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Lester H. Smith's personal log of his second of three trips across the Atlantic during WW I
Foreword by Alan Smith:
Enclosed is the personal log of Lester on his second trip from New York harbor to France delivering troops and cargo for the war effort.They traveled in convoy and you can see the ships involved the rules aboard ship were very strict because with a crew and soldiers aboard in the 3 to 4,000 nobody was permitted to put the entire ship in danger. Thus the severe punishments dished out. Oliver’s sister Evelyn was in the nurse’s corp. and in the early portions of Lester’s duties she was stationed in New York under going training for overseas duty. He always tried to get to see her whether on a turn around in New York or later in his turn arounds in France. He was extremely proud of what she was doing, but very concerned for her safety.
On one of Lester’s trips over to France on the Matsonia they were in a convoy in heavy weather in submarine waters running without any lights. Lester had to go to a lower deck on official business and he fell down one of the steel ladders between decks. He ended up on a hospital ship for several months and several operations to repair a double hernia in his stomach area. This accident gave him trouble the rest of his life and contributed to his high blood pressure.
He was married to Florence Mehring October 29, 1924 in Menominee, Michigan.
In February 1938 their new born son David died 2 days after birth.
April 11th or 12th 1938 Lester went into a Milwaukee hospital for a complete physical as a result of the war injury kicking up. They did all the tests gave him a clear bill to go back to work. The night before his discharge from the hospital he had a heart attack and died.
Strange: died- Lester at 47, Florence at 44, Carol at 46.
Virginia Smith (now Haack) comments:
Uncle Lester's "Log" while crossing the Atlantic was wonderful! Not only interesting from the insight into events happening in W W I, but especially to Lester's thoughts and feelings about his calling into Military Service, and Pride in his sister, Evelyn. I have not seen Lester's Obituary before, either. Thanks to Alan for this info to the Smith Family History Web Site.Editor's Note: Page 1 is indeed missing.
