Max Marion Smith was born June 27, 1919 in Wichita, Kansas. His family moved to Madison, Wisconsin in time for Smith to graduate from Madison East High School. He was attending medical school when he decided to enlist into the Army in May 1943. He served for a little over a year as a private first class before receiving an honorable discharge in order to accept a commission. In July 1945 he re-entered the service as a medical officer with the 6th Constabulary Regiment, eventually rising to the rank of Captain. His service included a one-year stint with the occupation forces in the European Theater, from April 1946 to May 1947. One month after returning to the US, Smith was relieved from active duty.
Katherine Cecilia Ehrhart was born January 10, 1920 in Delia, Kansas. She remained in the state during her youth, graduating from high school, and becoming a teacher. After World War II began, she changed careers and became a physical therapist. She enlisted into the Women's Medical Specialist Corps, a branch of the Army, in January 1945 and achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant. She served at stateside hospitals for the next three years, including Brook General Hospital (Ft. Sam Houston, Texas), Winter General Hospital (Topeka, Kansas), and Schick General Hospital (Clinton, Iowa). She received an honorable discharge from the military in April 1948.
Max and Katherine met at during their service in Topeka, Kansas and married in 1948. They later settled in Madison where Max served as chief of staff at St. Mary's Hospital for eight years. Max M. Smith passed away in February 2000 at the age of 80.
