Rosa "Rose" Kwapil

Notes:

The John T. Smith Tree on Ancestry.com instead shows the location of her birth as Liepa, Austria.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/852439/person/-2038753879

SSDI:

Rose Smith
SSN: 182-22-2229
Last Residence: 77703 Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, United States of America
Born: 10 Sep 1895
Died: Jan 1981
State (Year) SSN issued: Pennsylvania (Before 1951)

Rosa married John Thomas Smith, Sr. before 1922 in Germany. John (son of Obediah Hillis Smith, Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Mason) was born on 30 Jul 1890 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 23 Jun 1962 in Jefferson County, Texas; was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Altoona Mirror
(Clipping stamped Jan 18, 1943)

Frederick T. Smith, whose parents live at 1012 Third avenue, has completed his recruit trainign at the Bainbridge naval training station, Md. Smith has been advanced to the rating of seaman second class and will attend service school for further specialize training.

Altoona Mirror
(Clipping stamped April 1, 1944)

Altoona Boy was Abord U.S.S. Portent

An Altoona youth, Seaman Frederick Thomas Smith, aged 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Smith of 1012 Third avenue, was serving aboard the U.S.S. Portent, large minesweeper, which was announced as lost in the Mediterranean by the navy department in the stock edition of the Altoona Mirror yesterday and also today's edition.

The young sailor's family was notified on the evening of Feb. 4 that he was missing in action and the announcement was published in the Altoona Mirror on Feb. 5. Since the announcement that he was missing the family has no further word from the Navy Department.

Seaman Smith held the rank of quartermaster third class and had been overseas since February, 1943. He entered the service Oct. 20, 1942, and earlier had been employed as an apprentice in the Juniata boiler shop, where his father is employed.

The U. S.S. Portent was a 700-ton craft and normally carried a crew of 100 men. Her commander, Lt. Howard C. Plummer of Beaumont, Tex., was reported to be safe. No information was given as to the number of casualities on the ship.

Altoona Mirror
(Clipping stamped January 31, 1945)

Q. M. 3/c Frederick T. Smith

Quartermaster Third Class Frederick Thomas Smith, aged 20, has been declared dead, after having been continued in the status of "missing in action" since the sinking of the U. S. S. minesweeper Portent int he Mediterranean area on Jan. 22, 1944, according to a letter from the navy department received yestrday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Smith.

The Portent was sunk by an underwater explosion while patrolling off the beachhead at Anzio, Italy. Many ships and small craft were in the vicinity at the time of the explosion and quickly came to the rescue of the survivors. The navy department letter reads: "Your son was reported seen aboard the ship shortly before the explosion occured. To date no information had been received which establishes the fact that he survived the explosion. In view of the lenght of time that has elapsed and the strong probability that your son lost his life followint the explosion, the secretary of the navy has directed that his death be presumed to have occurred on Jan. 23, 1945, which is the day following the expiration of twelve months in the missing status."

The young sailor's family was notified on Feb. 4 that he was missing, the information being published in the Altoona Mirror on Feb. 5. Frederick was born on Aug. 18, 1923, at Trenton, N. J., a son of John and Rose (Kwapil) Smith and came to Altoona nineteen years ago with his parents. He was graduated from Altoona High school in the class of 1940, was keenly interested in and an expert at swimming, as well as active in the student craftsman organization at the High School.

His father, employed in the Juniata boiler shop, resides at 1118 Eleventh street, and his mother at 1012 Third avenue. A brother, Harry T. Smith, left Monday for the navy, reporting at Pittsburgh, while a sister, Rose M., a private nurse at Jefferson hospital, Philadelpia, is entering the navy nurse corps in the near future. Another sister, Marian, attendes Altoon Senior High school.

Frederick was a member of the Eight Avenue Methodist church.

http://extras.altoonamirror.com/soldiers/archieves/SmithFrederick.pdf