Funeral of Donald Eugene Smith
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| Donald E. Smith |
Over the past six decades, there have certainly been hundreds of funerals in the Ninth Ward chapel. Scores of them were mentioned in the records of the ward. I find even the most inspirational and uplifting funerals to be heartbreaking. Still, this entry in the manuscript history caught my attention. Donald E. Smith was killed in Vietnam leaving behind his wife and four children. I wondered if I could learn more about this family.
Historians strive to be detached, objective observers. Yet as I put together the lives of the Smiths, I felt as though I was treading on holy ground. I was wondering what to share and didn't want approach this post as though I was analyzing characters in a novel. Nor do I feel that I should pontificate on some grand realization that will help us all live better, more meaningful lives. Many ward members may remember Donald Smith's widow, Grace. While it appears as though she lived in the 9th Ward for only a short time, she lived in the Bountiful Stake the remainder of her life.
The Deseret News ran three articles on the death of Donald Smith in November of 1964. One of them noted that he was the first Utahn and 224th American killed in Vietnam. The escalation of the war started the following year.
In FamilySearch can be found a personal history written by Grace Smith Knighton. I was touched as I learned more about this woman and her first husband, Don. I hope this small effort to learn her story and remember her will inspire us all to strive to help our fellow travelers through life and to be a little bit more kind, patient, and loving with each other as people face their own, unique challenges.
Glenn Goodrich shared with me this morning, "Alan, I knew Grace Knighton very well, and we kept in touch occasionally, even after she lived in the Third Ward. I knew her second husband Calvin Knighton , and was pleased when they married. I only met Don Smith once when he was home on leave from the army. He was a big man. Very pleasant and kind. I learned that he and others were driving a jeep and ran over a mine planted in the roadway which killed them. I worked with her in the grieving process, but I don't remember a funeral service. He was a big man and a master sergeant, if I recall correctly. There was a lot of attention given to his death, because it was the first in the beginning of the Vietnam war. I may think of more but that's about it for now. It was a tragedy at the time, but she seemed happy afterwards in her marriage. Glenn."
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