A family tradition
Smith proud of relatives who served
When it comes to Victor Smith, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, there’s one word that comes to his grandson James Smith’s mind — “strong.”
“He was strong,” Smith said. “He would walk from Otho to USG through the woods to work. Back then they had to. He was always walking. Always had a bottle of whiskey next to his chair. Grandpas did that. And he had this voice, you didn’t want to mess with him.”
Several of Smith’s relatives followed grandpa’s suit and served in the U.S. military. And it’s that service, grit and dedication that makes the Fort Dodge man so proud of his family members who have served.
Here is a breakdown of members from Smith’s family who served.
• Staff Sgt. Victor Louis Smith, U.S. Army
Word War II Phillippines
Served from August 1942 to December 1945
Medals: Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star, Phillipine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star
• Spec. 4 Michael L. Smith, U.S. Army
Military police dog handler.
Served from October 1958 to February 1962
Guarded Nike missile site
• Cpl. Michael L. Smith, U.S. Marine Corps
Served from 1987 to 1991
Desert Shield
Desert Storm
Staff Sgt., Army Reserve
Served from 2006 to 2013
2010-2011 Iraq
Staff Sgt. Smith served in Iraq with the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based at Fort Des Moines.
He worked 12 hour days at an American base, monitoring defense systems and patrolling Joint Base Balad. He also drove an armorred vehicle called an MRAP to escort officers and civilian contractors throughout the country.
He ran missions about two times a month to take VIPs to different places throughout Iraq.
Earlier in his military career, Smith was a member of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, which is based in Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The unit left the tropical Hawaiian island in mid-winter to join other allied forces in the Saudi desert. There he drove a truck in an infantry unit. He was there during the Battle of Khafiji for three or four weeks. He mostly followed tanks.
Smith said he didn’t see many horrors of war.
“I saw some places where Iraqis had left their guns and equipment when they surrendered. And I also helped with some prisoners. But we mostly followed tanks,” he said.
The unit returned to Hawaii in late March. Smith was officially discharged shortly thereafter.
Smith has also been a volunteer firefighter in Badger.
• Chief Warrant Officer 4 Clinton Michael Louis Smith, U.S. Army
2002 to present
Iraqi Freedom
March 2002-September 2002
April 2004 to October 2004
April 2013 to February 2014
September 2015 to December 2015
• Delbert Mac Smith, U.S. Navy
Served in the early 1970s
Served many years as Otho firefighter and police officer
• Spec. Trey M. Messerly, U.S. Army (nephew of Jim Smith)
Explosive ordnance disposal, Afghanistan
Served from July 2009 to November 2013