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<em>Franklin Guest Smith,</em> known as “Cal” (for California) at West Point and thereafter, was born in Redlands, CA. In high school he was on the track and swim teams, and also organized one of the earliest high school golf teams in Southern California. He was vice president of his class, sports editor of the school paper, and he graduated in 1926.</p>
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At West Point Cal continued the family military line. A grandfather and an uncle (Class of 1892) had served with distinction as brigadier generals in the Army. Cal joined the swim team, choir, and played number one on the golf team. In December Yearling year, an academic blow struck when the final exam made him deficient in descriptive geometry and the faculty turned Cal back to the Class of ’33. Graduating high enough to choose the Field Artillery and being selected for flight training in the Army Air Corps were two gratifying events.</p>
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During pilot training in the Army Air Corps at Randolph Field, TX, the “wash-out” rate was high. Less than half of the 90 aspirants from Class of ’33 were awarded wings. Cal held out to the last before, as he used to say, “being declared a menace to the air” and was assigned to the E Battery, 12th Field Artillery (horse drawn) at Ft. Sam Houston. A private received $21 a month and after deductions, many wound up with a net of $2 or $3 and even less. Second lieutenants drew $125 a month and after installments on a car, Peal boots, mess bill, striker, and a gallon of $4 sugar whiskey, most were lucky to have $ 15 to $20 spending money for the rest of the month.</p>
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In 1935, he married Frances Elizabeth Cash. Soon orders were received and Cal was given a battery assignment in the 8th Field Artillery, Hawaiian Division, at Schofield Barracks, HI. His battery won the Knox Trophy for outstanding proficiency. While at Schofield son Franklin G. III arrived in 1936 and daughter Linda C. in 1937. Field Artillery School at Ft. Sill, OK, was the next assignment. By that time, nearly all Artillery units were fully motorized, although horseback riding was still required, and polo remained a popular sport on many posts. When instructors felt their students had overindulged in weekend celebrations, they resorted to a favorite discipline: assemble students in a riding ring with mounts, cross stirrups, and slow trot until their fogginess/hangovers had disappeared—at least in the instructor's opinion.</p>
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Months later, he was selected for CGSC at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Following graduation, he served at Headquarters, Third Army, in San Antonio, under GEN Krueger. The staff was composed of many whom later became famous officers: COLs Eisenhower, Grunther, Lutes, etc. At this time doctors confirmed son Franklin’s suspected congenital deafness. It was during these hectic and trying days that he and Frances divorced.</p>
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With the advent of WWII he was released in 1943 for overseas duty, where he played a major role in evacuating U.S. civilians held by the Japanese in Santo Tomas. He also took part in the joint planning of the invasion of Japan and had been assured command of one of the many task forces to be involved in that major operation that never took place. He was promoted to colonel in 1944 but always regretted not getting a combat assignment himself.</p>
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While in Brisbane, Australia, it was his good fortune to meet Ruth Douglas Walker, whom he married when the war was over in 1946. She adjusted well to a new life in a strange land and became an indespensible lifelong asset to Cal. He always felt that for any of his accomplishments with Ruth, she deserved a tremendous amount of the credit. Her highly diversified responsibilities always were carried out in exemplary fashion.</p>
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Cal’s first postwar assignment was General Staff duty for four years in the War Department staff at the Pentagon, during which time son Douglas Charles was born in 1947. Three years later, there followed interesting and responsible events: command of an artillery battalion at Ft. Sill; re-promotion to colonel; activating an Officer Candidate School as its commandant and graduating 14 classes; the Army War College in 1952; and serving, in 1953, an interesting tour in Ankara, Turkey, with the Joint American Military Mission as chief of Artillery and then G-3.</p>
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Mid-1955 found Cal at the Presidio of San Francisco as G-3, Sixth Army. One of his greatest challenges came in 1957 when he was selected to activate and command a unique missile command (MED) at Ft. Hood, TX. The missile command moved to Ft. Carson, CO, in 1959, winning many honors for overall proficiency and nuclear readiness. Three months later, Cal was nominated for promotion and assigned to the North American Air Defense Command as its first J-4. In 1961 he was sent to South Korea as commanding general of the I Corps (GP) Artillery.</p>
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In 1962, Cal returned to NORAD as deputy J-3 and retired one year later. Following retirement Cal became involved in numerous civic activities. Until his waning years, he held his love of sports, and actively participated in fishing, bird hunting, squash, and, of course, golf. He was senior champion of the Broadmoor Invitational in 1966, finalist in the Broadmoor Club 1972 Championship and, during the 80-year span, Cal had earned more than 160 various trophies. He stayed physically active to the very end, playing golf and working out at the gym twice a week.</p>
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Survivors are his wife Ruth; son Douglas; daughter Linda Passafiume; three granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; two nieces and a nephew.</p>
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Cal was a credit to his country, the military service, and the Long Gray Line. Yet his kind nature, sweet smile, strong voice, and boisterous laugh were at the essence of his personality. His immense sense of humor sustained him throughout his life and comforted all those he touched. He was at the very least, forever young, and we feel his absence deeply.</p>
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Rest in peace, Cal.</p>