Matthew Comerford Smith – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

Combat Infantryman’s Badge

Matthew Comerford Smith, a retired Army Colonel, died on September 17, 2001 in Kentfield, California.

Born March 26, 1915 in Del Rio, Texas, he is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Isabelle Sinclair Rising Smith, of San Rafael, California and his loving daughter, Lisa Sinclair Smith of Novato, California.

A West Point (United States Military Academy) 1939 graduate, he followed his father in a U.S. Army career, retiring as a full colonel after 30 years service in 1969.

In World War II he served with the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division until he was captured in North Africa. He spent 27 months in a German POW camp, OFLAG 64 in Schubin, Poland.

After the war, he worked at the U.S. Army Office of the Chief of Staff at the Pentagon from 1945 to 1948. He went on to obtain a Master’s Degree from Harvard in history and to teach history at West Point. Further assignments included various staff and command positions in Italy, Germany, Korea, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Presidio of San Francisco. He also attended the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

His awards included the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal,  the Combat Infantryman’s Badge,  1st Infantry Division Citation, 1942.

After his Army retirement, he worked for 10 years for the Bank of America, San Rafael, California, in the Trust Department. He loved to play golf and was a member of the Presidio Golf Club. He was also active in the Sons in Retirement (SIRS) Branch 47, The Harvard Club of San Francisco, and the Bank of America Retirees. He loved to travel and especially to river raft. He rafted down five of the major rivers in the western United States. He was an avid reader, especially of U.S. history books and novels.

A funeral service and burial will be October 24, 2001, at 1 p.m. at the Fort Myer Chapel, with interment in Arlington National Cemetery. Reception to follow at Fort Myer Officer’s Club.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 or to the ALS Association, 27001 Agoura Rd., Suite 150, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301-5104.

SMITH, MATTHEW COMERFORD

• COL   US ARMY
• WORLD WAR II, KOREA
• DATE OF BIRTH: 03/26/1915
• DATE OF DEATH: 09/17/2001
• BURIED AT: SECTION 60  SITE 6528
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard