Fallen Soldier: Jeremiah D. Smith

Army Pfc. Jeremiah D. Smith, 25, of Odessa, Missouri, was assigned to 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, Fort Riley, Kansas. While serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was the soldier who stepped in front of his brothers in arms to look for possible trouble awaiting them, as he escorted heavy equipment transporters. His vehicle was hit with unexploded ordnance in Baghdad on Memorial Day, May 26th, 2003.

On February 12th, 2002, at the age of 24, Smith enlisted in the United States Army. His Basic Combat Training and Advanced Combat Individual Training were completed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In August of 2002, Smith was assigned to Fort Riley and in March 2003, was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was his first deployment. He was killed fifteen months after he enlisted.

“I was his driver the day he died”, recalled fellow soldier, Jared Albin. “He was a wonderful man who talked about his family every day. He had an infectious attitude. No matter how bad the day was, he could make you laugh, smile or both. He loved his family so much. It hit my platoon pretty hard after he died.” Pfc. Smith is survived by his wife, Jessica and two daughters.