Bower Brothers Coffee and Tea - Lewis Earl Smith, WWI Veteran

Lewis Earl Smith from Henrico, Virginia was born September 6, 1895. He received his preparatory education at Richmond Academy. He was a part of the Masonic Junior Order of United American Mechanics and he was a bank clerk at the First National Bank in Richmond, Virginia.

On June 25, 1918, Lewis enlisted as a private in the United States National Army. In his recollections, he notes the locations of his service, but not the division numbers. Originally assigned to Camp Lee, Smith was transferred to a National Guard Battalion from Washington State. He was with the Military Police for only for a week before being transferred to a Supply Company where he finished out the rest of his service both at home and abroad. 

He embarked on the S.S. Princess Matoika from Norfolk, Virginia on August 22. Two weeks later he arrived at Brest, France, eventually finding his way to Belleville, France on September 26th, 1918, where he was stationed at the headquarters at Belleville. However he says he was “billeted at Thiaucourt most of the time,” stating this is where supplied hospitals on the front lines with ammunition and food. Thiaucourt and Belleville are roughly 3 hours away from each other by car. He participated in the Moselle Offensive and the Defense of the Marbache Sector.

Smith arrived back in the U.S. in Boston, Massachusetts, and was officially discharged from service from Camp Lee, Virginia. He states this was on June 5, 1918, however as his enlistment date was June 25, 1918. It is likely that he meant 1919.

While he did not fight at the front, he spent most of his time delivering supplies in the trenches. Smith does not record negative reactions to the war. He states that he was “impressed to the extent that” he “will never forget.” He offered that his experience “broadened me out in many ways” and remained very optimistic that the soldiers “made the best of it.” He claims that he “was satisfied all the way through" but qualifies this suggesting, "I mean by satisfied was willing to go when called.” It is unclear if he was drafted or if you felt the urge to serve his country.

Following the war, Lewis returned as a bank clerk. In 1943, he applied to join the Sons of the American Revolution - an organization for men who can confirm they are related to a American Revolution Patriot. He died at age 57 on August 6th, 1953. He worked at Bowers Brothers Coffee and Tea at the time of his death. Lewis is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Smith, Lewis Earl. War History Commission State of Virginia Military Service Record. Library of Virginia, Virginia War

History Commission.