THE SMITH TWINS: A FAMILY LEGACY
By Mike Saunders
Every veteran, past, present, and future, has many different reasons for signing the dotted line. It may be a family tradition, it could be for college money, or it could be just to travel and see the world. For twin brothers Clyde and Claude Smith, joining up was a way that they could help support their family back in Texas. Like many young men in the 1930’s, the Smith brothers had to choose between going to school or working to help their struggling family. Aside from their parents, they had two sisters and another brother.
In 1935, the twins set off to participate in the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) These camps provided jobs, working on environmental projects, to young men with few skills. During the Roosevelt administration, the C.C.C. was started as a work relief program. Most jobs included planting trees and building trails and shelters in just about 800 parks nationwide.
In fact, this program helped to shape both State and National Parks as we see them today. Leaving home at such a young age must have been difficult for the twins, but Clyde and Claude stuck together to support their family, and the two boys would continue doing so by Joining the United States Army Air Corps. Clyde was a member of the Army Air Corp band as well as a B-17 aircraft engine mechanic, while Claude rose to the rank of Lieutenant and went to flight school where he learned to fly B-17s and B-25s. During this time, the twins were separate, Clyde was in Seattle, while Claude was in Yugoslavia during the latter part of WWII.
* Signal Mirror above was used by Clyde when he was a B-17 mechanic.
In 1946, Clyde was discharged in Texas, and Claude stayed in. Clyde moved to California and joined the Naval Reserves in Port Waini. After his stint was complete, Clyde moved to Oklahoma, where he worked for Southwest Bell Phone Company, doing long wire repairs, and climbing poles. Clyde must have felt right at home working for a phone company because the twins, “used to set up a schedule in order to talk on the radios,” recalls Tyler Smith, Clyde’s son and a retired Command Sergeant Major (CSM) himself.
Clyde and Claude were very close, and whether or not people buy in to the idea that twins can sense when their other halves are in trouble, Tyler Smith had this to say, “One night, at supper, Clyde seemed anxious. He felt as though something had happened to Claude,” who was in Colorado Springs at the time. “As it turned out, Claude was setting up his radio antenna when it hit a powerline. Claude suffered burns to the top of his head, across his shoulders, and his back.” During their time in service, the Smith Twins would be lucky to see each other once a year.
2 Generations of Army - Clyde with sons, Tyler & Clint Smith
Tyler shared another coincidence. One year, when the family got together, both twins had 1953 Pontiacs; Claude’s was dark green with a light green top, and Clyde’s was light green with a dark green top.
The Smith Twins spent a lot more time together after their retirements. They were both talented musicians—they taught themselves by ear. The twins enjoyed each other’s company until the very end. Clyde passed away in 2010 at the age of 91. Claude passed 7 years later at the age of 98 (he wanted to live to be 100).
The Smith Twins served honorably. Clyde’s sons, Tyler and Clint, served, as well as Tyler’s son. The twins may have joined just to support their family, but there is no doubt that they are looking down and are very proud of the tradition they started.