Bobby James Smith
Corporal, U.S. Army

In September 1950, Corporal Bobby James Smith was serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 24th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 20 September, CPL Smith's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Waegwan, South Korea, and his platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and the other ranking non-commissioned officers, had all been wounded. CPL Smith had also been seriously wounded, but he remained in his position, firing his Browning Automatic Rifle with deadly accuracy against the enemy. When all his ammunition had been fired, he made his way to a machine-gun ammunition bearer to obtain more. He noticed that a gunner and assistant gunner of a nearby machine-gun had been wounded and their gun was temporarily out of action. CPL Smith manned the gun and delivered fire against the enemy until reinforcements arrived. As a result of CPL Smith's heroic actions, the platoon was once more able to advance. During the advance, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. CPL Smith's courageous actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Bobby J. Smith (ASN: RA-14326593), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 24th Infantry Division. Corporal Smith distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Waegwan, Korea, on 19 September 1950. When his platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and other ranking non-commissioned officers had been wounded, and he himself had been seriously wounded, Corporal Smith tenaciously remained in his position, firing his Browning Automatic Rifle with deadly accuracy against the enemy. When he had expended all his ammunition, he made his way to a machine-gun ammunition bearer in order to obtain more. He noticed that a gunner and assistant gunner of a nearby machine-gun had been wounded and their gun temporarily put out of action. He manned the gun and continued to deliver fire against the enemy until reinforcements arrived. In the ensuing action when, as a result of his heroic achievements the platoon once more began to advance, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire.

Burial

Corporal Bobby James Smith is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Anderson, SC.

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