave 755, in the 6th Marine Division Cemetery #1, Okinawa Shima. It is not known when his wife was informed of his death.
After the War, the American Graves Registration Service sent teams to Okinawa to recover the dead and make arrangements for final burial. It appears that during this time his wife remarried and his father became his next of kin. A document from December 8, 1948, shows that his father wanted Kenneth’s remains returned to Illinois for burial.
Kenneth’s casket was placed on the USAT Sinnett on March 31, 1949, and arrived in the San Francisco Port of Entry on April 15th. By train, with a military escort, his remains were sent to the Quartermaster Corps Distribution Center #8, Chicago and arrived on April 25th. His casket remained there until it was taken by military hearse to the Paul W. Senne Funeral Home, Maywood, on May 23, 1949. Pvt. Kenneth D. Smith was buried at the Arlington Cemetery, Elmhurst, Illinois, in Section 4, Gave 41.
