FRANKLIN SMITH, JR., LTJG, USN
Franklin Smith, Jr. '46
Lucky Bag
From the 1946 Lucky Bag:
Franklin Smith, Jr.
Greenville, South Carolina
"Reb" was one of those well-known Southern gentlemen. His impressive appearance, easy-going manner, soft-spoken word, and fine sense of humor gained for him an enviable number of firm friendships among his classmates. Although not the football player type, "Reb" was an excellent golfer and enjoyed a good game of tennis. In addition, he could always be counted upon as a fourth for a bridge game, or as a crew member for a week-end yawl or ketch trip. However,"Smitty's" one eternal stumbling block was his "femme situation," and he drained many an ink bottle trying to un-noose himself.
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Franklin Smith, Jr.
Greenville, South Carolina
"Reb" was one of those well-known Southern gentlemen. His impressive appearance, easy-going manner, soft-spoken word, and fine sense of humor gained for him an enviable number of firm friendships among his classmates. Although not the football player type, "Reb" was an excellent golfer and enjoyed a good game of tennis. In addition, he could always be counted upon as a fourth for a bridge game, or as a crew member for a week-end yawl or ketch trip. However,"Smitty's" one eternal stumbling block was his "femme situation," and he drained many an ink bottle trying to un-noose himself.
The Class of 1946 was graduated in June 1945 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
From Find A Grave:
Lieutenant Junior Grade Smith was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 63, Carrier Air Group Two aboard the aircraft carrier, USS BOXER (CV-21). On September 19, 1950, after completing a raid over Korea, as his aircraft landed, it struck the barrier and went overboard inverted
Inscription: Lt US Navy. Killed in Action off Korea
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Franklin graduated from Greenville High School in 1941. His yearbook quote was: “They admired him for his skill at golf.” He also participated in Latin Club 2; Jr & Sr Hi-Y, Boys Physical Training 3, and Block Letter Club 4.
He attended Randles Preparatory School in Washington before being appointed to the Naval Academy by Senator Burnet R. Maybank in May 1942. After graduating in 1945, he was sent to the Pacific to be on an aircraft carrier.
In March 1948, he returned home from being in China. He was then going to Pensacola for flight training. On July 3 in Greenville, Franklin gave his sister away at her wedding to George Edward Dyke, Jr. Franklin was involved in an automobile accident in March 1950 and was hospitalized in Jacksonville with leg injuries.
Franklin’s parents divorced before 1930. His father was in sales. His mother Elizabeth (nee Beattie) raised Franklin and his sister Elizabeth “Betty,” and she worked as a sales person in a printing office. She often visited Franklin when he was state-side, and he spent many furloughs at home. She died in 1962.
Memorial Hall Error?
Franklin is not listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. While not an obvious error, inclusion on the panel for crashes like this (incidental to combat flights) has been inconsistent across WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Related Articles
Lewis Adkins, Jr. '46 and John Metschl '46 were also members of 20th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
