Project 888
Name: Byron Emery SMILEY
Rank / Rating: QM3-Quartermaster Third ClassService #: 644 64 26 DOB: Oct 14, 1924 From: Denham Springs, LA Parents: Leo Bernard and Jessie Mae Harris Smiley Went Aboard: Oct 28, 1942 Age When Kamikaze Struck: 20 years, 5 months, 17 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Marilyn Northcutt Henry and Carl Fahnestock |
 SMILEY, Byron E |
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During the battle of Okinawa, a Japanese Kamikaze plane made Indianapolis his target in the early morning hours of March 31, 1945. The damage to the ship was not severe but the attack took the lives of nine crewmembers including Byron Emery Smiley, age 20.
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 Byron was born October 14, 1924 to Leo and Jessie Mae Smiley of Denham Springs, Louisiana. Byron’s siblings were Robert Milton, Mae Belle, Daniel Roger, PVT Henry Bernard and Thomas Ray - nicknamed “Cheerios”.
On board Indianapolis, Byron's rate advanced to S1c on May 1, 1944.
On Sept 1, 1944 he advanced to QM3c(T) (Quarter Master 3rd class - Temporary)
On the day of the kamikaze attack, a funeral service for one Sailor was held. As the bodies of the other eight were recovered, a service for six was held on April 1, and for two on April 2, 1945. Each service was preformed with full military honors by the ship's chaplain, Father Thomas Conway.
After the funeral services, Byron's body was carried from Indianapolis by his shipmates for burial in the US Armed Forces Cemetery located on Zamami Shima, Kerama Retto, off the island of Okinawa.
Click or tap here to learn more about the kamikaze attack and to access links to each of the nine individual bios of the kamikaze victims.
PVT Henry Bernard Smiley was killed April 17, 1945 as a Private in the 60th Infantry Division, United States Army. His death was just 17 days after his brother Byron’s death. What a compounded tragedy this was to the family of these brothers. Their family became a double Gold Star Family.
Henry turned 22 on March 12th. His height at 6 ft 1 inch was topped with red hair, brown eyes and a freckled complexion. Henry left behind his wife of 4 years, Ruth LeBlanc Smiley and two daughters, Norma Pauline and Lyndell Rosalie Smiley and grieving family.
After the war, families were given the opportunity to request that the remains of their loved one be returned to the US for reinterment.
Application for a government issued flat grave marker was submitted by the family in 1949. There is little doubt Byron's and Henry's remains were returned to the US and both were reinterred in Denham Springs Cemetery, Livingston Parish, LA.
In the photo, below, the brother's names appear on a large marble headstone, symbolic of their being buried side by side:
PVT Henry Bernard Smiley AND Byron Emery Smiley, QM3c
March 12, 1923 - April 17, 1945 AND October 14, 1924 - March 31, 1945
The flat grave marker is not shown in the photo but was likely used as a foot marker.
Source:
Denham Springs and Livingston Parish News, (LA), Thur, Mar 25, 1943, p. 1; citing a visit home
Denham Springs and Livingston Parish News, (LA), Thur, Aug 20, 1942, p. 8; citing a visit home
Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; LA, p. 14; citing Bryon Emery Smiley, Quartermaster 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr and Mrs Leo Bernard Smiley, Denham, Springs.
The Town Talk, (Alexandria, LA), Tues, June 26, 1945, p. 3; citing the death of Smiley
Official USN records of USS Indianapolis CA-35
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