Hubert C. Smith
Recorded December 22nd, 1988 - 7 min
During radio’s Truth or Consequences broadcast of December 20, 1947, host Ralph Edwards devoted a lengthy portion of the program to visit hospitalized, disabled World War II Navy veteran Hubert C. Smith, 19, of Greenville, Tennessee for a warmhearted This is Your Life-type segment. It was a touching and moving program for the Christmas season and many years later we wondered whatever became of Seaman Smith. We were able to contact him by phone in 1988 and this is our conversation. He was born in 1928, was 60 years old at the time of our call. He died in 2006 at age 78.
Truth Or Consequences - 12/20/47 - With Hubert C. Smith
Did you enjoy the interview? Listen to WWII Veteran Hubert C. Smith on Truth Or Consequences 12/20/47.
December 20, 2012 at 10:31 am
I just heard the 1947 H.C.Smith Truth or Consequences radio show on Sirius XM last evening (12/19/12). I thoroughly enjoyed it and consider it an early form of a Reality Show. H.C.Smith made quite an impression on me so I Googled him and luckily found this updated interview with him from 1988. This is priceless. I hope everyone enjoys it, not only at Christmas but throughout the year.
December 22, 2012 at 7:13 am
Just listened to the original broadcast. So grateful for the sacrifices of our veterans. Also grateful for the ‘follow up’ of the shows. I’m way too young to have heard any of the radio shows in the original run, but so appreciative for being able to listen to them now.
December 25, 2013 at 4:09 am
I remember listening to this broadcast on my record player some 40 years ago. It is just as poignant now as it was back then. If anything can tug at your heartstrings, it is this recording. Especially when Ralph Edwards mentions that Hubert is paralyzed from the neck down! I mean, when you first hear the recording, you think, well,he’s just another G.I.recovering from war wounds in the Hospital, not even aware that he has life-altering wounds that he will never recover from. It is so gut-wrenching. Hats off to Ralph Edwards, who went on to host This is Your Life for many years on television. Listening to this is especially meaningful even today, with so many young and fine soldiers on the front lines in the middle East, sacrificing their young lives evry day for all of us back home in the U.S. God Bless ’em all.
January 21, 2014 at 11:07 pm
I have thousands of old time radio shows recorded and have been listening to them since the beginning, in OTR terms, 1939 September when World War II started. I listen to them daily in sequence. In my OTR world I just listened to the Truth or Consequences episode December 20 of 1947. I was so moved that I put Hubert C Smith in my notes on my iPhone. And like many thousands many years ago I wondered what had happened to him. So tonight I did the Google search and found the interview that I just listened to. It was as poignant as the radio show. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to find Mr. Smith and talk to him. I was so happy to hear that he was able to have a happy life with the woman that he loved.
December 20, 2014 at 5:22 pm
Love it. I’ve heard this broadcast many times and I too wondered what became of Mr. H. C. Smith. Good to know he lived to a ripe old age of 78.
Thanks for providing a great service.
December 6, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Thanks to Steve Darnall and the mention of this on today’s “Radio’s Golden Age” plus a good search engine on this site I am listening to the follow up of that Truth or Consequences radio show. These records of the past really show how we’ve changed over the years…and I’ll leave it at that. Thanks to Chuck and Steve and all those who support these shows!
December 14, 2016 at 8:41 am
1947 tear jerking radio program. Glad H.C. didn’t give up on life.
December 22, 2022 at 3:12 pm
12/22/2022
I just listened to H.C old radio interview. It was very moving and could not help but think how many of our Men and Women fight for our freedom and give their bodies so we can live in a free country. H.C. is gone from this life and I am sure living his Best life with his wife, parents and friends in Heaven.
God Bless America and Merry Christmas to All!
July 19, 2024 at 7:28 pm
Earlier this evening I heard the Truth or Consequences episode with Hubert C. “HC” Smith. Quite moving and inspirational. Thank you to the person(s) responsible for making this program available. I concur with a previous, how we have changed.