Charles Robert Smilie (1919-2003)
Charles was born in Merino, Colorado. He worked as a farm hand and graduated from Merino High School in 1938. He also attended 1 year of college at Colorado A&M during his first year of service in the United States Army. He enlisted on September 1, 1938. He married Mary Currier in 1944. His wartime service includes:
• He served with the 179th field artillery from 11/12/1942-2/28/1943.
• He served with the 945th field artillery from 3/1/1943-6/21/1944.
• He served at Fort Sill from 6/22/1944-9/13/1944.
• He was a patient at Borden General Hospital from 9/14/1944-10/22/1944.
• He served at Fort Meade from 12/16/1944-6/30/1945.
• He served at Camp Adair from 7/19/1945-10/25/1945.
• He served at Camp Pickett from 11/23/1945-4/5/1946.
• He served in France and Germany from 5/13/1946-4/29/1949.
After returning stateside, he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Carson, Colorado. He was part of the team that developed containerized shipping for the United States Army. He was also stationed in Japan and Korea from 1/31/1952-7/21/1953 and Germany again from 9/12/1955-4/5/1958. He received the following awards and decorations:
• Good Conduct Medal
• American Defense Medal
• American Campaign
• World War II Victory Medal
• Army of Occupation Medal
• Army Combat Ribbon
• Korean Service Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Meritorious Unit Commendation
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal
After retiring as a major, he entered a new career working for H&R Block. He lived at 7723 S. Vine St. in Littleton, Co from 1962 until his death.
Father: William John Smilie
Mother: Florence Faye Sluyter
Spouse: Mary Gertrude Currier Son: David Keith Smilie Son: Kenneth Bruce SmilieBrother: William John Smilie
Brother: William "Bill" John SmilieSister: Emagene Smilie Mead
Sister: Florence Ellen Smilie
