Homer was born in Washington township, Kosiesko or Koscuesko, Co., IN, the third child of Presley E. and L. Anna Correll Smith. He had two brothers, Herbert Merle and James Richard Smith.
The 1940 census shows Homer, 19 yo, born IN, living with his parents and two brothers, both born in IN. He had completed 4 years of high school and was working as a cabinet maker for a furniture manufacturer.
He married Ruth Edith Richardson of Mishawaka, IN on Feb 21, 1941 in St. Joseph, IN. Homer and Ruth became the proud parents of a son in late 1941 and they named him Gale Lee Smith.
Source CreditsIndiana State Board of Health, Certificate of Birth, # 24600; citing birth of Homer Leroy Smith to Presley E. Smith and L. Anna Correll of Pierceton or Presceton, IN
1940 US Census, IN, St. Joseph Co., Mishawaka. Enumerated Apr 11, 1940. HH #132; citing family of Presley Smith
The South Bend Tribune, (IN), Sat., Feb 22, 1941, p. 12; citing marriage License
Ancestry.com. Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012; citing Homer Leroy Smith marriage to Ruth E. Richardson
The South Bend Tribune, (IN), Wed, Oct 24, 1945, p. 21; citing the death of Homer Smith
Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; Indiana, p. 18; citing wife Ruth Edith Smith
Rank / Rating: F2-Fireman Second Class
Homer enlisted in the USN in Sept. 1944.
On Sept 27, 1944 he arrived for boot camp at Great Lakes, IL. He was a AS (Apprentice Seaman). From there, he was sent for additional training at the Service School Command at Great Lakes. The date he advanced from AS to Fireman is not known, but in the records of Jan 4, 1945 he is noted as a F2c (Fireman 2nd class). During his training, he was admitted to the Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, on Jan 22nd. The cause is unknown. He returned to service school on April 18th.
Homer was transferred to the distribution center in Shoemaker, CA on June 7, 1945 where he arrived on June 11th to await his first assignment for duty.
On June 23rd, he arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard and went aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35. Less than a month later, Homer would be among the crew members who departed Mare Island to deliver top-secret cargo to Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands. After delivery and a brief stop at Guam, Indianapolis steamed toward Leyte in the central Philippines on July 28, 1945. She would never arrive.
Indianapolis was sunk on July 30, 1945 by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58. Whether Homer was killed on board or made it off the ship into the water is not known. If he were spared a few moments before his death his thoughts would have turned to his wife, Ruth, and 4 year old Gale Lee.
His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.
Homer's brothers served also in the USN. Herbert Merle Smith, was a Watertender Second Class who was stationed somewhere in the Pacific at the time of Homer's death. James Richard Smith of San Francisco, had recently, at the time of Homer’s death, returned to the United States after serving two years of sea duty.
