SSGT.
JOHNNIE EARL SMITH
Born
on Nov. 20, 1925
From POPE, MISSISSIPPI
Casualty was on July 22, 1966
in QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Panel
9E - - Line 60
SSgt.
Johnnie Earl Smith served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines,
India Company. He was Killed In Action during Operation HASTINGS.
His name stands proud on the India 3/5 Wall of
Honor alongside the Marines he fought and died with. Semper
fi, Brother Marine. We will never forget.
Operation
HASTINGS
Honored
to have served alongside
Like others whose names appear on the Wall, I served with SSgt.
Smith. He was tough, but fair. He had been in battle before and
knew what it was going to be like, unlike most of us who had never
been there. He was right there when we were ambushed that late July
day. If memory serves me correctly, he tried to save at least one
other or more Marines who were wounded calling out for help, but
who lay in the killing zone of the ambush.
I remember the call for help from one fallen Marine. I remember
our platoon commander, Lt. Carey yelling over the noise of gun fire
to SSgt. Smith not to go out there, but he went anyway, only to
be caught and cut down in the killing zone of the ambush. I know
there were other heroes that day, but what he tried to do, stands
out in my mind today.
Tom
Gainer
TTFNS@aol.com
STILL
WITH ME
JOHNNIE EARL
SMITH WAS MY DADDY.
HE LIVES IN MY HEART AND WILL AS LONG AS I HAVE BREATH.
SHERRIE
nextpastor@aol.com
