1911年,史密斯以二等兵軍階在印第安納州國民警衛隊入伍。 在第一次世界大戰期間,他於1917年任官為少尉並於1918年在第二次馬恩河戰役中受傷。戰爭結束後,他成為美國陸軍步兵學校(也稱本寧堡步兵學校)的參謀及講師。1941年,他成為陸軍總參謀秘書,第二年他成為「聯合參謀長團」(Combined Chiefs of Staff)的秘書. 他的職責包括參與最高級別的討論,史密斯還常向羅斯福總統匯報戰略部署。
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