Thomas Reed Smith Jr.
South Dakota remembers our fallen hero, Thomas Reed Smith Jr; he was born on March 6, 1922, to Thomas and Mabelle Smith in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They moved to Madison, South Dakota and Thomas Sr. became president of Madison Motor Supply, while Mabelle became Vice President. Thomas Sr. also farmed in the Lakeview area. Thomas Jr liked to be called by his middle name, Reed, instead of by his first name. He had a sister, Rachel, who was 5 years younger than him. She was 13 when the 1940 census was taken; he was 18.
Reed attended Eastern High School, a high school in connection to Dakota State University. He was very active in high school and was an outstanding student. He participated in Future Farmers of America (FFA) all four years of high school. They had meetings every month and had a father-son banquet in the fall. As an FFA member he helped serve the girls Pep Club Mother-Daughter Banquets and participated in many trips. His FFA chapter traveled to the Black Hills his freshman year and Chicago the following summer. His sophomore year he attended the National FFA Convention in Kansas City.
Reed attended Eastern High School, a high school in connection to Dakota State University. He was very active in high school and was an outstanding student. He participated in Future Farmers of America (FFA) all four years of high school. They had meetings every month and had a father-son banquet in the fall. As an FFA member he helped serve the girls Pep Club Mother-Daughter Banquets and participated in many trips. His FFA chapter traveled to the Black Hills his freshman year and Chicago the following summer. His sophomore year he attended the National FFA Convention in Kansas City.
Reed decided to play football and basketball his sophomore year and he continued to play through the rest of high school. His junior year he was the class president and also participated in the Junior Play. His senior year he was part of the staff for the Blue Jay, Eastern's yearbook, and Eastern Breezes. Even today people mention that they recognize his name from playing sports.
Reed graduated in the spring of 1940 from Eastern High School and attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings that fall. He took up Agriculture in college. He joined the ROTC unit at SDSU and enlisted on June 9th, 1942. He would end up following in his father's footsteps by being sent overseas. Thomas Sr. was a Sergeant in the 23d Engineer Division during WWI.
On November 25, 1942, Reed married Erma Ethel Kirstein, daughter of Herman and Martha (Zulke) Kirstein of Madison. Erma graduated from Orland High School, also in Madison, and attended SDSU but was two years younger than Reed. It is believed that after Reed died, Erma and her family moved to Washington state to work in a war plant during the war. Erma had two brothers and the oldest one also lost his life in the war.
Reed went into training at the end of his junior year in college in the spring of 1943. First he was sent to Camp Wolters, Texas and later to Fort Benning, Georgia. Reed didn't participate in the initial D-Day landings. They trained in Britain first, and then his division, the 30th Infantry Division, began landing on Omaha Beach on the 15th of June. Reed's last letter home was sent July 17th, two days before he went missing. In his letter he told of attending Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr.’s funeral. Reed went missing on July 19th and was confirmed dead 10 days later, on July 29th. There is no definite place of where he died, but it is believed he died in or near the city of St. Lo, France possibly in hedgerow fighting.
Reed was only married a short time, but his son was born on Aug. 16th in Washington state, 18 days after he died overseas in France. His son’s name is Thomas Reed Smith III.
Reed was only married a short time, but his son was born on Aug. 16th in Washington state, 18 days after he died overseas in France. His son’s name is Thomas Reed Smith III.