Uploaded October 2013 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Smith is a highly decorated Marine who has commanded infantry units at all levels and received the Navy Cross in Vietnam.
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USMC Ballcap
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His awards received for service in combat during the Vietnam War include the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. MajGen Smith retired from the Marine Corps in 1999 after almost 34 years of service. In 2003, after nearly four years of retirement, Smith went to Iraq with the 1st Marine Division; and penned an eyewitness account of the march from Kuwait to Baghdad — The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the 1st Marine Division
Smith is a native of Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Montana in December 1965. He graduated as the Platoon and Series Honorman at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in 1966. In March 1967, he graduated from Officer Candidates School and from The Basic School in August 1967.
During his first tour in Vietnam, Lt. Smith served as a Platoon (4 months) and Company Commander (9 months) in Alpha 1/1, seeing combat action in Hue, Khe Sanh, the Rockpile, Con Thien, "Dodge City" and south of Da Nang. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Tet Offensive.
His next assignment was in the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California where he served in 3/28 as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander and as interim Aide for General Ross Dwyer. In November 1969, Lt. Smith was assigned to a one year Vietnamese Language School in Arlington, Virginia. In late 1970, he returned to Camp Pendleton for duty on an Interrogation Team for four months and was then assigned to 2/5 until he was sent to the John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
Captain Smith returned to Vietnam in November 1971 for duty with the Marine Advisory Unit. He was with the Vietnamese Marines during the Easter Offensive and Counter Offensive of 1972.
After this tour Captain Smith was assigned as a student at the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia and then, from 1973 to 1976, as a Company XO, SPC and Tactics Instructor at The Basic School. In July 1976, he was ordered to MEPCOM at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, where he served two years as the Secretary to the General Staff. He was promoted to Major in August 1977.
Major Smith was selected to participate in the Bootstrap Program and reported to Oklahoma State in August 1978. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Asian Studies in January 1980 and was then transferred to the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.
In July 1980, Major Smith reported to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and was assigned as the Executive Officer (XO) of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines until July 1981 when he was assigned as the operation officer (S-3) of the 8th Marine Regiment. In 1983, now LtCol. Smith, after assignments as the XO of the 8th Marine Regiment and as the Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3) OPS of the 2nd Marine Division, took command of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. He commanded BLT 2/8 in Grenada and Beirut.
LtCol. Smith next attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island where he earned a Master's Degree in Military Science. While there, he also earned a Master's Degree in International Relations from Salve Regina College. In July 1985, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps for assignments in Training and then in Operations. Returning to Camp Lejeune in May 1988, Lt. Col. Smith took command of the 8th Marine Regiment.
He was promoted to Colonel in November 1988. In July 1990, Colonel Smith was assigned to the Joint Staff at The Pentagon where he was Chief, Asia-Pacific Branch, J5. He was selected for promotion to brigadier general in December 1991.
As a general officer, Smith's his assignments were: Deputy Commanding General (CG), Marine Corps Bases, Japan; CG, 3rd Marine Division ; Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, CJ-5, Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea; Deputy CG, II MEF ; CG, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Major General Smith retired on September 1, 1999. On his last day of active duty, he gave the Convocation address at Campbell University and received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.
This is a 1985 film produced by the Department of Defense for the United States Marine Corps.
Defense Department Video
AR AB 624/35/336
Public Domain
Smith is a highly decorated Marine who has commanded infantry units at all levels and received the Navy Cross in Vietnam.
#ad
USMC Ballcap
amzn.to/3ZdLGHy
His awards received for service in combat during the Vietnam War include the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. MajGen Smith retired from the Marine Corps in 1999 after almost 34 years of service. In 2003, after nearly four years of retirement, Smith went to Iraq with the 1st Marine Division; and penned an eyewitness account of the march from Kuwait to Baghdad — The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the 1st Marine Division
Smith is a native of Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Montana in December 1965. He graduated as the Platoon and Series Honorman at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in 1966. In March 1967, he graduated from Officer Candidates School and from The Basic School in August 1967.
During his first tour in Vietnam, Lt. Smith served as a Platoon (4 months) and Company Commander (9 months) in Alpha 1/1, seeing combat action in Hue, Khe Sanh, the Rockpile, Con Thien, "Dodge City" and south of Da Nang. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Tet Offensive.
His next assignment was in the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California where he served in 3/28 as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander and as interim Aide for General Ross Dwyer. In November 1969, Lt. Smith was assigned to a one year Vietnamese Language School in Arlington, Virginia. In late 1970, he returned to Camp Pendleton for duty on an Interrogation Team for four months and was then assigned to 2/5 until he was sent to the John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
Captain Smith returned to Vietnam in November 1971 for duty with the Marine Advisory Unit. He was with the Vietnamese Marines during the Easter Offensive and Counter Offensive of 1972.
After this tour Captain Smith was assigned as a student at the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia and then, from 1973 to 1976, as a Company XO, SPC and Tactics Instructor at The Basic School. In July 1976, he was ordered to MEPCOM at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, where he served two years as the Secretary to the General Staff. He was promoted to Major in August 1977.
Major Smith was selected to participate in the Bootstrap Program and reported to Oklahoma State in August 1978. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Asian Studies in January 1980 and was then transferred to the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.
In July 1980, Major Smith reported to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and was assigned as the Executive Officer (XO) of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines until July 1981 when he was assigned as the operation officer (S-3) of the 8th Marine Regiment. In 1983, now LtCol. Smith, after assignments as the XO of the 8th Marine Regiment and as the Assistant Chief of Staff (G-3) OPS of the 2nd Marine Division, took command of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. He commanded BLT 2/8 in Grenada and Beirut.
LtCol. Smith next attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island where he earned a Master's Degree in Military Science. While there, he also earned a Master's Degree in International Relations from Salve Regina College. In July 1985, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps for assignments in Training and then in Operations. Returning to Camp Lejeune in May 1988, Lt. Col. Smith took command of the 8th Marine Regiment.
He was promoted to Colonel in November 1988. In July 1990, Colonel Smith was assigned to the Joint Staff at The Pentagon where he was Chief, Asia-Pacific Branch, J5. He was selected for promotion to brigadier general in December 1991.
As a general officer, Smith's his assignments were: Deputy Commanding General (CG), Marine Corps Bases, Japan; CG, 3rd Marine Division ; Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, CJ-5, Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea; Deputy CG, II MEF ; CG, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Major General Smith retired on September 1, 1999. On his last day of active duty, he gave the Convocation address at Campbell University and received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.
This is a 1985 film produced by the Department of Defense for the United States Marine Corps.
Defense Department Video
AR AB 624/35/336
Public Domain
