Martha Yarmer

A Soldier's Words My Dad, My Hero: the Diary of Sgt. Paul E. Smith United States Army 1941-1958 Martha Yarmer

These are the actual words as written in a Journal and Diaryby my father, Sgt. Paul E. Smith during his service in the United States Armyduring World War II (Pearl) and Korea. He was 18 years old when he left forHawaii in 1941. I was 7 years old when he died in 1962. These books were givento me 40 years after his death by a cousin who found them in 2003, in mygrandparents' house after their deaths. I don't remember a lot about my dad,just bits and pieces. My dad spent almost 15 years in the Army. His olderbrother also served in the Army for a time and his youngest brother served inthe Marines. My husband served in the Navy and his father in the Army Air Coreduring WWII (now the Air Force). My daughter will be following in our family'sMilitary footsteps upon graduation from college in Dec. 2003. She will reportto the US Navy's Officer Candidate School in Florida in January 2004. I am veryproud to be a Daughter, Niece, Wife, and Mother of a member of our US Military.