Hollis R. Smith WWII Soldier
Hollis R. Smith, WWII soldier returns home for burial.
The Smith family of Cove, Polk CO., AR will finally be able to bury their loved one who has been missing in action since World War II.
The armed forces found Technical Sergeant Hollis R. Smith's remains in New Guinea 67 years later. He was deployed there on a mission when he vanished back in 1943.Smith's remains are headed back to Cove, Arkansas to be buried with full military honors.
Until now, Smith's family never knew what happened. About a month ago Boyd Smith received a phone call from the United States Armed Forces saying they found his uncle's remains in New Guinea. Even though the years passed, Boyd's father and grandmother never stopped looking.
Boyd never got the chance to meet his uncle, but knew plenty about him thanks to family stories. Boyd's late father always had Smith's picture hanging in the house.
After nearly 70 years, Smith finally gets to go home. His remains arrived today November 18, 2010in Little Rock. The Arkansas Patriot Guard will escort the remains back to Polk County.
Funeral services for Technical Sergeant Hollis Smith will take place Monday, November 21 at 2 p.m. in Mena, AR.. The family plans to bury Smith in Cove next to his parents in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.