| My
father is United States Marine Corps Major
Stanley R. Smith. He was born and raised
in Marshalltown,
Iowa on August 3, 1937 and was the oldest
of three children.
He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1955-59, on a full NROTC Scholarship. He graduated with a degree in Business Management. He was commissioned to 2nd LT., and attended Officer Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendelton, from 1960-1963. In July 1963 he was transferred to Okinawa and South Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division. This was his first tour of duty in Vietnam. In August 1964, he transferred to Combat Engineer School, in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. He became a Recruiting Officer in Ft. Omaha, Nebraska in July 1965. As a Recruiting Officer, one of his duties was to accompany the Chaplain to notify families living within his region of the deaths of their loved ones who died in Vietnam.
He was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery and his name not only appears on The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, but also on plaques in Marshalltown, Iowa and at the San Diego Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial in Balboa Park. He left behind his wife, Katherine (Makle) and three children, Stephanie (myself), Stanley, Jr. and Christopher. My father was very outgoing and liked to be around people, especially enjoyed to entertain people at our home. My grandmother told me stories on how they use to play gin rummy, laugh and try to solve the WORLD'S PROBLEMS. It has been a great honor to discover what a great person my father was and to get to know him. I want to thank my mother, Katherine, for all her love, patience, and information on my father, as well as my Step-Dad’s love and understanding through the process of getting to know the MAN BEHIND THE PICTURE.
1/99, 04/01 |
In
August ‘67 he went to Da Nang, Vietnam where he served with the Shore
Party Battalion, H & S, 1st Marine Division.
On April 1, 1968 he was promoted to MAJOR with the 1st
Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Logistics and Operations.
My father was killed on
