Story and photos by Shannon Presley
(Glasgow – June 28, 2023) It was a special day in Glasgow on Wednesday for World War II Army Air Force veteran Edwin Smith. Congressman Brett Guthrie paid the 100-year-old veteran a visit to present him with replacement military medals at a ceremony at Hometown Manor.
Smith, who celebrated his 100th birthday in April, also received the Patriot Award from the Barren County Veterans Association. Matt Mutter, who presented Smith with the Patriot Award, says the veterans group presents the award annually on Memorial Day during a ceremony at the City Cemetery. However, Smith was unable to attend that ceremony. Mutter said they usually give one of these awards annually, but this year they chose three recipients, one of whom was Smith.
The ceremony began with a color guard from the Freedom Warriors Community Veterans Organization, who then led attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jessica Murray is the Constituent Services Representative with Congressman Guthrie’s office. Murray handles casework for veterans and service members of the second congressional district of Kentucky, including requesting medals and records for veterans like Edwin Smith, and she spoke about requesting the medals for Smith. Murray first met Smith this April at his birthday celebration. When she spoke with Smith’s daughter about requesting replacement medals, she was thrilled to assist, but was worried she would not be able to get Mr. Smith’s medals.
Murray noted that all requests for replacement medals first go to the National Personnel Records Center, which houses all records for military service members, and in July of 1973, there was a fire at the center. All military records starting with the last name Hubbard through the letter Z were burned.
Murray said she knew requesting those records would be a very long shot, but she requested them anyway and was surprised to receive an answer. The Records Center response stated that the military record needed to answer her request was located in the area that suffered the most damage in the fire that occurred on July 12, 1973. Fortunately, the record was among those recovered. Murray said she has been requesting records for veterans for over three years now with Congressman Guthrie, and this is the first time she has received a response where the records had been recovered from this fire.
With that response, a request was then sent to the Air Force to send the replacement medals for Mr. Smith.
Congressman Guthrie addressed Mr. Smith about discovering that he never received his original medals. Guthrie said that when they were here for Smith’s hundredth birthday, they realized he was never awarded his medals because of the accident, and that’s what they were here to correct.
Guthrie then presented the long-awaited medals to Mr. Smith as community members and other Hometown Manor residents looked on. Smith received the American Campaign Medal to recognize military service in the American Theater of Operations during World War II, the World War II Victory Medal to commemorate military service during World War II, and Honorable Service lapel buttons.
When asked about the ceremony, Congressman Guthrie said it’s an honor for him to participate in events like this. He always looked up to World War II veterans, and now he is in a position where he gets to give awards. Guthrie said “It’s just an honor. And it’s just a great part of my job to get to honor them.”
Edwin F. Smith was a graduate of Glasgow High School before joining the Army Air Force in December 1941. He achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant. Smith excelled at flying aircraft and made significant contributions providing support missions. However, an accident during a routine training mission redefined him as one of only two survivors. He was the co-pilot, leading 10 men on the practice run in a B-29 Sperfortress Bomber when they collided with another B-29. The collision killed 18 servicemen.
Matt Mutter, Barren County Veterans Association, presents Edwin Smith with the Patriot Award. Photo by Shannon Presley
Edwin Smith (r) with the Freedom Warriors color guard. US flag bearer, Clay Lancaster; POW flag bearer, Joe Denton; Kentucky flag bearer, Joe Branthooder; in back, Ernie Wagoner, Commander, and Donald Gray, Assistant Commander. Photo by Shannon Presley
US Congressman Brett Guthrie listens intently to 100-year-old WWII veteran, Edwin Smith. Photo by Shannon Presley
Photos of WWII veteran Edwin Smith on display with his medals. Photo by Shannon Presley
From left to right: WWII veteran Edwin Smith, Shannon Presley, Maria Lancaster
