Harry Alexander Smith

Harry A. Smith was born in Atchison, Kansas on 18 June 1866, a son of Henry A. Smith and Anna Isabel (Martin) Smith. His relatives included his mother's brother John Martin, who served as governor of Kansas from 1885 to 1889. After high school, he attended Kansas State University for two years and was employed as a collector for the Atchison Electric Light Company. While in college, he became a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He graduated in June 1891 ranked 39th of 65 and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry. Many of Smith's classmates went on to careers as general officers, including James Francis McIndoe, Jay Johnson Morrow, Lutz Wahl, William Payne Jackson, John L. Hines, John Jewsbury Bradley, and Hanson Edward Ely. Among his prominent classmates who did not become generals were Spencer Cosby and Charles DeLano Hine. ==Start of career==

Smith was initially assigned to the 1st Infantry Regiment and posted to Benicia Barracks, California. In June 1892 he was transferred to the post at Fort McDowell on Angel Island, California. In July 1893, he led the 1st Infantry's Company G as part of the army contingent that marched in San Francisco's Independence Day parade. In March 1896, he was posted to Topeka, Kansas as advisor, instructor, and inspector for the Kansas National Guard. He was promoted to first lieutenant in March 1898. The Spanish–American War commenced in April 1898 and in May, Smith was promoted to major of United States Volunteers. Assigned to the 21st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment, he aided in organizing and training the regiment in Topeka until June, then served with it during additional training at Camp Chickamauga, Georgia. In early September 1898, the 21st Kansas Infantry was assigned to duty at Camp Hamilton near Lexington, Kentucky. In late September, the regiment was transported back to Kansas and the soldiers remained on furlough until they were discharged in December. Smith was mustered out of the Volunteers on 10 December. ==Continued career==

Smith was assigned to duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from December 1898 to January 1899. He served as the commissary officer of the 5th Infantry Regiment from January 1900 until August 1900, when he returned to the United States and was posted to Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In February 1910, he was transferred to the 7th Infantry while continuing to serve on the Army Service Schools faculty and in March 1912 he was promoted to major in the 28th Infantry Regiment and assigned to Fort Snelling, Minnesota. From February to May 1916, Smith served on the Army General Staff in Washington, DC. From May 1916 to August 1917, he served with the 15th Infantry in Tientsin, China. He received promotion to lieutenant colonel in May 1917. ==Later career==

American entry into World War I occurred in April 1917; after returning from China, Smith received promotion to temporary colonel and served on the Army General Staff from August to November 1917. He served as assistant commandant of the Army War College until October 1922, and received promotion to colonel in October 1919 and brigadier general in October 1922. He died in Omaha on 26 May 1929. ==Awards==

Smith was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his World War I service. In addition, he was a recipient of: ==Dates of rank==

Smith's dates of rank were: • Second Lieutenant, 12 June 1891 • First Lieutenant, 5 March 1898 • Major, (United States Volunteers), 14 May 1898 • Captain, 17 September 1900 • Major, 2 March 1912 • Lieutenant Colonel, 15 May 1917 • Colonel (National Army), 5 August 1917 • Brigadier General (National Army), 26 June 1918 • Lieutenant Colonel, 31 August 1919 • Colonel, 11 October 1919 • Brigadier General, 10 May 1922 • Major General, 20 September 1926 ==References==