1911年,史密斯以二等兵军阶在印第安纳州国民警卫队入伍。 在第一次世界大战期间,他于1917年任官为少尉并于1918年在第二次马恩河战役中受伤。战争结束后,他成为美国陆军步兵学校(也称本宁堡步兵学校)的参谋及讲师。1941年,他成为陆军总参谋秘书,第二年他成为“联合参谋长团”(Combined Chiefs of Staff)的秘书. 他的职责包括参与最高级别的讨论,史密斯还常向罗斯福总统汇报战略部署。
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