November 14, 2006

Filing the past

Clearing land mines was Bruce Smith’s job. He served as a combat engineer in World War II from 1941 to 1945. On D-Day, when allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, his unit was one of the first to reach land. Smith was not with them. A leg infection left him hospitalized and possibly saved his life. Many men in his unit were killed or injured.

Smith, 86, of Kirkwood, shares his stories these days with his grandson Seth Smith of Columbia.

“It is wonderful talking with him about it,” Seth Smith said. “World War II was a defining experience for him, and the sacrifice he made means so much to my family.”

Seth Smith, 36, is a reference specialist and has worked at the State Historical Society of Missouri on the MU campus for two and a half years. His grandfather’s stories sparked an interest that led him to do more military research. He has learned a lot by reading books and by helping visitors to the State Historical Society research their family histories.

His knowledge about using military records for genealogical and other historical research will set the stage for one of two “Salute to Veterans” workshops Saturday at the State Historical Society at Ellis Library on the MU campus. more...

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