USMC Corporal Hubert Alexander Arnold was born on August 11, 1923 in Pensacola, Florida, the son of Alexander L. Arnold (1880-1928) and Rosa Belle Irwin (1895-1923). His parents were married in Baldwin County, AL in 1910 and produced four children to the union. In 1920, he and Rosa were living at 403 East Gregory Street in Pensacola with their two oldest Gilbert and Malvina. But sadly, Rosa passed away giving birth to Hubert in 1923. Afterwards, the children were split up and raised among the family members. Hubert was raised by his maternal aunt and uncle Camilla Jackson "Jack" (1876-1961) and Christina Ida McQuire (1875-1967). His Uncle Jack had been a carpenter, millwright, and a machinist during his lifetime. On the other hand, Hubert's father had lost his left arm at the elbow so had become a lumber inspector in 1918 for the Southern States Lumber Company in Muscogee, After Rosa's death he married Mattie but then died prematurely in a car accident in 1928 in Okaloosa.
After WWII escalated following Pearl Harbor, Smiley was working for the Holland Riding Academy when he enlisted in the USMC on August 1, 1942. After his basic training, he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, which landed on Bougainville on November 1, 1943. There, he received a Presidential citation for his combat performance. He returned home for a brief visit before being reassigned to the 26th Marine Regiment of the 5th Marine Division stationed in Camp Pendleton. After returning to his regiment, they sailed from San Diego on July 17, 1944 and were held in reserve for the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade during the invasion of Guam. Unneeded at Guam, they returned to Hawaii for reorganization and training.
On January 27, 1945, they sailed from Pearl Harbor heading for their destiny on the volcanic shores of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. The fighting was some of the most vicious ever seen in the South Pacific. Three entire Marine Divisions (3rd, 4th, and 5th) were fighting for their lives with Smiley's Division receiving the most casualties of all three. As his regiment pushed the Japanese troops forward inch by inch, Smiley's luck finally ran out. Amidst the intense enemy machine gun and artillery fire, he was severely wounded along with his surrounding comrades. He was evacuated as soon as the corpsmen could drag him out safely. He was transported to an offshore hospital ship where he died on March 8, 1945. His body was returned to Iwo Jima after the island was secured and buried in the Marine Cemetery. After the war, his body was removed to Honolulu and buried in the Military Cemetery. His brother Gilbert Otis Arnold was a graduate of Pensacola High School Class of 1932 and served in the Army for a short time during the war.
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