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| Smith MOH, WWII-Guadalcanal |
Colonel Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR
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Acquisition Number: 2011.119.24
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
President Roosevelt awarded the Medal of Honor to Major Smith in Washington, D.C., in February 1943 for “conspicuous gallantry and heroic achievement in aerial combat.” He led the pilots of Marine Fighter Squadron 223 as they destroyed 83 enemy aircraft. He was personally credited with taking down 19 Japanese fighters and bombers over 6 weeks, flying out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Colonel Smith retired in 1960, having served for 24 years.
Late in his career, long-time Marine Corps artist Charles Waterhouse completed 120 portraits of Marines and Navy Corpsmen who received the Medal of Honor.
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