Seaman (E2) Smith served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul (CA-73). On 21 April 1952, while the cruiser was firing at the enemy off the east coast of Korea, powder exploded in a gun turret causing him to die of asphyxiation.

Smith was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.