Charles A. B. Smith
Portrait photograph of a young man in U.S. Army uniform standing outside a brick building. Full-length photo. No caption text visible.
Rank: Private, U.S. Army Air Forces
Serial: 12047636
Unit: 2678th Civil Affairs Regiment
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died: , Algeria
Burial: Arlington Cemetery, Cove Road, Pennsauken, NJ
Biography
Private Charles Augustus Bodine Smith was born on March 29, 1924. He dropped out of Camden High School, where he would have graduated in June 1943, to join the Army. He was the son of Camden Police Sergeant, former pro boxer and later NJ State Boxing official Ray Smith and his wife Mabel Nash Smith. A fire department aficionado, Charles Smith was the youngest auxiliary fireman in the city of Camden. He had lived at 31 North 25th Street, then at 212 North 27th Street, near the fire station in East Camden.
After his enlistment, Private Smith trained in New York, and served at Fort Dix. On October 4, 1942 it was reported that he had been taken to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital for an emergency appendectomy.
After recovering from the surgery, Private Smith was for a time assigned to the 1130th Military Police Company, Army Air Force, based at Wellston Air Depot at Robins Field in Warner Robins, GA. He was later sent to the United Kingdom. While in England, he was inducted into the Veterans of Foreign Wars East Camden Post 705 on Federal Street, a short walk from his home, on February 20, 1944. He was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ when his mother passed on March 8, 1944, and received a furlough home for the funeral, after which he was transferred to the 2678th Civil Affairs Regiment in Algeria, where he died of injuries on July 29, 1944. He was 20 years old.
Charles A.B. Smith’s death was reported in the August 10, 1944 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. His father subsequently moved to Erial, NJ, where he opened the Charles A.B. Smith Home for Crippled Children, and remained active in charitable work for many years thereafter.
Private Smith was brought home to New Jersey after the war. He was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken, NJ on March 5, 1949.
50 Volunteer Firemen Complete Training for Emergency Duties
Camden Courier-Post —
Graduates First of 500 to Be Trained by City for Huge Reserve; Similar to that in London; Defense Officials Praise Work
Camden’s first group of war and emergency volunteer firemen received their “diplomas” last night on completion of their training at the fire school in no. 10 firehouse, Ninth street and Morgan boulevard.
They are the initial volunteers to be trained as a reserve for the city fire department in an emergency. The volunteers, 50 of them, will be on 24-hour call. Eventually more than 500 men are expected to receive the training course for a huge reserve similar to the corps of firemen now being used in London.
The men range in ages from 11 to 59 years with charles smith, son of Sgt. Ray Smith, being the youngest, and Harry L. Freidel, the oldest.
The training course started May 12 and the trainees have attended three sessions a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, for seven weeks under the direction of Fire Captain Raymond Smith, no relation to the sergeant, who is director of the training school. Smith is a graduate of Class 56, of the Philadelphia Fire Training School.
Each volunteer fireman will be issued an identification card which will hold his fingerprints.
Class Praised
Among those congratulating the graduates were Herbert E. Harper, chairman of the Camden Defense Council; William C. Schriver, council member; Fire Chief john lennox and Captain Smith. Howard Odrain, deputy chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department with 31 years of experience in fighting fires, attended as an observer.
“In behalf of the Camden City Defense Council, I want to thank you men for the hours and days you have put into taking this course,” Harper told the graduates.
“You have been prompt in attendance and have been attentive. We don’t anticipate any air raids or any acts of war-invasion, but we have an important problem in enabling national defense industries in Camden city to make load in their jobs.
“The sabotage committee of the defense council has been visiting the local industries encouraging the plants to set up their own fire fighting squads and many are doing so. You men will be needed in times of an emergency to aid these forces and to assist at industries where there is no fire fighting squads.”
Chief Lennox termed the volunteers “our second line of defense” and thanked them for their cooperation.
Training Complete
The course included training in all phases of fire-fighting from operating pumpers to climbing ladders and combating incendiaries. Rescue work also was included. The use of gas masks and asbestos suits in chemical fires, how to approach delayed bombs with snubbers and the proper methods of using extinguishers were taught. A demonstration was held outside the firehouse by the volunteers. Their activities included scaling ladders, using gas masks to enter a smoke house, climbing and working on the top of the fire tower, using an aerial truck, tying tools for the lifting to tools, working on the end of water lines, working on pumpers, hooking up to stand pipes, jumping into life nets, tying life ropes and using asbestos suits through flaming gasoline and oil.
The Class
The graduates included: George D. Wilkinson, fire marshal of the RCA Manufacturing Company, and his two sons, Ernest and George; Garfield Watson, sergeant of police at New York Shipbuilding Corporation; Lieut. George Hamilton, Jr., of the 157th Field Artillery; Captain William Hare, of the Kaighn Avenue-South Street Ferry.
Harry B. Thompson, Earl Denby, Lester W. Giberson, Norman P. Maull, Joseph Leone, Samuel Schuele, George P. Smith, Joseph Marchese, Nicholas A. Messaro, Willam S. Martz, William E. Doan, Elwood P. Martz, Jr., Clyde Getzinger, George W. Grove, Stephen Kirby, James W. McCracken, William Watkin, Manuel Weiss, Riccardo DiGiacomo, Louis Cimini, William P. Walter, Sigmund Yakaski, Nicholas Iacovelli, Robert Holmes, Walter D. Lohrman.
Myer J. Mutter, Charles Geitz, charles a. b. smith, Howard Doerschner, Harry L. Freidel, Franklin L. Wright, Paul W. Kessler, Warren I. Carter, Creston Polland, Edward E. Friant, Frank F. Shropshire, Charles Gall, Albert E. Pine, Nicholas Cerasoli, George W. Williams, Joseph G. Foster, Joseph Elliott, George Hance and Irving L. Stiefel.
Smith's Son, Fireman's Mascot, Leaves School to Enlist in Army
The Morning Post —
Strapping, Six-foot Camden High Athlete ‘Natural’ to Make a Good Soldier if He Follows in Hero Father’s Footsteps
Sergeant Ray Smith started to remonstrate when his son, Charles, broke the news he was enlisting in the Army.
But not for long. Because “Charlie” had a good argument.
“Why, Dad, you were only 17 when you enlisted,” he said. “I’m 18, so why shouldn’t I go now?”
Ray Smith, Courier-Post reporter, hero of the first World War and former heavy-weight champion of the AEF, looked at his strapping six-foot, 209-pound boy. He knew a good argument when he saw one.
“Okay, son. Go to it.”
And that was how Charles A.B. Smith, son of Ray and Mabel Smith, won permission to enlist.
A Camden High junior and member of the soccer team, “Charlie” is a “natural” to make a good soldier, if he follows in his dad’s footsteps. Now stationed at the Fort Dix reception center, he hopes to be assigned to the quartermaster or fire departments.
And there’s a story to that, too. For Young Smith knows more about fires, especially in Camden, than perhaps anyone else in the city except members of the department.
For several years he has been a familiar figure at every fire, following the apparatus on his bicycle. And he often sent in good news reports of these blazes when his dad was busy elsewhere. He has kept a list of every fire in the past two years in Camden.
He is a friend of every fireman, and, in fact, was considered their mascot.
Sergeant Ray is mighty proud of his son.
“He’s a normal youngster who appreciates what America means to him,” said Ray. “He knows this is an all-out war and that it is the duty of every patriotic American to do his bit.”
Ray himself did plenty during his 27 months service overseas in the first war.
Wounded in three engagements, his bravery won him the Croix de Guerre with palm, presented to him by Marshal Petain.
During his service overseas, Ray won the heavyweight boxing championship of the AEF.
Son of Ray Smith Goes Under Knife
Camden Courier-Post —
Rushed to Hospital in Ambulance His Father Helped VFW Acquire
Six months ago Sergt. Ray Smith, Courier-Post reporter, headed a drive for a VFW emergency ambulance. Last night the ambulance rushed his son, Private Charles A. B. Smith, to the Naval hospital in Philadelphia for an emergency operation for appendicitis.
Private Smith, 18, was stricken at 4 p. m. yesterday at his home, 212 North Twenty-seventh street, while on weekend leave from Fort Dix.
The family physician ordered him to the hospital and doctors there operated immediately, fearing a rupture and peritonitis. His condition was reported good today.
Young Smith, a volunteer fireman and a member of the Camden High School soccer team before his enlistment three months ago, is notable in the Smith family for silencing his father when the latter protested his joining the Army at 18. “Well,” the son said, “that’s what you did in the last war.”
Ray Smith's Wife Dies in Hospital
Camden Courier-Post —
World War I Sergeant’s Son Reaches Bedside from Fort Dix
Mrs. Mabel Nash Smith, wife of Sgt. Ray Smith, newspaperman and boxing inspector, died yesterday in West Jersey hospital from a complication of diseases.
Their son, Pvt. Charles A. B. Smith, stationed at Fort Dix with the military police, was called to her bedside and arrived a few minutes before his mother died.
Mrs. Smith, a graduate nurse, met the former AEF light heavyweight champion when Smith returned to this country for treatment of wounds at the close of World War I. She was the sergeant’s attending nurse at Greenhut’s hospital, New York, and they were married shortly after his convalescence.
Shortly after coming to Camden with her husband, Mrs. Smith joined the Camden County Humane Society and became prominently identified with its activities. She was widely known throughout the East Side for her kindness to animals. During winters she fed hundreds of birds which daily visited her yard.
Mrs. Smith took an active interest in her husband’s work as chairman of the Elks Crippled Kiddies committee, wrapping and preparing packages for the children. At the time of her death she was preparing to assist in the Crippled Kiddies Easter seal sale which opens tomorrow.
Surviving besides her husband and son are two brothers, Irwin and H. Walter Nash, Newark, and two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Clark, Haddon Heights and Mrs. Stella Gattman, Solvay, N.Y. Funeral services will be held in St. Joseph’s church, Twenty-ninth and Westfield avenue, Saturday morning at a time to be announced. Friends may call tomorrow night at the home, 212 North Twenty-seventh street.
VFW Post Accepts Son of Sgt. Smith
Camden Courier-Post —
Pvt. Charles A. B. Smith, of 212 North Twenty-seventh street, now serving in England, was accepted last night as a member of East Camden Post, No. 705, VFW. His father, Sgt. Ray Smith, a veteran of World War I, is commander of the post and presided.
Also accepted into membership was David Ross, of 2724 Cramer street, now serving in the South Pacific. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ross and nephew of William Reeve, Jr., quartermaster of the post.
Samuel A. Dickson, chaplain and service officer, paid high tribute to Brig. Gen. H. M. Gilbert, director of dependency benefits, and the post directed a letter of commendation be forwarded.
Martin Bjeorklund was appointed by Smith as chairman of the installation committee which will install officers at the next meeting to be held in the newly purchased quarters of the post at 2808 Federal street.
Military Rites Set Friday for Cpl. Charles Smith
Camden Courier-Post —
The body of Cpl. Charles Augustus Bodine Smith, 20, who was killed in action in North Africa on July 29, 1944, will arrive here for burial Wednesday.
His father, Sgt. Ray Smith, former newspaperman and hero of War I, announced last night services for his son will be held at 7 p. m. Friday in the funeral home, at 2850 Federal street.
Services will be held at the funeral home Friday night by members of East Camden post 705, VFW, of which the elder Smith is a past commander, and Cpl. Raymond C. Thoirs post 47, American Legion. Burial will be in Arlington cemetery, Pennsauken township, Saturday.
The youth’s father is living at the Charles A. B. Smith Home for Crippled Children at Erial, which he founded after the death of his son.
Corporal Smith’s father is the youth’s only immediate survivor. His mother, Mrs. Mabel F. Smith, died on March 8, 1944.
The Army youth was a former pupil in Camden High school. He enlisted at the age of 17 and joined a Military Police unit.
Corporal Smith received his early training at New York and Ft. Dix. He was sent overseas shortly after the death of his mother.
His father, who enlisted in the Army before he was 18 years of age, served with General Pershing on the Mexican border and was among the first 50,000 Americans soldiers to sail for France in War I. He became the AEF heavyweight boxing champion while overseas. He later was wounded in three engagements and won the Croix de Guerre with palm, which was presented personally by Marshal Petain.
Military Rites Held For Cpl. Smith
Camden Courier-Post —
Cpl. Charles Augustus Bodine Smith, 20, who was killed in action in North Africa on July 29, 1944, was buried with full military honors today in Arlington cemetery, Pennsauken.
Corporal Smith was buried beside the grave of his mother, Mrs. Mabel F. Smith, who died March 8, 1944. His only immediate survivor is his father, Sgt. Ray Smith, former newspaperman and hero of War I. Sergeant Smith was light heavyweight boxing champion of the AEF.
The honor guard at the funeral consisted of members of Camden fire department, members of East Camden post 705, VFW, of which the father is a past commander, and members of Cpl. Raymond C. Thoirs post 47, American Legion.
Photos
Cemetery photograph showing two grave markers side by side with an American flag between them.
Left marker reads: MABEL F. / WIFE OF / SGT. RAY SMITH / 1891 — 1944
Right marker (partially legible): CHARLES A[.B.] SMITH — additional text difficult to read at this resolution.