Raymond Stevens Smith

May 14, 1942

Flagler County has 74 men in the various branches of the armed forces at this time ..... the list up to date is as follows: RAYMOND STEVENS SMITH

October 1, 1942

Buck Durrance of Flagler Beach and RAYMOND SMITH of Haw Creek are somewhere in the Western Area, their mail going in care of Postmaster, San Francisco. Buck is a Marine and Raymond is in the Seabees.

October 15, 1942

RAYMOND SMITH, also in the Seabees, writes to his mother, Mrs. Bert Hamilton, from an unannounced station in the Southwest Pacific.

November 19, 1942

We received a day or two ago a Christmas card from RAYMOND SMITH from “somewhere in the Pacific.” Raymond said he is going along fine; that he gets The Tribune and certainly appreciates it. The card he sent pictures a tropical scene that might have been duplicated in Florida.

July 15, 1943

RAYMOND SMITH, son of Mrs. Bert Hamilton, with the Seabees in the Pacific has been transferred “from where he was to where he is.” In a letter to his mother Raymond said he felt pretty sure he was on his way to the States for a leave, but “it turned out otherwise.”

September 2, 1943

Got a pretty picture postcard from RAYMOND SMITH (Seabee). The postcard scene showing "A native village in New Caledonia." But it looks as if it may have been made right here in Florida. Nothing else in the envelope with the card. (Thanks, Raymond. If, and when the censor will let you, send us more)

September 9, 1943

Another Flagler county service man has met up with a fellow citizen in the South Pacific area. This time RAYMOND SMITH in the Seabees ran into Ralph Novak, Navy man. A letter from RAYMOND this week informed us. And, incidentally, that Ralph is now a Boatswain Mate first class. RAYMOND goes on to say. "I understand there are several fellows from home over here." But he has not met any except Novak. He said he couldn't tell me very much, of course, but: "I can say we have beat the Monkeys' at their own game." This is a big job and you people just have patience, keeping in mind that "we will do the job and dam well too."

September 30, 1943

RAYMOND SMITH, Seabee, and stationed in the South Pacific, in a letter to his mother, Mrs. Bert Hamilton, said “I am now permitted to tell you where I was located far some time, and it was American Samoa.” He was transferred out of there several months ago. He sent his mother a negative of a photograph showing him in "my camouflage suit."

October 21, 1943

Seabee RAYMOND SMITH down in the South Pacific, writes home that ran into Woodrow Singleton from here recently. Raymond sent his mother Mrs. Bert Hamilton several folders of scenes of different islands in that area, including New Caledonia.

November 11, 1943

We saw some pictures of RAYMOND SMITH taken in a jungle camouflage suit. He is still in the Southwest Pacific, but looks good - and tough. However, he has been in a hospital for a short time but we understand he is out OK.

November 18, 1943

Seabee Herbert Anderson writes Mrs. Anderson here that he recently ran into RAYMOND SMITH and had chow with him. Also that he expects to see Ralph Novak before long.

December 9, 1943

RAYMOND SMITH, with the Seabees in the "Pacific" wrote his mother here that "I have received my Christmas present, and I hope to be home soon."

December 16, 1943

It sure is swell for so many of you fellows to remember us with Christmas greetings from "all over." We received just this week beautifully executed V- Mail Christmas greetings from S/Sgt. Alfred Tucker in England and from RAYMOND SMITH with the Seabees in the Southwest Pacific. In addition, Pfc. Owen O. Thomas sends us a nice one inscribed "Greetings to you up yonder from Down Under." Also Dan Dechman at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., AMM2/C Joe Tanner at Kingsville, Texas; Russell Thompson, coast guardsman, at West Palm Beach; Sgt. and Mrs. Andrew Thompson in California; Seabee Herbert Anderson (also down in the Southwest Pacific); Victor Cyzycki who is an air student at Amherst, Mass. Also one from a guy we haven't heard from in a long time - Dell Bradberry, in the army and at Vallejo. Thanks a million, fellows!

February 10, 1944

RAYMOND SMITH, with the Seabees in the South Pacific, wrote a very interesting letter to his mother, Mrs. R T. Hamilton, telling of a 10-day leave he had enjoyed in New Zealand during the Christmas holidays. He said he had met Emory Cowart (of Seville) and had enjoyed seeing him.

February 17, 1944

A letter this week from Machinist Mate RAYMOND SMITH of the Seabees In the Southwest Pacific area says: "I went down to New Zealand for a few days of much needed liberty. The people and the country can't be beat. The climate is very good and the hospitality is the very best.

We, as nations, should know each other better. I am sure both would benefit by it. Visited with families in the country and in the city and enjoyed all of the time with them. Their way of living is like the 'Old 'South' used to be."

Speaking of the chaplain with his outfit, Raymond continued, "He is a right guy to us fellows and I wish you could have heard his talk to a bunch of boots sent us, telling them what kind of an outfit we are and what is expected of them."

(Yes, Raymond, we ought to become better acquainted with our allies and establishment of better relations among us will be one of the jobs you fellows must do, also, when you get back home)

May 18, 1944

RAYMOND SMITH, out in the Pacific, writes his mother here that he is sending several souvenirs home, among them being a helmet that he took off of a Jap general because as Raymond put it “he won't be needing it any more.” Raymond added that he has been on the sick list but is better now.

June 22, 1944

Here's some news we regret to report: RAYMOND SMITH and Martin Harding, both Seabees in separate places in the South Pacific, are in separate hospitals. Don't know just what the trouble is.

June 29, 1944

RAYMOND SMITH, who has been with the Seabees in various places in the Pacific for about 18 months, and lately in a hospital out there, arrived in California a few days ago. He wired his mother that he had landed in the States "but nothing serious."

(Hope you'll be coming home soon, Raymond. We all will be glad to see you again.)

July 13, 1944

Seabee RAYMOND SMITH who was flown to Oakland, Calif. from the Southwest Pacific as a hospital case, has been flown on to a hospital in Washington, D.C. His mother here says Raymond has one of the tropical fevers, but the doctors have not yet determined the exact type. Here's hoping he'll be home soon and well.

July 27, 1944

Another Flagler county man, Seabee RAYMOND SMITH, who spent nearly two years in the Southwest Pacific, arrived at his home here last Thursday with a 30day sick leave. Raymond says that "it seems like a dream to really be home again."

Raymond said that he traveled by plane all the way to the States except for about 1500 miles on a hospital ship. After being sent to a hospital at Oakland, Calif., he was sent to a Washington, D.C. hospital.

When granted leave home he was lucky enough to snag a hop from Washington to Orlando. Raymond looks good but has one of the "tropical diseases"' and has to return to a hospital when his 1eave is up.

August 24, 1944

Another Southwest Pacific veteran, Machinist Mate RAYMOND SMITH, who also returned home for 30 days recently, has returned to a hospital at Bethesda, Md.

October 19, 1944

RAYMOND SMITH, MM/2C in the Sea bees, is home on a short leave from a hospital in Maryland. He was home not long ago from the same institution after arriving from the SW Pacific.

December 7, 1944

A letter from RAYMOND SMITH, still at National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland. Raymond said

"I have been to a couple of White House parties from Walter Reed and here. All of us had a very good time. Also have been to several football games - college and pros. The Redskins are from D.C., as you know, with Sammy Baugh being the main star on the team.

The doctors haven't found out anything yet about what to do for this one disease, but they are working on it and will, no doubt, find something to counteract the germ. At times I feel rather good and then - not so good. The doctors have sent a number back to duty of light work and limited to the United States.

I get rather tired looking at the doctors and they, no doubt, get tired of looking at me. If good food and rest will help me to get better, I should.”

(We hope you will snap out of that disease soon, and get back home too. In the meantime, take it easy.)

December 14, 1944

Right here we want to acknowledge, with thanks, volume 2, no 37, of the "Bunk to Bunk" newspaper of the Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, which was sent to us by RAYMOND SMITH, patient at the center for a number of months. In fact, since he was returned from the South Pacific. The sheet is very good and contains a lot of dope to help patients during their convalescence.

December 28, 1944

Well, Christmas has come and "went," and now 1945 is just around the corner for all of us. Let us hope all of us will be able to celebrate Christmas of 1945 together once again.

The editor of this column feels today about like "Father Time" looks, acknowledges with appreciation greeting cards from more of you fellows scattered around the world.

Other cards received included those from ........and Seabee RAYMOND SMITH at a naval hospital in Maryland.

Several of the fellows were fortunate enough to get home for Christmas, among them Howard Hunter, Alfred Tucker, Nathan Durrance, RAYMOND SMITH, Jack Clegg and Curtis Deen, although Smith and Deen have to return to the hospital shortly.

February 8, 1945

Seabee RAYMOND SMITH who has been a patient in a hospital in Maryland since he returned last year from the Pacific has been transferred to Davisville, R. I. , and writes:

"A few lines from up this way to let you know that it is as cold as a hoot owl. Ice and snow is everywhere.

A few yards from where I work is a big place for ice skating, if you like it. It is nice to watch them but don't think I would like to get busted - if you know what I mean.

Have been back on full duty since January 8. You see there isn't any more light duty, or so the horse doctors say. Anyway, it doesn't make much difference if you have light duty, full duty, limited duty, or no duty. With the flu you just do what you feel you can do and that's that. I've had a headache for seven days running and it will just have to wear off. Don't quite understand the Navy's attitude in regard to it. Of course there is a reason but what is they won’t say. Just give you the one, two, three - move.

I'm glad, however, that I'm working with some of my old crowd from the ex-crap shooters. First, there is H. B. Brake from Houston, Texas, who is in charge at present and is responsible for me working here. Then there is Ben Bright from Tennessee. We called him Tennessee Bright in the outfit and it has stuck with him all the way through. And, of late, we have a Chief Yeoman by the name of Hanover. He was in headquarter’s company while Blake and Bright and myself were in A company. They are real friends. Incidentally, what is the old saying, "A friend in need is a friend indeed'?

Being rushed as we are at present, we keep a crew of boots helping until they are drafted to an outfit and then we get a new crew at help. Therefore, the work isn't too bad.

I've had four different addresses but now I'm settled for a while so you can send the paper to this address.

Don't know when I will be down on leave again but look for me to pop up anytime as a big naval base is only a short distance from here. In fact it joins our base here at Endicott. I hear that they are expanding the field there at home. Hope I can get a job there after the squabble is over.

You might stress the point that a load of fresh vegetables loaded there at six in the afternoon would be on the early market for housewives the next morning anywhere up the East Coast; the farther up the better. The weather has to be really rough to stop a cargo plane. You should see some of the equipment they have to clear the runways. Some machines have a chipper and suction to cut the ice and snow and then deposit it in the body of a truck which hauls it off.

It seems like a dream that Howard isn't alive but some of us have to pay the price.

Heard over the radio last night that the fellows have taken Manila - and that ain't hay. Take good care of yourself."

(Thanks for the letter, and we hope you can "pop up" here soon.)

March 8, 1945

We had a short note this week from P. M. (Slim) Daniels, who left recently for training with the Seabees, giving us his address. He is at Davisville, R. I. and in the same camp where Seabee RAYMOND SMITH is now stationed.

March 29, 1945

Seabee RAYMOND SMITH from Camp Endicott, Davisville, R. I. is here on a short leave visiting his mother.

April 5, 1945

RAYMOND SMITH MM/1c with the Seabees at Camp Endicott, Rhode Island, has been home on a short leave, but has returned to camp. Raymond says he expects to be shipped out again sometime soon. He spent about two years in the Southwest Pacific before being returned to the States.

September 20, 1945

Well, another Flagler county fellow got home this week with that much prized paper - a discharge. He is RAYMOND SMITH, Seabee who spent many months in the SW Pacific during the early days of the war and in hospitals here most of the time for the past year.

October 11, 1945

...... the following men perhaps well known to you - are now just plain Mister Civilian. They have been given honorable discharges from Uncle Sam’s fighting forces ..... RAYMOND S. SMITH