Walter Bedell Smith
Walter Bedell Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 5th of October 1895. He grew up as the elder of two sons to William Long Smith and Ida Francis Bedell. His father worked as a silk buyer for the Pettis Dry Goods Company while his mother also worked there. The family name became "Bedle" or "Beetle" during his boyhood. British sources sometimes hyphenated it as Bedell-Smith. He attended St. Peter and Paul School and Public Schools #10 and #29 before moving to Oliver Perry Morton School. At Emmerich Manual High School he studied to become a machinist. He took a job at the National Motor Vehicle Company and left high school without graduating. Smith earned enough credits to graduate but did not receive his diploma until 1945. He enrolled at Butler University but left when his father developed serious health problems. He returned home to support his family through work.
Smith enlisted as a private in Company D of the 2nd Indiana Infantry of the Indiana National Guard in 1911. The Indiana National Guard responded to the Ohio River flood twice in 1913. During the Pancho Villa Expedition he served on the staff of the Indiana National Guard. He was promoted to corporal and then sergeant. With the army expanding for World War I, his flood work led to officer training nomination in 1917. He graduated from the Officers Candidate Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison on the 27th of November 1917. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Organized Reserve Corps. His regiment joined the 4th Division which trained at Camp Greene, North Carolina. The division reached Brest, France on the 23rd of May 1918 after embarking from Hoboken, New Jersey on the 9th of May. The 4th Division entered front lines in June 1918 and joined the Aisne-Marne Offensive on the 18th of July 1918. Smith was wounded by shell fragments during an attack two days later. He was returned to the United States because of his wounds. He served with the U.S. Department of War's General Staff and was assigned to the Military Intelligence Division.
General George C. Marshall became Army Chief of Staff in September 1939. He brought Smith to Washington, D.C. to assist the secretary of the General Staff. This role involved records, paperwork, statistics collection, analysis, liaison, and administration. Smith liaised with Major General Edwin Pa Watson, senior military aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on the 4th of May 1941 and then to colonel on the 30th of August 1941. On the 1st of September Colonel Orlando Ward received command of the 1st Armored Division. Smith became secretary of the General Staff. The Arcadia Conference held December 1941 and January 1942 mandated creation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Smith was named its secretary on the 23rd of January 1942. That conference also created the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Brigadier Vivian Dykes provided secretarial arrangements initially but Marshall wanted an American secretariat. He appointed Smith as secretary of both bodies. Since Dykes was senior in service time, Smith was promoted to brigadier general on the 2nd of February 1942. He assumed the new post a week later with Dykes as deputy. Their partnership built the organization to coordinate war efforts among allies including Canadians, Australians, French and others.
Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower requested Smith be sent from Washington as his chief of staff when appointed commander of European Theater Operations in June 1942. Smith took over as chief of staff at Allied Forces Headquarters on the 15th of September 1942. Reporting to him were two deputy chiefs of staff: Brigadier General Alfred Gruenther and Brigadier John Whiteley. Also reporting was Chief Administrative Officer Major General Humfrey Gale. AFHQ moved to Algiers in November and December 1942 with Smith arriving on the 11th of December. Although authorized strength was only 700, Smith aggressively expanded it. By January 1943 its American component alone reached 1,406 men and women. Its strength eventually topped 4,000. As chief-of-staff he zealously guarded access to Eisenhower. He acquired reputation as tough brusque manager often called Eisenhower's hatchet man. After disastrous Battle of Kasserine Pass Eisenhower sent Smith forward to report on American II Corps state. Smith recommended relief of commander Major General Lloyd Fredendall. Eisenhower replaced Fredendall with Major General George S. Patton Jr. Eisenhower also relieved Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence Brigadier Eric Mockler-Ferryman pinpointing faulty intelligence at AFHQ as contributing factor in defeat.
On the 15th of April 1945 Nazi governor Arthur Seyss-Inquart offered to open Amsterdam to food and coal shipments. Smith and Strong represented SHAEF along with Major General Ivan Susloparov representing Soviet Union. Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld represented Dutch government while Major General Sir Francis de Guingand came from 21st Army Group. They met with Seyss-Inquart in Achterveld village on the 30th of April. After threatening prosecution for war crimes Smith successfully negotiated provision of food to suffering Dutch civilian population in western cities. Discussions opened for peaceful complete German capitulation in Netherlands to First Canadian Army occurring on the 5th of May. Smith conducted another set of surrender negotiations regarding German armed forces in May 1945. He met representatives Colonel General Alfred Jodl and General-Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg. Strong acted as interpreter. Smith took hard line threatening that unless terms accepted Allies would seal front forcing remaining Germans into Red Army hands. He made concessions on ceasefire before surrender effective date. On the 7th of May Smith cosigned document alongside Soviet General Susloparov both representing Allies and Jodl representing Germany. French representative Major General François Sevez signed as witness.
Smith returned to United States late June 1945 after resting at 108th General Hospital in Clichy France. Eisenhower nominated him as successor as commander U.S. Forces European Theater but passed over in favor of Joseph McNarney. When Eisenhower became Chief of Staff November 1945 he summoned Smith as assistant chief staff operations planning. Soon after arrival back Washington President Harry S Truman asked Smith become United States Ambassador to Soviet Union. Truman received special legislation permitting Smith retain permanent military rank major general. Relationship between United States and Soviet Union deteriorated rapidly during his tenure as Cold War set in. Smith tenacity aligned with containment policy replacing conciliant stance around 1947. He convinced no understanding possible with Soviets short of acquiescence to expansionism. Their intransigence precluded reconstruction economic recovery Europe. He saw Soviet Union secretive totalitarian antagonistic state. In My Three Years in Moscow published 1950 Smith wrote about his ambassadorship experience. He returned March 1949 declining Assistant Secretary State appointment preferring return military duty. Appointed commander First Army Fort Jay New York first command since 1918. Throughout war troubled by recurring stomach ulcer problem severe 1949 unable eat normal diet suffered malnutrition. Admitted Walter Reed Army Hospital surgeons removed most stomach curing ulcer leaving malnourished thin.
Truman selected Smith Director Central Intelligence head Central Intelligence Agency October 1950. Post established 1946 had three directors none wanting position. Smith became director the 7th of October 1950. 1949 Intelligence Survey Group produced Dulles-Jackson-Correa Report finding CIA failed coordination production intelligence responsibilities. U.S. National Security Council accepted conclusions recommendations report remained implement them. May 1950 Truman decided Smith needed for CIA. Before assuming post June 1950 North Korean invasion South Korea started Korean War taking administration surprise raising fears World War III. Since knew little CIA asked deputy knowing lot. Sidney Souers recommended William Harding Jackson one authors Dulles-Jackson-Correa Report accepting post conditions including no bawlings out. Smith and Jackson reorganized agency line with report recommendations streamlining procedures gather disseminate intelligence. On the 10th of October asked prepare estimates Wake Island Conference president General Douglas MacArthur insisted simple readable conclusive useful rather mere background reflecting best information available unfortunately one estimate concluded Chinese would not intervene Korea another major intelligence failure. Four months outbreak Korean War CIA produced coordinated estimate situation Korea. Smith created new Office National Estimates ONE under direction William L. Langer Harvard historian leading Research Analysis branch wartime Office Strategic Services OSS.
Smith retired Army leaving CIA the 9th of February 1953. Eisenhower appointed Supreme Allied Commander Europe 1951 asked Smith serve chief staff again. Truman turned down stating DCI more important post. Eisenhower took Lieutenant General Alfred Gruenther instead. When later recommended Gruenther elevation four-star rank Truman decided Smith promoted as well. However Smith name omitted promotion list announced no one promoted before Smith occurring the 1st of August 1951. On the 11th of January 1953 Eisenhower now president-elect announced Smith become Under Secretary State confirmed Senate the 6th of February resigned DCI three days later. May 1954 traveled Europe attempt convince British participate intervention avert French defeat Battle Dien Bien Phu failed reached agreement Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov partition Vietnam two separate zones. In 1953 Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán threatened nationalize land belonging United Fruit Company. Smith ordered American ambassador Guatemala put CIA plan Guatemalan coup effect accomplished following year. Left State Department the 1st of October 1954 took position United Fruit Company served president chairman board Associated Missile Products Company AMF Atomics Incorporated vice chairman American Machine Foundry director RCA Corning Incorporated. Suffered heart attack the 9th of August 1961 home Washington D.C. died ambulance way Walter Reed Army Hospital entitled Special Full Honor Funeral widow requested simple joint service funeral patterned Marshall 1959 selected grave site Section 7 Arlington National Cemetery near Marshall's grave buried next him after death 1963.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Walter Bedell Smith born?
Walter Bedell Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on the 5th of October 1895. He grew up as the elder of two sons to William Long Smith and Ida Francis Bedell.
What role did Walter Bedell Smith hold during World War II?
Walter Bedell Smith served as chief of staff for General Dwight D. Eisenhower at Allied Forces Headquarters starting on the 15th of September 1942. He negotiated food provisions for Dutch civilians with Nazi governor Arthur Seyss-Inquart on the 30th of April 1945 and cosigned the German surrender document on the 7th of May 1945.
Who appointed Walter Bedell Smith as Director Central Intelligence Agency?
President Harry S Truman selected Smith as Director Central Intelligence Agency on the 7th of October 1950. The position had been established in 1946 but remained vacant until Truman decided Smith was needed following the North Korean invasion of South Korea.
Why did Walter Bedell Smith resign from his post as Director Central Intelligence Agency?
Walter Bedell Smith resigned as Director Central Intelligence Agency three days after being confirmed as Under Secretary State on the 6th of February 1953. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower announced Smith would become Under Secretary State on the 11th of January 1953.
When did Walter Bedell Smith die and where is he buried?
Walter Bedell Smith died on the 9th of August 1961 while en route to Walter Reed Army Hospital after suffering a heart attack at home in Washington D.C. He was buried next to General George C. Marshall in Section 7 of Arlington National Cemetery after his death in 1963.