World War II Honor Roll - Their Stories
PVT. LEONARD RALPH BLACKSMITH
Leonard Ralph Blacksmith was born in 1921, the son of Raymond Blacksmith and Winnie Hedges. He lived with his family on the Yankton Reservation for some time, at least through 1937. He was one of six children - five sons and one daughter. At the time of his death, all of his brothers were in military service - Captain Sanford Blacksmith was with a glider unit at George Field, Illinois; Clement Blacksmith, Seaman 1/c USN was at the Naval Hospital at St. Albans, Long Island, New York; Walter Blacksmith, seaman 1/c, was in the south Pacific; and Eddie Blacksmith was in Huron, awaiting his call into the Marine Corps. His sister, Mildred, was living at home.
On July 29, 1940, Leonard enlisted in the infantry at Fort Meade, South Dakota. In September, he was one of thirty-six inductees who left the Great Northern depot in Huron, bound for Fort Snelling, Minnesota amid great fanfare. The Huron Municipal Band played, the Huron Rotary Club gifted the young men with candy and cigarettes, and the color guard of the William Reaves Post of the American Legion added to the patriotic atmosphere.
Leonard participated in the invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was mortally wounded, which resulted in his death on July 11, 1944 in France. He had been in service to his country a little over three years at the time of his death. He was awarded the Purple Heart for military merit.
On October 27, 1948, more than four years after his death, his body was returned to the United States aboard the U. S. Army Transport Carroll Victory, and then to Wagner, South Dakota for reburial
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Daily Huronite, Huron, S.D., Sunday, December 3, 1944
U. S., Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940. Ancestry.com
1920 Federal Census, South Dakota, Charles Mix co.
"Private Blacksmith Rites Wednesday"Huronite & Daily Plainsman, October 26, 1948.
"Inductees Leave for Fort Snelling." Evening Huronite, Huron, S. D. September 2, 1942.
National Archives and Records Administration. U. s. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.
MARVIN BLOOMBERG
Marvin Bloomberg was born March 9, 1925 in Hennepin co., Minnesota to Mr. and Mrs. Leo (Nellie Wexler) Bloomberg. Mr. Bloomberg was in the dry cleaning business there, and brought his family to Huron in 1929. Marvin attended Huron High School, graduating with the class of 1943, where he was a member of A Club, Spanish Club, and served on the student council, among other activities. He was also on the basketball team, and was National Honor Society President. Outside of school, he also played second base on the local Huron baseball team, and was so good that he was named to the All-Star team in 1942.
Marvin joined the 100th Infantry Division of the Seventh Army, 398th Infantry Regiment. His parents were notified in late January of 1945 that he was missing in action since January 10. The local newspaper, on the sports page where Marvin's name regularly appeared, wrote:
"We would like to say something in this section about Marvin Bloomberg, young Huron second baseman, reported this week as "missing in action: -- but there just isn't much to say. Folks here at home will live in hopes that the announcement was a grotesque error and that Marv will show up at the right time, as he always did while covering the keystone acre."
The following month, Marvin was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for satisfactory performance of duty in ground combat against the enemy. He was also awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. I could not find information on if or when his remains were recovered.He is said to be buried in Ardennes American Cemetery & Memorial in France, but whether this is an actual burial or a memorial, I do not know.
His father owned "Marvin Cleaners," a dry cleaning establishment in Huron, which was named for his fallen son, and was still in operation (under different management) into the 1970s. His father turned over the business to his employees after his retirement in 1955.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Daily Huronite and Plainsman, Huron, S.D. February 18, 1945
The Daily Huronite and Plainsman, Huron, S.D., January 28, 1945
1943 Tiger, Annual of Huron High School, Huron, S.D.
The Huronite and the Daily Plainsman, Huron, S.D., Tuesday, June 28, 1955
1970 Huron (South Dakota) City Directory
Minnesota Birth Certificates Index (people.mnhs.org)
CAPTAIN JAMES A. "JIM" BOYD
Photo from the 1932 "Tiger"James A. Boyd was born about 1915 in Minnesota, the son of Don and Matilda Boyd. In 1930, the family lived in Watertown, South Dakota, where the father was a chef at a hotel. James, 15 at the time, also worked as a shoe shiner in a barber shop. The following year, Don Boyd had gone to Huron to take a job as a cook at the Marvin Hughitt Hotel; he was joined by his family the next year (1931) and purchased a house at 1167 Kansas ave. SE. He worked as a cook at the Union News Depot, and Jim worked as an usher at the Huron Theatre. He graduated in 1943 from Huron High School, where he was a member of Pep Club, Utopia Club (promoting "friendliness and entertainment"), and Phi Alpha Chi.
By 1940, the family had moved again, purchasing a home at 615 Kansas Ave. NE. James, as well as his younger brother Dellos and sister Donna were living with their parents. James was a student.
James Boyd was killed in service to his country on July 10, 1943 in the North African theater, where he was part of the 7th Infantry, 3rd Division. He is listed on a monument at Sicily & Rome, Italy, status is "buried". His parents, who then resided in Berkeley, California, were presented with his Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, September 14, 1943
National Archives and Records Administration. World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas. (Ancestry.com)
1940 Huron, South Dakota City Directory
1932 Huron, South Dakota City Directory
1931 Huron, South Dakota City Directory
1930 Federal Census, South Dakota, Codington co., Watertown city
1932 Huron Tiger Annual, Huron High School
STANLEY I. BROWN
Stanley I. Brown, Machinist's Mate, First Class, USN, was born about 1922 in South Dakota, the son of Gabriel Brown and Ossie Hamby, Wolsey township farmers. He was MIA/buried at sea, and was awarded the Purple Heart. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, the Philippines.
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Daily Huronite, Huron, SD. Sunday, October 29, 1944
1930 Federal Census, South Dakota, Beadle co., Wolsey twp.
American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov)
1st LT. MALCOLM "DUFF" CAMPBELL
Malcolm Donald Campbell was born in 1922 in South Dakota; in 1920, his parents and older sister lived with his maternal grandmother, Margaret Campbell, in Lead, South Dakota, but by 1926, his parents, George A. & Elizabeth Campbell, were in Huron. About 1937, the family relocated again, possibly to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Malcolm lived at the time of his enlistment in the air corps on March 20, 1942. At that point, Malcolm had completed one year of college, and listed his civil occupation as an actor, and he was single with no dependents.
He married Joy Ackers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ackers of Tulsa on Friday, October 8, 1943 in Tulsa.
Malcom "Duff" Campbell was in the 417th Night Fighter Squadron, and not the only Beadle county boy to volunteer for this risky duty. Flight Officer Raymond Christensen, of rural Beadle county, was killed in action the year before, off Corsica, when engaged in battle with German fighters. See his biography under his listing.
A Bristol Beaufighter, similar to those flown by
the men of the 417th Night Fighters Squadron
The night fighter teams were made up of radar operators and pilots; "Duff" Campbell was a pilot, and attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He flew some high-profile missions, and was bestowed a number of honors, including the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, plus other Army awards. He was also given the Croix De Guerre with Silver Gilt Star by the French.
During one mission, he and his radar operator were successful in shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf-109 (see below right). Typically, an enemy plane that was salvageable was brought back to the home base, but this type of plane was difficult even for experienced German pilots to fly, says Lt. Col. Braxton "Brick" Eisel, author of "Beaufighters in the Night." A volunteer was needed to fly the captured plane, and "Duff" Campbell was the only volunteer. Soon after getting the plane in the sky, "the massive torque from the propeller snap rolled the aircraft to the left. Campbell was not able to recover..."1 The plane crashed, and burst into flames. Malcolm Campbell died on May 17, 1945, in Lorraine, France.
Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, FranceHe was buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery at St. Avold, France, Plot C, Row 12, Grave 83.
A Messerschmitt Bf-109, similar to that shot down by 1st Lt. Campbell, photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
©Karen Seeman, 2011
Sources:
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Tuesday, May 30, 1946
The Evening Huronite, Huron, S.D. Wednesday, November 10, 1943.
National Archives and Records Administration. U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938 - 1946. (Ancestry.com)
National Archives and Records Administration. World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas. (Ancestry.com)
1Beaufighters in the Night: 417th Night Fighter Squadron USAAF. Lt. Col Braxton "Brick" Eisel - USAF. 2007.
1932 Huron, S.D. City Directory
1926 Huron, S.D. City Directory
1936 Huron, S.D. City Directory
1938 Huron, S.D. City Directory
1930 Federal Census, South Dakota, Beadle co., Huron city
American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov)
