JOHN D. SMITH
Home Of Record:
CAMDEN
County:
Camden
Status:
Killed In Action
Rank:
SGT
Branch Of Service:
Marines
Country Of Incident:
SVN
Date of Casualty:
August 11, 1966
Date of Birth:
October 04, 1941
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JOHN DAVID SMITH
SGT - E5 - Marine Corps - Regular
Length of service 6 years
Casualty was on Aug 11, 1966
In QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died of wounds, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Panel 09E - Line 128
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John David Smith was born on
October 4, 1941. His home of record is Camden, NJ.
Smith enlisted in the US Army, and after serving, was unable to find a job,
so he re-enlisted in the US Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of
Sergeant (SGT).
On August 11, 1966, Smith was killed in action in South Vietnam, Quang Tin
Province. He was 25 years old.
We lived on West Avenue in Pitman, NJ, most of our lives. When Dave, as we
called him, was born, he was just about 5 lbs., a tiny dark curly headed
wiggly, 17” long bundle. Born in an upstairs front bedroom on October 4,
1941, he was so active and ornery! When he got into things, he smiled and
laughed. He was so loving! When he cried, you knew something was really
wrong. He did all the usual things boys do. He was surrounded by seven
sisters and two brothers, each one special. He loved hide and seek. Dave
would cover his eyes and think we couldn’t see him. He played tricks on all
of us and his friends. We loved it!
One of the neighbors gave him a pair of cowboy boots. He must have been
three or four years old. He loved those boots! He would sleep with them
still on, and if he did take them off, he put them under his pillow.
When Dave was only four or five years old, Dave was involved in a terrible
accident. Mom was washing clothes in the kitchen. We had an old easy wringer
washer with two large tubs for rinsing. He was in the helping stage, so he
asked if he could help. Mom told him he was too little and told him to play
with his toys in the other room. When she took a basket of clothes out to
hang on the line, she heard him screaming! She and a neighbor came running.
Dave’s arm was caught in the wringer up to his shoulder. Needless to say,
his arm was crushed. It took over 100 stitches to close the wounds and
reattach the muscle. His arm never grew like the other one. It was four
inches shorter. This didn’t keep Dave from doing the things he loved to do.
He played football and baseball. He exercised that arm and it was very
strong!
When he was ten or eleven, he loved to take things apart. He also took other
kids’ bikes apart! He always rolled one pant leg up to the knee. He never
owned a bike of his own, but he looked like he was ready to ride one at a
moments notice!
He joined the US Army and spent time in Germany in the Tank Corps. When he
came home, there were no jobs available for an experienced tank driver, so
he re-enlisted in the US Marines Corps. He trained at Camp LaJune, Paris
Island, and was assigned to Vietnam.
He loved being home on leave at our house. My husband, Bob, Dave and I
enjoyed each other’s company. We stayed up late remembering old times as
kids. Some of the memories made us laugh, others made us cry. I left Bob and
Dave giggling like school kids. They were trying to catch a mouse. They had
a cigar box, string attached to two sticks, some peanut butter and a
cracker. I heard the box drop several times, but never knew if they caught
it.
On the drive to the Philadelphia Airport, Dave reminded me he didn’t want a
scene. So he held my hand all the way to the car. When he boarded, we hugged
and I kissed his cheek. I didn’t cry until he left, but my arms ached to hug
him. I never saw him again.
I did receive many letters from him, even months after he died. It felt odd.
All of our siblings were close. We each have memories of Dave that we
cherish and they are better left in our hearts. It keeps him closer to us.
We will never forget Dave, and we appreciate the opportunity to share his
life with others.
Written by Joyce Hammel, Sister
Information provided by Joyce Hammel (sister) and NJVVMF.
MESSAGES LEFT ON THEWALL-USA
** Note that some of these
messages are from years ago and their contact information may not be good
anymore **
Ren Della Porta
Bobby, I think of you often, you have a son born in April 67, the month you
were killed, a good looking boy, who has done well in life, A fellow Nam
Vet.
Sunday, July 25, 2004
If you would like
to add a story, comment, or contact, please email
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