William served as a Private, 31st Signal Construction Battalion, U.S. Army during World War II.
He resided in Hanover County, Virginia prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 11, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the manufacture of textiles and also as Married.
William was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.
The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.
1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 33525476
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
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See Also Memorial
PVT William Gregory "Billy" Smith Jr.
He resided in Hanover County, Virginia prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 11, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the manufacture of textiles and also as Married.
William was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.
The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.
1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 33525476
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
----
See Also Memorial
PVT William Gregory "Billy" Smith Jr.
William served as a Private, 31st Signal Construction Battalion, U.S. Army during World War II.
He resided in Hanover County, Virginia prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 11, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the manufacture of textiles and also as Married.
William was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.
The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.
1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 33525476
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
----
See Also Memorial
PVT William Gregory "Billy" Smith Jr.
He resided in Hanover County, Virginia prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 11, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the manufacture of textiles and also as Married.
William was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.
The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.
1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.
William was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 33525476
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
----
See Also Memorial
PVT William Gregory "Billy" Smith Jr.
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