Lieutenant Smith was the pilot of a Vought F4U-4 Corsair and a member of the Anti-Submarine Squadron 20 aboard the Carrier Escort USS Rendova (CVE-114) en route to Korea. On 6 January 1954 after a deck launch at night, his aircraft lost power and plunged over the bow of the carrier into the Pacific Ocean. His remains were not recovered.

Smith was awarded the National Service Defense Metal.