Jonas Elmer Smith
Normally, I transcribe the various newspapers articles about the military career, death and burial for these posts. For this post, I did collect and transcribe the various newspaper articles. Instead of just pasting that information here, I decided to ask ChatGPT for some help.
In order to give ChatGPT some information to work with, I created a PDF file from my notes.
Then I asked ChatGPT to write a narrative of Jonas Smith’s military service, death and burial using the information in the file.
Below is the narrative written by ChatGPT for Jonas Smith:
Jonas Elmer Smith was born on August 5, 1918, in Kansas. He graduated from Vermillion High School in 1938 and later enlisted in the military. His initial service included time at Fort Grady in the Coast Guard’s Balloon Barrage department, as noted in a January 1943 report.
By August 1943, Jonas was on furlough from Camp Tyson, Tennessee, visiting family in Salina, Kansas. His military career progressed, and he served with the 291st Infantry Company, 75th Division. He had been in service for over three years and was deployed to the European theater in November 1944.
On January 24, 1945, Jonas E. Smith was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. His death was a significant loss to his family, including his wife Betty Jean Smith, their son Maurice, his parents Roy E. and Harriet Smith, one brother, and three sisters. The family received the tragic news via a telegram from the War Department on February 12, 1945.
Following his death, memorial services were held in his honor. On July 5, 1945, a memorial service took place at the Presbyterian Church, with Rev. A. M. McInnis of Frankfort officiating. Initially buried in Belgium, Jonas’s remains were later returned to the United States. In November 1948, the body of T/4 Jonas E. Smith arrived in New York aboard the U.S. Army transport Carroll Victory, alongside the remains of 7,572 other American soldiers.
His body was then transported to the American Graves Registration Distribution Center in Kansas City before being sent to Vermillion, Kansas, for burial. On December 6, 1948, a service was held at the Presbyterian Church in Vermillion, where he was buried with full military honors, with the American Legion assisting in the service.
Jonas Elmer Smith is remembered for his service and sacrifice, and he is buried in Vermillion Cemetery, Kansas. His dedication and bravery in the line of duty remain a lasting tribute to his commitment to his country.
My next prompt asked ChatGPT if it could create a list of the sources used. Not only did it pull the source info that I had provided but it included a short description of the information in the source.
Certainly! Here is a list of the sources used for the narrative of Jonas Elmer Smith:
- Find a Grave
- Information on birth, death, and burial location: Vermillion Cemetery.
- Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) – 21 Jan 1943, page 10
- Mention of Jonas Smith serving in the Ft. Grady Coast Guard’s Balloon Barrage department.
- Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) – 23 Aug 1943, page 4
- Details about Jonas Smith on furlough from Camp Tyson, Tennessee, visiting family in Salina.
- The Frankfort Index (Frankfort, Kansas) – 22 Feb 1945, page 1
- Notification of Jonas E. Smith’s death in action on January 24, 1945, in Belgium, including family details.
- Marysville Advocate (Marysville, KS) – 22 Feb 1945, page 1
- Report on Jonas E. Smith’s death, service details, and family information.
- Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) – 22 Feb 1945, page 9
- Article on Jonas E. Smith’s death in the Belgian Battle, service record, and family survivors.
- The Frankfort Index (Frankfort, KS) – 5 Jul 1945, page 8
- Announcement of the memorial service for Jonas Elmer Smith held at the Presbyterian Church.
- Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) – 12 Jul 1945, page 5
- Report on memorial services held for Jonas Smith and his burial in Belgium.
- Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) – 18 Nov 1948, page 8
- Announcement of the return of Jonas Smith’s body to the U.S. and the arrival of the transport Carroll Victory.
- Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) – 22 Nov 1948, page 5
- Information on the body en route home to Vermillion for burial and services.
- Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) – 22 Nov 1948, page 1
- Formal announcement of the return of Jonas Smith’s body, his military service, and death.
- The Marysville Advocate (Marysville, KS) – 25 Nov 1948, page 6
- Notification of the arrival of Jonas Smith’s remains in New York and the planned return to Vermillion.
- Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) – 16 Dec 1948, page 12
- Report on the services held in Vermillion for Jonas Smith and his burial with full military honors.
- The Frankfort Index (Frankfort, KS) – 23 Dec 1948, page 7
- Additional details on the services and military honors for Jonas Elmer Smith in Vermillion.
These sources provide a comprehensive view of Jonas Smith’s military service, death, and subsequent burial, documenting his dedication and sacrifice for his country.
After this experiment, I will likely be using ChatGPT to create narratives for these Purple Heart posts in the future!
Below is the newspaper transcriptions used for the above narrative.
Jonas Elmer Smith
Find a Grave
Born 5 Aug 1918 – Kansas
Died 24 Jan 1945 – Vielsalm Arrondissement de Bastogne, Luxembourg, Belgium
Buried: Vermillion Cemetery
Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) 21 Jan 1943, page 10
Vermillion
Sergeant Jonas Smith is in the Ft Grady Cost Guard. He is in the Balloon Barrage department.
Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 23 Aug 1943, page 4
The text from the image reads:
“Mr. and Mrs. Roy Smith, Earl and Nellie Marie, Robert and Donald Green, and Mrs. Elmer Smith visited last week at Salina with Sgt. and Mrs. Jonas Smith. Sgt. Smith was on furlough from Camp Tyson, Tennessee.”
The Frankfort INdex (Frankfort, Kansas) 22 Feb 1945, page 1
VERMILLION BOY KILLED
Mrs Betty Jean Smith, Salina, received a telegram from the War Department Feb. 12th, stating that her husband, Sgt. Jonas E. Smith, was killed in action, January 24th in Belgium, according to the Seneca Courier-Tribune.
Sgt. Smith, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Smith, Centralia, was 26 years old. He graduated from Vermillion high school in 1938. The young soldier had been in the service for more than three years and in the European Area since November of last year. He is survived by his wife and son, Maurice, Salina, his parents at Centralia and one brother and three sisters.
Marysville Advocate (Marysville, KS) 22 Feb 1945, page 1
“KILLED IN BELGIUM
Sgt. Jonas E. Smith, Vermillion High Graduate, is Killed
Mrs. Betty Jean Smith, Salina, received a telegram from the War Department February 12 stating that her husband, Sgt. Jonas E. Smith, was killed in action January 24 in Belgium.
Sergeant Smith, eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Smith, Centralia, was 26 years old. He was graduated from Vermillion high school in 1938. He had been in service for more than three years and in the European area since last November.
Surviving are his wife and son, Maurice, Salina, his parents; one brother, and three sisters.”
Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) 22 Feb 1945, page 9
“Former Vermillion Man Is Killed In Belgian Battle
Sgt. Jonas E. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Smith, Centralia, formerly of Vermillion, was killed in action January 24, in Belgium, the War department notified his wife in Salina February 12.
A graduate of Vermillion high school in 1938, he had been in service for more than three years, and had been in the European area since November of 1944. He is survived by his wife and son, Maurice, Salina, his parents at Centralia, one brother and three sisters.”
The Frankfort Index (Frankfort, KS), 5 Jul 1945, page 8
A memorial service for the late Jonas Elmer Smith, who was killed in action in Belgium, will be held at the Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon at 2:30. Rev. A. M. McInnis of Frankfort will officiate.
Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) 12 Jul 1945, pge 5
Memorial services were held in the Presbyterian church Sunday for Sgt. JOnas Smith who died in the service for his country. He is buried n Belgium
Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) 16 Dec 1948, page 12
Services were held in the Presbyterian church, December 6 for Jonas Elmer Smith, son of MR. and Mrs. Roy Smith. Jonas gave his life for his country and his body was returned form overseas. He was given full military honors.
Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 18 Nov 1948 page 8
“Return Body of Jonas Smith
Wednesday’s Kansas City Star listed among the soldier dead being returned to the States, that of T/4 Jonas E. Smith, son of Roy E. Smith of Centralia. The arrival of the transport Carroll Victory at New York has been announced, bearing the bodies of 7,572 Americans who lost their lives during World War II.”
Marshall County News (Marsyville, KS), 22 Nov 1948, page 5
Body Enroute Home
Word has been received at Vermillion that the body of T-4 Jonas E. Smith has arrived at New York aboard the US Army Transport Carroll Victory. Remains of the World War II veteran will be sent from the American Graves Registration Distribution Center at Kansas City to Vermillion for military burial and services. The W. D. Smith funeral home at Vermillion will be in charge.
Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 22 Nov 1948, page 1
“Announce Return of Body of T/4 Jonas Smith
Jonas E. Smith
Formal announcement was received Saturday, from the American Graves Registration distribution center at Kansas City, of the arrival at New York of the remains of the late T/4 Jonas E. Smith, aboard the U. S. Army transport Carroll Victory. It was stated the body would be forwarded later through the Kansas City center to Vermillion, where W. D Smith is the designated funeral director.
Jonas E. Smith, the son of Roy E. and Harriet Smith, Centralia, lost his life on January 24, 1945, in the battle of the Belgian bulge. He served with the 291st infantry Co., 75th division.”
The Marysville Advocate (Marysville, KS), 25 Nov 1948, page 6
Body Of Jonas A. Smith Back To Vermillion
Roy E. Smith, Centralia, has been notified of the arrival of the remains of the late T/3 Jonas A. Smith from Europe aboard the US Army Transport Carroll Victory scheduled to reach New York, November 16.
The deceased will be returned to Vermillion for burial from the American Graves Registration Distribution Center in Kansas City, Mo., accompanied by individual military escort
Marshall County News (Marysville, KS) 16 Dec 1948, page 12
Services were held in the Presbyterian church, December y for Jonas Elmer Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Smith. Jonas gave his life for his country and his body was returned from overseas. He was given full military honors.
The Frankfort Index (Frankfort, KS) 23 Dec 1948, page 7
VERMILLION NEWS
By Miss Adeline Stewart
(Last week’s Items)
Services were held in the Presbyterian church Monday, Dec. 6th for Jonas Elmer Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Smith. Roy gave his life for his country while fighting overseas. His body was returned and he was given full military honors. The American Legion assisted in the service.