George W. Smith

George William Smith (July 8, 1925 – September 30, 2014) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who rose to the rank of major general. He began his 34-year career as an Enlisted Reservist during World War II, later integrating into the regular Marine Corps and distinguishing himself as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines during the Vietnam War. His last assignment was commanding general, 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan.

Both of his sons followed his footsteps and joined the Marine Corps. His elder son, George W. Smith Jr., as of 2019 serves as lieutenant general and commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force, while Andrew H. Smith as of 2019 serves as colonel and chief of staff, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Early career George W. Smith was born on July 8, 1925, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, son of George Kobler and Myra Holder Smith. He graduated from the Camp Hill High School in summer 1943 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in September of that year. Smith completed boot camp and was attached to the 2nd Marine Division. He sailed to the Pacific theater in early 1945 and took part in the Okinawa Campaign in May and June of that year.

At the beginning of 1969, commanding general of 3rd Marine Division, Raymond G. Davis, ordered a series of combat operations in order to stop PAVN infiltration into South Vietnam across the border and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Operation Dewey Canyon was commenced on January 22, 1969, and Smith and his battalion deployed to Da Krong Valley not far from the Laotian border on February 10.

Smith led his battalion through rugged mountains into triple-canopied jungle and manoeuvred along two parallel precipitous ridge lines against increased hostile resistance when the lead company was pinned down by intense enemy fire. Realizing the urgency of maintaining the momentum of the attack, Smith, undaunted by the hostile rounds impacting near him, unhesitatingly moved across the fire-swept terrain to a dangerously exposed forward position where he could better observe and control supporting arms fire and aggressive assaults to route the North Vietnamese force. Immediately establishing a landing zone for the extraction of the wounded, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire while moving about to coordinate and personally direct the medical evacuation of the casualties.

Smith remained in the command of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines until the end of March and subsequently was appointed operations officer of Task Force Delta under Brigadier General Frank E. Garretson. The Task Force Delta was located at Vandegrift Combat Base in western Quang Tri Province and essentially functioned as 3rd Marine Division Forward Headquarters. While in this capacity, Smith coordinated and supervised the activities of his staff and rendered invaluable assistance in developing plans for seven major combat operations, including Operations Purple Martin and Utah Mesa. He was reassigned as a special projects officer in the office of the assistant division commander under Brigadier General Regan Fuller on July 11, 1969, and concurrently served as base coordinator of the Quang Tri Combat Base until October 1969, when he was ordered back to the United States. Smith was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service with Task Force Delta and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" for his service at Quang Tri. He also received Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Star.

Decorations Below is the ribbon bar of major General George W. Smith: