Surnames: Smith, Huntizicker, Kurth, O’Neil, Johnson

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Wed, Jan 12, 2005

Smith, Herbert M. (9 May 1903 - 10 Jan. 2005) w/flag NEILLSVILLE -Herb M. Smith, 101, of Neillsville died Monday, Jan. 10, 2005, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. Military Rites will be accorded by the Neillsville Veterans Council. Interment will be in Neillsville City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday at Gesche Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church.

Herb Smith was born May 9, 1903, in Neillsville to William L. Smith Sr. and Olive (Huntizicker) Smith. In 1930, Herb and Dorothy Kurth were married. After Dorothy's death, Herb and Lorna O'Neil Johnson were married. He spent his active years in the telephone industry. The National Guard was another vital interest of Herb's. His original enlistment was in 1919. In 1941, Herb was transferred to the 126th Infantry and went to the Southwest Pacific area. He commanded the 2/126 in the trek over Owen-Stanley Mountains in New Guinea, leading up to the attack on Buna. He was wounded on Dec. 7, 1942, and retired from military service in 1944.

Herb is survived by a son, Jerry; and a daughter, Jean; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.