My Eulogy
Thomas Reed Smith Jr. was born on March 6th of 1922 in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up in the small, farming community of Madison, SD. Growing up in a small town, you become really close to the people that you associate with. This was one of the connections that I have with him. When you live in such a small community you create very close ties with everyone. Like his community, his family was also very close-knit. He lived in a family of four: his father, Thomas Reed Smith, his mother, Mabelle Smith, and his younger sister, Rachel. He went to Eastern High School and graduated in 1940. He went on to college at South Dakota State University in Brookings. He joined the ROTC in his first year, and was with them until he was deployed. He met the love of his life, Erma Ethel Kirstein, and eventually she became his wife. They were married on November 25th of 1942.
Reed arrived overseas after the initial D-Day landing. He landed on June 16th as a part of the 120th Infantry and the 30th Infantry Division. We believe he fought through all the hedgerows and highlands surrounding St. Lo. He was reported missing on July 19th and his death was confirmed on July 29th. He was one of 10,000 courageous young men who died in 12 days of battle. They didn’t die for the valor of war, or the recognition. These soldiers died to protect their families and all of their loved ones at home.
I know that Reed was only overseas for a month, but during war I don’t think time can be measured. So many people died during this war and they all should be remembered for the sacrifice they gave. This young man was only 22 years old when he died. He was newly married and he was never given the chance to see his son, Thomas Reed Smith III, who was born on August 15th almost exactly a month after he died. All of these men who fought overseas should be remembered in some way. I know Reed is remembered by me and all of you that are here. He is remembered by family and friends of his that are still alive. I know that he is especially remembered by his son, who carries his name. I want to end with a quote that I think is fitting:
“Freedom is not free”
All of us here today should remember that, just as all those people who are affected by wars and conflicts are reminded everyday. Thomas Reed Smith died in WWII, and he died a hero of his country. He will not be forgotten.
Reed arrived overseas after the initial D-Day landing. He landed on June 16th as a part of the 120th Infantry and the 30th Infantry Division. We believe he fought through all the hedgerows and highlands surrounding St. Lo. He was reported missing on July 19th and his death was confirmed on July 29th. He was one of 10,000 courageous young men who died in 12 days of battle. They didn’t die for the valor of war, or the recognition. These soldiers died to protect their families and all of their loved ones at home.
I know that Reed was only overseas for a month, but during war I don’t think time can be measured. So many people died during this war and they all should be remembered for the sacrifice they gave. This young man was only 22 years old when he died. He was newly married and he was never given the chance to see his son, Thomas Reed Smith III, who was born on August 15th almost exactly a month after he died. All of these men who fought overseas should be remembered in some way. I know Reed is remembered by me and all of you that are here. He is remembered by family and friends of his that are still alive. I know that he is especially remembered by his son, who carries his name. I want to end with a quote that I think is fitting:
“Freedom is not free”
All of us here today should remember that, just as all those people who are affected by wars and conflicts are reminded everyday. Thomas Reed Smith died in WWII, and he died a hero of his country. He will not be forgotten.
My Experience
Being a part of the Normandy Institute was amazing. I learned so much while I was there. I learned about sacrifice and what the cost of war was. We lost so many lives because of the war, lives that were just like ours. Reed was in college, he was only 6 years older than me when he died. In high school, he participated in the things I do such as basketball and FFA. There were even boys my age defending their country and sacrificing their lives for us.
When we were at the cemetery, listening to all of the incredible eulogies for our fallen heroes, I kept thinking about my friends at home. I thought about the young men who just graduated high school, who I had grown up with, and thought of them going off to fight in a war. The thought was terrifying for me. I also thought of my fourteen year old brother who is thinking about going into the Navy when he gets out of school. That thought scared me a little, too. I mean, he's my younger brother and one of my best friends. It put me in the perspective of the people who were left at home during World War II. Wives, children, siblings, they were all proud of what our men were doing, but they were also scared for them. They were scared for that letter to come saying that their loved one was gone. I respect those people as much as I do our soldiers. Our soldiers did the fighting, but the people at home were the backbone. They were working in the factories, doing whatever they possibly could to help our soldiers out. And they also had to live with a fear. The soldiers were afraid of war, of fighting, and who wouldn't be? The ones at home were afraid of what would happen as well. They were afraid of not knowing.
Some of our soldiers lived such short lives, yet they made so much impact on their country, on the world, even on those who never had the chance to meet them, like me. They really knew the meaning of service and helping out those who needed it.
I was honored to be a part of this year's Normandy Scholars. I met so many amazing people and we all learned so much about each other, our country, history and the world. I learned so much that I wouldn't have otherwise known if not for the lectures and the explanations from Dr. Long and Dr. Arneson. I also learned so much from my own research and from the books we had to read. I would like to thank Albert H. Small for making his dream become reality; for enabling me to learn more about World War II and our soldiers' sacrifice. My teacher, Mrs. Lauren Olson, is the reason that I even thought about applying for this trip so if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have had this amazing experience. I'm also thankful to Dr. Gorn, Ms. Erika Washington, Ms. O'Hara and Mr. Huegan for keeping all of us on track and for keeping everything organized so that we could learn, and perform to our fullest potential.
I was also honored to research Reed and to find out more about him. He was part of our world's Greatest Generation and he should be remembered for his sacrifice. I've loved learning about him and I would really like to find his family, and to meet them. I would like to be able to tell them that he has been remembered by me and others from around the country at the cemetery in France, and for me at home, quite frequently. I'll be doing something in Madison and think, "I wonder how things were for Reed when he was younger. Did he walk down this street? Did he go to the Prairie Village Threshing Days?" Questions just pop into my head wondering what he was like and how things were for him. This truly has been a life changing experience and I'll take what I learned during the Institute and use it in the future.
When we were at the cemetery, listening to all of the incredible eulogies for our fallen heroes, I kept thinking about my friends at home. I thought about the young men who just graduated high school, who I had grown up with, and thought of them going off to fight in a war. The thought was terrifying for me. I also thought of my fourteen year old brother who is thinking about going into the Navy when he gets out of school. That thought scared me a little, too. I mean, he's my younger brother and one of my best friends. It put me in the perspective of the people who were left at home during World War II. Wives, children, siblings, they were all proud of what our men were doing, but they were also scared for them. They were scared for that letter to come saying that their loved one was gone. I respect those people as much as I do our soldiers. Our soldiers did the fighting, but the people at home were the backbone. They were working in the factories, doing whatever they possibly could to help our soldiers out. And they also had to live with a fear. The soldiers were afraid of war, of fighting, and who wouldn't be? The ones at home were afraid of what would happen as well. They were afraid of not knowing.
Some of our soldiers lived such short lives, yet they made so much impact on their country, on the world, even on those who never had the chance to meet them, like me. They really knew the meaning of service and helping out those who needed it.
I was honored to be a part of this year's Normandy Scholars. I met so many amazing people and we all learned so much about each other, our country, history and the world. I learned so much that I wouldn't have otherwise known if not for the lectures and the explanations from Dr. Long and Dr. Arneson. I also learned so much from my own research and from the books we had to read. I would like to thank Albert H. Small for making his dream become reality; for enabling me to learn more about World War II and our soldiers' sacrifice. My teacher, Mrs. Lauren Olson, is the reason that I even thought about applying for this trip so if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have had this amazing experience. I'm also thankful to Dr. Gorn, Ms. Erika Washington, Ms. O'Hara and Mr. Huegan for keeping all of us on track and for keeping everything organized so that we could learn, and perform to our fullest potential.
I was also honored to research Reed and to find out more about him. He was part of our world's Greatest Generation and he should be remembered for his sacrifice. I've loved learning about him and I would really like to find his family, and to meet them. I would like to be able to tell them that he has been remembered by me and others from around the country at the cemetery in France, and for me at home, quite frequently. I'll be doing something in Madison and think, "I wonder how things were for Reed when he was younger. Did he walk down this street? Did he go to the Prairie Village Threshing Days?" Questions just pop into my head wondering what he was like and how things were for him. This truly has been a life changing experience and I'll take what I learned during the Institute and use it in the future.