Our Military Heritage
A long and honorable past.
Serving their Counties
The "Czech or Moravian" side of the family came to America between 1875 and 1904. Any military service would have been as part of the "Austro-Hungarian Empire" or later in WWI and WWII. our great-grandfather served in the Empire's military from Oct 1895 to Oct 1898 in the “Train Division” of wagons and horses. Once in the states, many registered for the draft, and several have served in the military since then, including WWI and WWII.
The Smith side of the family is much more complex. They come from several "old" family lines that served in the military from the Revolutionary War onward. These families include the Smith, Pack, Wheeler, Garrett, Bloss, Ramey, Ware, Harrison and more.
I will attempt to share some of their stories and a general history of their service both in the "old country" as well as their new homes in America.
Military Service Timeline
Revolutionary War – The War of Independence
Revolutionary War
The Fight for Independence
Hopefully no one needs a lot of introduction to the Revolutionary War, also known as The War of Independence. War began on April 19, 1775 when local militia at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts engaged the British. Forty-nine (49) Americans died in those two battles that day.
Several of our ancestors served in this fight for our independence:
Family Members Who Served – American Revolution
- Valentine Bloss
- Daniel Bloss
- Robert Garrett
- Benjamin Harrison (possible ancestor)
- George Pack
- Samuel Pack
- Isaac Smith Jr.
- George Stovall Smith
- Henry Ware
- James Moses Wheeler
- Jesse Wheeler
- Oliver Wheeler
Read more about our Revolutionary War ancestors
War of 1812 – The Second War of Independence
War of 1812
The Second War of Independence
The War of 1812, sometimes called the "Second War of Independence," was fought between the United States and Great Britain. The war had multiple causes including British interference with American trade, impressment of American sailors, and British support for Native American tribes resisting American expansion.
Family Members Who Served – Britain Again
- Remy/Ramey
- Wheeler Brothers
- George Washington Pack Jr.
Civil War —Brother Against Brother
Civil War
The War Between the States
The American Civil War was fought between the Union (Northern states) and the Confederacy (Southern states). Several of our ancestors served in this conflict, with most fighting for the Confederacy as they lived in Virginia and other Southern states.
Family Members Who Served – The Civil War
- Bloss
- Garretts
- Pack
- Wheelers
- James Washington Smith
Read more about our Civil War Ancestors
World War I —The Great War
World War I
The War to End All Wars
World War I, known as "The Great War" at the time, was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. The United States entered the war in 1917 after years of neutrality.
Family Members Who Served —The Fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- John Martin Smith (June 5, 1917 – xxxx)
Read more about our WWI ancestors
World War II —The Greatest Generation
World War II
The Greatest Generation
World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, involving more than 30 countries and resulting in more than 50 million deaths. The United States entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Family Members Who Served —Defeating the Nazis
- Raymond Anthony Cernik (July 24, 1944 – April, 1946)
- Eugene Filmere Smith (1942 – xxxx)
- Samuel Aubrey Smith (December 12, 1941 – June 14, 1946)
Read more about our WWII ancestors
Korean War —The Forgotten War
Korean War
The Forgotten War
The Korean War is often called "The Forgotten War" because it came between the more widely remembered World War II and Vietnam War. It was fought between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the United Nations, primarily the United States).
Family Members Who Served —The War with NO Winner
- Donald Keith Smith (February 28, 1948 – February 29, 1952)
Read more about our Korean War veterans
Post World Wars —Continuing to Serve
Post World Wars
Continuing the Tradition of Service
Following the major world wars, members of our family have continued to serve in the United States Armed Forces during peacetime and various conflicts including Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, and the War on Terror.
Family Members Who Served —The Fight Continues
- David Allen Smith (March 17, 1972 – March 15, 1976)
- Dale Robert Smith (May 7, 1983 – April 30, 2004)
- Benjamin Tyler Robert Smith (xxx ##, zzzz – xxx ##, zzzz)
Read more about our modern service members
Related Resources
James Washington Smith
Our 2nd-great-grandfather who fought for the Confederacy in Company K, VA 8th Cavalry (Big Sandy Rangers).
Read Story →
Ray's WWII Story
The story of Ray Cernik's service in Patton's army during World War II, from enlistment to returning home.
Read Story →
Donald Keith Smith
Stories of Donald Keith Smith, including his service during the Korean War.
Read Story →
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