Guy was the son of Robert Earl and Caroline Evelyn Goulding Smith. Robert Earl was born in Arizona and Caroline was born in Montana. They were both 23 years old when Guy was born in Henrieville, Garfield Co., UT. He was the oldest of eleven children. Guy's middle name was in honor of his paternal uncle, Nephi Smith, who died in 1908 at age 14.
His siblings were Van D., Ida, Amy, Joy, Jed E., Lee E., Don A., Roe E., Vee H., and Loa Smith, all born in Utah. Loa was 22 years younger than Guy.
The Selective Training and Service Act required men who attained the age of 20 years on or before Dec. 31, 1941 to register on Feb 16, 1942. Guy did just that in his home county of Garfield.
Guy was inducted ("drafted") into service on Aug 18, 1942 at Salt Lake City, Utah. He was transferred to the USN Training Center, San Diego, CA for basic training. Upon completion, he was transferred Sept 22, 1942 to the NRS, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. He was a AS (Apprentice Seaman) V-3 (Communications Branch).
From Bremerton he boarded a transport ship for Kodiak, Alaska. Guy was received aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on Oct 28, 1942. He was still a AS, V-3. He was one of 101 men received on board that day from Bremerton.
Indy was serving with TF 8, TG 8.6 as covering force for the Adak Occupation Force. She had completed bombardment of Kiska Harbor, Aleutian Islands, on August 7th and was now patrolling various locations including the Bearing Sea, north of Adak.
Indy would remain in a supportive roll through Nov 16th covering refueling operations and launching her planes for general and antisubmarine patrol. She would cover 250-350 miles each day. General Quarters was called often as enemy planes attempted attack or simply surveilled the task group.
Indianapolis returned to Pearl Harbor by Nov 22, 1942. Guy had more to celebrate than just being back on dry land. On Dec 1, 1942 he was advanced to S2c. It would be Dec 28th before Guy returned to the forward zone when Indy moored in Dutch Harbor.
On Jan 1, 1943, Indy was operating in support to occupy Amchitka Island in the Aleutians. Fierce storms delayed the occupation three times. The freezing seas were so rough that one of the airplane hanger doors was destroyed by the battering waves and the plane inside suffered slight damage. Guy dreamed of being back in the warm waters of Pearl Harbor, but Indy remained in the area covering convoy movements and maintaining close coverage of the island until Feb 13th.
On Feb 18, 1943, Indianapolis took part in the bombardment of Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor, Attu Islands in the Aleutians. The following day, Indy challenged an unknown ship who returned the wrong identification message. Indy opened her 8" guns. The target was later identified as Japanese cargo ship Askagne Maru that was carrying ammunition. There were no survivors.
Indy departed Dutch Harbor March 4 for Mare Island and went into dry dock for repairs and overhaul. Guy's hometown newspaper announced that he was home on leave on April 8, 1943. He would be back on board Indy on May 4th when she departed Mare Island. Many new crewmembers had come on board and sea training was needed before her return to the battle zone. She remained off the coast of CA until May 15th, then headed for Adak, AK. More training was conducted en route.
Guy participated in battle action in late May in the Occupation of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. He was awarded his first battle star. In addition, he was advanced to S1c on July 1, 1943. Indy remained in the area of Attu serving with both the Northern and Southern patrol task groups and serving in convoy duty.
On Aug 1, Indy steamed to the water around Kiska. With TG 16.17 she bombarded Little Kiska island the following day. She covered the southern approaches to Kiska Aug 3rd, then returned to anchor at Adak. On Aug 12th Indy bombarded Gertrude Harbor and Bukti Point, both on the southern shore of Kiska Island, Aleutians. Indy steamed to Adak where she remained in port until the 17th.
She patrolled the Northern Operating Area of Kiska until Aug 25th when she joined with TG 16.14 and departed ADAK en route to San Francisco, CA. She arrived on Aug 31st, but her stay was short. She departed Sept 7th and arrived at Pearl Harbor on the 11th.
For over two months, Indy was in and out of Pearl Harbor for training exercises. She was preparing for the pending scheduled engagements that would cover the year 1944 and extend into March 1945.
Indianapolis departed Pearl Harbor on Nov 10, 1943 steaming to the Gilbert Islands for "Operation Galvanic." The action continued on and off over the next 16 months.
Guy was on board for the following engagements:
Jan-Mar 1944. Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls and Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, all in the Marshall Islands.
On Mar 1st, Guy was advanced to FCR3c (Fire Controlman, repair, 3rd class). This was a vital job. She depended upon the aiming and firing control systems to be in working condition at all times.
Mar-Apr, 1944. Raids of Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai in the Western Carolinas Islands.
Jun-July, 1944. Capture and Occupation of Saipan, Battle of the Philippine, Capture and Occupation of Guam, and the Capture and Occupation of Tinian all in the Marianas Islands.
During the fray, on July 29th Guy was advanced to FCO3c. Note he had advanced from Repairman to Operator. Operation of the optical fire control systems and range finder were crucial for Indy to accurately track and engage targets. He would continue to use his skills to repair electrical firing circuits and other complex instruments that aimed the ship's guns.
Sept-Oct, 1944. Capture and Occupation of Southern Palau Islands in the Western Carolines.
Indy arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard, CA, on Oct 19th for overhaul and repair. She remained in port until Jan 3, 1945. It is likely Guy was granted leave to visit his family. He would have good news to tell them. On Nov 1, 1944 he had been advanced to FCO2c(T). It meant more responsibility, but also more pay!
She departed for Pearl Harbor where Admiral Spruance came aboard then forward to Ulithi Lagoon where she was in port from Jan 26th to 31st.
Feb 14-Mar 1, 1945. Iwo Jima Operation that included Raids on Honshu and the Nansei Shoto in the Ryukyu Islands, then the Assault and Occupation of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands before returning for additional raids at Honshu and Nansei Shoto.
After repairs in Ulithi, Indy steamed with TF 58, TG 58.3, to participate in the Raids, Assault and Occupation of Okinawa Gunto, one of the four main islands of Japan. On March 31st, D -1, Indy was hit by a kamikaze plane. Nine men were killed and 20 injured. The injured did not include Guy. Indy limped back to Mare Island, CA, for repairs and refitting, where she would remain for two-and-a-half months. Most assuredly, Guy was granted leave to visit his family.
Since boarding, Guy had been awarded a silver star and 4 bronze stars to place on his Asiatic-Pacific ribbon representing the 9 battle stars awarded to Indianapolis during his long period of service.
At Mare Island, Guy and his shipmates prepared for a top-secret delivery to the island of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. No one on board knew the contents of their cargo when they departed on July 16, 1945.
After the delivery, Indianapolis departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, she sailed on July 27th to Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, on July 30th, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Whether Guy made it off the ship into the water is not known.
He had served in the USN for 35 months at the time of his death. He was only 24 years and 8 months old.
Guy, you are not forgotten.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines and the USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, IN.
A beautiful cenotaph was placed in the Henrieville, Cemetery, Garfield Co., UT, where his parents are buried.
Source CreditsState of UT, State Board of Health, Garfield, Henrieville, Certificate of Birth, File #176/530; citing birth of Guy Nephi Smith on 11/10/1920.
1940 US Census, Utah, Garfield, Henrieville, ED 9-12. HH #21; citing family of R. Earl Smith
Garfield County News, (Panguitch, UT), Thur., April 8, 1943, p. 4; citing Guy home on leave
The Salt Lake Tribune, (UT), Wed., Oct 3, 1945, p. 13; citing death of Guy N. Smith
Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MY-WY; UT, p. 6; citing Guy Nephi Smith, FC2/c
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36442096/guy_nephi-smith: accessed September 10, 2025), memorial page for FC2 Guy Nephi Smith (10 Nov 1920-30 Jul 1945)
Find a Grave Memorial ID 36442096, citing Henrieville Cemetery, Henrieville, Garfield County, UT; cenotaph
Rank / Rating: FCO2-Fire Controlman (Operator) Second Class
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin