William Cremin Smith, son of Bernard J. and Elenore Cremin Smith, a gentle and loving, deeply religious and devoted son, husband, and brother and proud member of the United States Air Force, was born in Chicago, IL. He had two sisters: Elenore E Sullivan, who was three years his elder; and Marie Therese Campbell, who was two years his junior.

Bill was raised in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and, later, in Oak Park, IL. During 1932-40, he attended private school from first through eighth grade at St. Catherine of Siena in Oak Park. He was an active member of the church's boys' choir and, later, the men's choir. Bill was a fine student and was popular among his peers. During 1940-44, he attended private high school at Fenwick High School, also in Oak Park. Baseball was his main passion, as parks and vacant lots were plentiful in those simpler times.

In 1944, after graduating from high school, Bill joined the Navy with his buddies and longtime friends. He served with the Navy until he was appointed to the Academy by Congressman O'Brien in 1945.

Upon appointment to West Point, Bill attended the pre-admission program at Amherst College. As a cadet, he was a member of the Catholic Chapel Choir and the family proudly watched a TV Christmas performance of the choir in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. On Graduation Day, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force, thanks to GEN Hap Arnold.

Bill's first postgraduate assignment was at Middletown AFB in Harrisburg, PA. He spent most weekends driving to Flushing, NY, to court Colette Mai, a flight attendant with United Airlines. The family was delighted because they were able to see Colette when she was flying through Chicago. Bill and Colette married on 9 Dec 1950 in the Catholic Chapel at West Point.

Bill always wanted to fly and was assigned to flight training at Bainbridge AFB in Bainbridge, GA, and later
Vance AFB in Enid, OK, where he received his wings. He was assigned to the Strategic Air Command with GEN Curtis LeMay at the helm. Bill was the youngest squadron commander to fly the KC-97 refueling aircraft.

His education continued at the Air Force's Institute of Technology at Wright Paterson AFB in Dayton, OH, where he received a master's degree in electrical engineering. When he was assigned to USAF System Command at Hanscom Field in 
Bedford, Bill and Colette lived in Lexington, MA. He then attended the Air Force CGSC in Montgomery, AL, and was sent to Hanscom Field thereafter.

On a perfect day, 19 Aug 1964, Bill and another West Point graduate pilot were routinely flying over Vermont when their jet trainer crashed outside of Springfield. Both pilots were killed. A woman wheeling her baby that day saw the plane overhead and thought it would come down into town. Instead, she watched as it veered off toward Mt. Ararat. She sent a letter to Colette explaining how grateful she was; she felt the pilots deliberately swerved to avoid the city.

Deeply religious, the motto "Duty, Honor, Country" truly applied to MAJ William Cremin Smith. Bill's twisted wedding ring was returned to Colette; his West Point ring was never recovered.

Bill was buried at Arlington National Cemetery after a full military funeral on 27 Aug 1964. On the same day, relatives and friends attended a memorial mass at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Oak Park.

At every base that Bill and Colette were assigned, they planted a tree. Hopefully, the trees continue to stand as a lasting tribute to MAJ William Cremin Smith.

MAY / JUNE 2002 A S S E M B L Y 179