▁awarded ▁the ▁Silver ▁Star ▁with ▁an ▁Oak - Le af ▁Cl uster ▁for ▁two ▁instances ▁of ▁bra very ▁while ▁serving ▁with ▁the ▁American ▁Ex ped ition ary ▁Force ▁( AE F ) ▁on ▁the ▁Western ▁Front . ▁He ▁was ▁sent ▁over se as ▁with ▁the ▁ 1 6 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment , ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Division ▁towards ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 7 , ▁later ▁being ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁ 4 th ▁Infantry ▁Division . ▁He ▁was ▁wounded ▁in ▁action ▁in ▁the ▁Me use - Arg onne ▁Off ensive ▁in ▁the ▁latter ▁half ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁and ▁served ▁in ▁occupation ▁duties ▁in ▁Germany ▁after ▁the ▁war . ▁ ▁Between ▁the ▁world ▁wars ▁his ▁duties ▁including ▁teaching ▁at ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Military ▁Academy ▁and ▁att ending , ▁and ▁then ▁instruct ing , ▁at ▁the ▁Command ▁and ▁General ▁Staff ▁School ▁at ▁Fort ▁Le aven worth , ▁Kansas . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Smith ▁was ▁a ▁temporary ▁colon el ▁when ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁entered ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁promoted ▁to ▁brig ad ier ▁general , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁an ▁assistant ▁division ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 7 6 th ▁Infantry ▁Division , ▁later ▁becoming ▁a ▁major ▁general ▁and ▁taking ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 7 th ▁Infantry ▁Division , ▁the ▁unit ▁charged ▁with ▁the ▁defense ▁of ▁the ▁outer ▁Hawai ian ▁Islands . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁the ▁ 2 7