First Sergeant Frank Smetana
Frank Smetana was born on October 1st, 1892 in Pravonin, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. Information on his early life here is unknown, except that he was named after his father. Eventually, Frank immigrated to the United States on March 28th, 1910 to live with extended family in Chicago, Illinois. However, Frank’s job as a tailor was not exciting enough for him, so on April 11th, 1913, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was quickly sent to Mare Island, California for basic training.
USS South Dakota and the Veracruz Expedition Four months later, Pvt Smetana found himself aboard the USS South Dakota, steaming to Guaymas, Mexico for a short two month cruise there due to heightened tensions between the two countries. Upon returning to the US on January 1st, 1914, the entire marine detachment transferred over to the Marine Base at Puget Sound before Pvt Smetana joined the 25th Company of the brand new 4th Marine Regiment on April 16th, boarded the USS South Dakota once again, and left for Mexico on the 17th. The activation and mobilization of the 4th Marines was directly linked to deteriorating relations between the US and Mexico, specifically after nine American sailors were arrested at the port of Veracruz. President Woodrow Wilson ordered the occupation of the port and the interception of a weapons shipment intended for the Mexican military in retaliation. |
On April 28th, Pvt Smetana and the USS South Dakota arrived in Acapulco harbor, but were six days too late to participate in the battle which successfully captured Veracruz. Nevertheless, the Marines maintained their presence in Mexican waters throughout May and June of 1914, finally returning to California on July 10th, where Pvt Smetana disembarked with the 4th Marines in San Diego for a brief time of rest and reflection. Within his first year and a half of service, Smetana had experienced life on an armored cruiser, long sea voyages, witnessed the American occupation in Mexico, and with the start of a World War in Europe the same month, it appeared that his journey had only just begun.
China: USS Hankow and the Yangtze River Patrol
On November 5th, Pvt Smetana boarded the USAT Thomas, arrived in the Philippines a month later, and was then forwarded to further assignment in China. This would turn out to be with the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Helena beginning on January 25th, 1915. This was the beginning of a multi-year deployment as part of the Yangtze River Patrol to protect American interests in the Shanghai International Settlement. The USS Helena patrolled from Hankow, Shanghai, and Nanking regularly, with short breaks for marksmanship qualifications. Pvt Smetana would distinguish himself in this regard, earning a $10 prize for the Ship’s Rifle Team in February 1916, the Navy Expert Team Rifle Medal, 1st prize for the ship’s secondary battery, and qualified as a Navy First Class SGP by November 1916. Their biggest achievement in China was winning the Navy’s battle effectiveness competition, earning each member of the USS Helena the coveted Navy Battle “E” patch, signifying that they demonstrated the highest levels of battle readiness.
After a long and accomplished deployment overseas, Pvt Smetana returned to the United States on February 12th, 1917 to be stationed in Mare Island, California, and being promoted to Corporal on the 28th. With the end of his first enlistment quickly approaching, Corporal Smetana extended his enlistment on April 10th, was awarded a Good Conduct Medal for excellent character, and granted three months of leave to return to his family for the first time in years. After eagerly sharing stories of experiences in Mexico and China, Frank reported back to his unit in mid July, then was promoted to Sergeant, and transferred to the 8th Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia on September 28th.
Mexican Border
Instead of mobilizing overseas now that the United States entered World War One, the 8th Regiment instead headed to Fort Crockett, Texas in November to guard nearby oil fields from potential attacks by Mexican bandits. During Corporal Smetana’s eight month stay at the border, he qualified as a marksman and expert rifleman while also experiencing a brand new area and culture. On August 4th, he finally returned to Virginia and one month later, transferred to the USS Pennsylvania as part of its marine detachment.
USS Pennsylvania
Additionally, Smetana was promoted to First Sergeant on September 24th, and due to both officers on the ship being sick, commanded the detachment while foreign naval officers, including Japanese Vice Admiral Isamu Takeshita and Russian Vice Admiral Alexander Kolchak visited the ship during the same month as part of a naval review. 1st Sgt Smetana continued to have command until November 10th, one day prior to the Armistice that ended World War One for good. During December, the USS Pennsylvania acted as the escort for the ship carrying President Woodrow Wilson to peace negotiations in France, arriving at Brest on the 13th, and returning to the US to take part in victory celebrations shortly after. The beginning of 1919 took the USS Pennsylvania on patrol to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Trinidad before dropping off 1st Sgt Smetana for duty at the Marine Barracks, Quantico Virginia on July 21st.
Home
Finally, on August 7th, 1919, Sgt Smetana was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps for convenience of the government, and returned to Chicago, Illinois. In 1922, Frank married Frances Cerny and worked as a janitor, and later as a tailor to save enough money to purchase a house for his wife and two daughters. By the 1940’s, Frank had got a more comfortable job at the Stanford Williams Company as an accountant. For the rest of his life, Frank remained in Chicago, passing away on March 11th, 1972.
China: USS Hankow and the Yangtze River Patrol
On November 5th, Pvt Smetana boarded the USAT Thomas, arrived in the Philippines a month later, and was then forwarded to further assignment in China. This would turn out to be with the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Helena beginning on January 25th, 1915. This was the beginning of a multi-year deployment as part of the Yangtze River Patrol to protect American interests in the Shanghai International Settlement. The USS Helena patrolled from Hankow, Shanghai, and Nanking regularly, with short breaks for marksmanship qualifications. Pvt Smetana would distinguish himself in this regard, earning a $10 prize for the Ship’s Rifle Team in February 1916, the Navy Expert Team Rifle Medal, 1st prize for the ship’s secondary battery, and qualified as a Navy First Class SGP by November 1916. Their biggest achievement in China was winning the Navy’s battle effectiveness competition, earning each member of the USS Helena the coveted Navy Battle “E” patch, signifying that they demonstrated the highest levels of battle readiness.
After a long and accomplished deployment overseas, Pvt Smetana returned to the United States on February 12th, 1917 to be stationed in Mare Island, California, and being promoted to Corporal on the 28th. With the end of his first enlistment quickly approaching, Corporal Smetana extended his enlistment on April 10th, was awarded a Good Conduct Medal for excellent character, and granted three months of leave to return to his family for the first time in years. After eagerly sharing stories of experiences in Mexico and China, Frank reported back to his unit in mid July, then was promoted to Sergeant, and transferred to the 8th Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia on September 28th.
Mexican Border
Instead of mobilizing overseas now that the United States entered World War One, the 8th Regiment instead headed to Fort Crockett, Texas in November to guard nearby oil fields from potential attacks by Mexican bandits. During Corporal Smetana’s eight month stay at the border, he qualified as a marksman and expert rifleman while also experiencing a brand new area and culture. On August 4th, he finally returned to Virginia and one month later, transferred to the USS Pennsylvania as part of its marine detachment.
USS Pennsylvania
Additionally, Smetana was promoted to First Sergeant on September 24th, and due to both officers on the ship being sick, commanded the detachment while foreign naval officers, including Japanese Vice Admiral Isamu Takeshita and Russian Vice Admiral Alexander Kolchak visited the ship during the same month as part of a naval review. 1st Sgt Smetana continued to have command until November 10th, one day prior to the Armistice that ended World War One for good. During December, the USS Pennsylvania acted as the escort for the ship carrying President Woodrow Wilson to peace negotiations in France, arriving at Brest on the 13th, and returning to the US to take part in victory celebrations shortly after. The beginning of 1919 took the USS Pennsylvania on patrol to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Trinidad before dropping off 1st Sgt Smetana for duty at the Marine Barracks, Quantico Virginia on July 21st.
Home
Finally, on August 7th, 1919, Sgt Smetana was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps for convenience of the government, and returned to Chicago, Illinois. In 1922, Frank married Frances Cerny and worked as a janitor, and later as a tailor to save enough money to purchase a house for his wife and two daughters. By the 1940’s, Frank had got a more comfortable job at the Stanford Williams Company as an accountant. For the rest of his life, Frank remained in Chicago, passing away on March 11th, 1972.