Smith (b. 1919) was born in Graybull, Wyoming. He discusses his childhood, family, schooling, jobs and the Depression. He joined the Army in September 1939, received training on Angel Island near San Francisco, California, and was later shipped to Hawaii. He first worked in the chemical warfare office before taking assignment in the finance office, where he was working when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He attended Officer Candidate School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was subsequently assigned to Camp Lockett, California, in disbursement, until he was discharged in September 1945. Interviewed by Becky Lloyd.