Web Page of Doyle Byron Smith (1923-1944)

Brother, Uncle, and WWII Veteran

Private Doyle B. Smith,
Camp Shelby, MS

MENU

Pictured Above (Left to Right):

Doyle B. Smith--KIA--November 3, 1944-Moncourt Woods
Arthur Serabian-KIA--November, 1944---Moncourt Woods
Keith Wheatley--KIA--January 5, 1945--Luxembourg

Photo taken at Fort Jackson, SC, August, 1944 and prior to leaving for Camp Shanks, NY


Military History


  • December 1943-May 1944--Camp Shelby, MS--65th Infantry Division, 161st Regiment
  • June 1944-August 1944-------Fort Jackson, SC--26th Infantry Division, 328th Regiment, Co. L
  • August, 1944--------------------Camp Shanks, NY
  • September, 1944---------------Normandie, France--Driver for Red Ball Express
  • October, 1944------------------Lorraine Front, France, Patton's third army
  • November 3, 1944-------------Killed in Action, Moncourt Woods, France

RETURN TO MENU

MAPS

Click on a map to view a larger size

MAPS OF POSITIONS OF 328TH INFANTRY DIVISION,
COMPANY "L", OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, 1944

Cheminot, France

Moncourt Woods, France

Unknown Town, France

RETURN TO MENU


MEMORIALS


There are many memorials honoring the men and women who contributed to the war effort. Doyle's name appears on no less than five memorials which are tributes to Washington State and Idaho State veterans. Click on an image below to view its full size.


RETURN TO MENU

PHOTO GALLERY

Below are various photographs of the Moncourt Woods, June, 2000. The views are much the same as they were in November 1944, except the trees did not have leaves.

Click on a photo to view a larger size


The following photos are of the remains of the foxholes in the Moncourt Woods. Over the years the sides of the foxholes have collapsed, but they are still visible. Currently, dead branches have been piled over the remains of the foxholes. Amazingly, nearby are also the remains of WWI trenches. These photos were taken in June of 2000. It is certain the Private Smith was killed very close to this spot.


The following photos are panorama photos of the Moncourt Woods, June, 2000



RETURN TO MENU


INTERRMENT

Doyle was buried in the military cemetery at Andilly, France, from November of 1944 to May of 1949. In 1949 army notified the relatives of the honored dead that they had a choice-- to have the remains repatriated to the United States, or to be interred with dignity at the Military Cemetery in Saint Avold nearby. Doyle's family opted to have him returned to rest in the fertile soil of his youth in Southeast Idaho.

After repatriation, the cemetery at Andilly was then turned over to Germany for interment of their war dead.

Today, the cemetery holds the remains of 30,000 German soldiers, and it is visited frequently by relatives.

Click on the image below to see the Andilly cemetery.

Click on the image below to see his final resting place.


RETURN TO MENU

COPYRIGHT BY BRIAN SMITH