Corporal Smith was a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously injured in North Korea on 23 April 1951 and returned to duty on 5 June 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 24 August 1951.

Smith was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.