Lancaster Paratrooper In Invasion Forces Wounded

   Pfc. Willys H. Smith. 22. Army paratrooper of Lancaster was wounded in action in France either on D-Day June 6 or shortly thereafter.
   Pfc. Smith is the 64th Fairfielder reported wounded in this war, and the fourth casualty from Fairfield-co [county?] reported since the Allied invasion of Normandy last month.
   Pfc. Willys H. Smith wrote his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Elgin N. Smith, 507 North Broad-st Lancaster, on June 25, that he was wounded in France, and that he received the Purple Heart. The Smiths received their son's letter Saturday morning. The paratrooper did not reveal the date he was wounded or the extent or nature of his wounds. It was the first word the parents had from Pfc Smith since June 4.
   Pfc Smith has been evacuated from the combat sector to a hospital in England. Apparently. Smith took part in the D- Day invasion of France with other U. 5. paratroopers, who were flown across the English Channel in air transports and landed behind the enemy lines to cripple Nazi communications and pave the way for the ground forces to establish beach-heads.
   The Lancaster paratrooper landed in Ireland January 10, 1944, from the States, and was later sent to England for further training prior to D-Day.
   Pfc Smith was inducted Into the Army August 25, 1942, from Lancaster, and took his basic training at Camp Wheeler, Ga., then volunteered for service as a paratrooper, and was trained in that branch at Fort Benning, Ga, and at Camp Mackall, North Carolina.
   Before he was called into the service, Pfc. Smith worked at the Atlas Powder company, a war industry in Ravenna, O. He also was employed at one time at Anchor Hocking Glass, and attended L. H. S.
   As to the date Pfc was wounded, his parents have not been notified as yet by the War Department
  Friends who wish to correspond with this wounded soldier may obtain his correct mailing address from his parents.

[Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Lancaster, OH, 01 Jul 1944, Sat, Page 1]