[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[EXTE]
[Pages 16922-16923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       HONORING AN AMERICAN HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and a privilege today 
to remember and pay tribute to a great American and a good friend, 
Allen Gordon Smith Sr., of Diana, TX, who died on April 21 of this 
year. Mr. Smith was an American war hero, a prisoner of war, and an 
outstanding citizen of East Texas. His influence on his community and 
his friends and family will be felt for many years to come, and his 
dignity shall not be diminished by time.
  In October 1939, Mr. Smith voluntarily joined the U.S. Army Air Corps 
at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana--a decision that would change 
his life. He became a member of the 27th Bomb Group of the 16th 
Squadron. The group was sent to the Philippines, landing in November 
1941. Mr. Smith was captured by the Japanese on April 9, 1942, at the 
fall of Bataan. He survived the infamous Bataan Death March and spent 
42 months in Japanese prisoner of war camps. No words could adequately 
tell his story about this experience--so suffice it to say that he 
emerged from the war as a true American hero and a strong advocate for 
veterans.
  Mr. Smith was a leader and a life-time member of the American Ex-
Prisoners of War as well as the Disabled American Veterans. He served 
two terms as national director of the American Ex-Prisoners of War and 
one term as commander of the Department of Texas Ex-Prisoners of War. 
He also was a Veterans Administration Service officer, in which 
capacity he worked on behalf of fellow veterans. His distinguished 
service in defense of our Nation and in support of veterans will be 
long remembered.
  Following his service in the war, Mr. Smith returned to Longview and 
married Helen Florence Jones on November 22, 1946. He attended the 
University of Houston. In 1956, Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Diana, 
where they devoted much of their time working with the youth in their 
community. They served on a governor-appointed committee to work with 
youth in Upshur, Camp, and Wood Counties, and Mr. Smith served on the 
board of directors for Baseball for Boys in East Texas. Mr.

[[Page 16923]]

Smith also worked with youth through the Cub Scouts and the 4-H Club.
  After 24 years of service, Mr. Smith retired from Lone Star Steel. He 
was a member of the Judson Road Church of Christ in Longview.
  Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Helen; his son and daughter-in-
law, Allen Jr. and Elayne Smith; his daughter and son-in-law, Daneila 
Smith Woods and John Woods; four granddaughters and grandsons-in-law; 
one grandson and granddaughter-in-law; two great-granddaughters; four 
step-great-grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Julia and Robert 
Crowder; a brother and sister-in-law, Alvin and Patsy Smith; and a 
number of other relatives and friends.
  Mr. Speaker, Allen Gordon Smith was a man of dignity and honor who 
lived a distinguished life in service to his country, his community, 
and to his family and fellow citizens. He was a wonderful role model to 
many children in East Texas, and his influence will be felt for 
generations to come. Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in remembering, honoring, and paying our last 
respects to this outstanding American--Allen Gordon Smith, Sr.

                          ____________________