Richard Smith

Sergeant Richard Smith “Rick or Smitty” was born in Hastings, NE. and raised in Grand Island. He graduated from Northwest High School in 1999. He enlisted in the Marines following graduation. He attended Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Camp Pendleton, CA and Engineer School at Camp Lejeune, NC.  Upon completion of training, he was awarded the Military Occupational specialty (MOS) 1341 Engineer Equipment Mechanic.  During his four years in the Marines, he was stationed at Twentynine Palms, California and did numerous overseas tours, including Egypt and Iraq (OIF/OEF) in 2003. 

After honorable discharging from the Marines in July 2003, Sergeant Smith joined the US Army in June 2004. While in the Army he was awarded the Military Occupational specialty (MOS) 63B Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. He was stationed in Seoul, South Korea until July 2005, then transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, until September of 2006, when he transferred again to Okinawa, Japan, until the time of his death. Sergeant Smith died at Camp Lester Naval Hospital, Okinawa, as the result of an auto accident while stationed in Okinawa at age 27.