Lieutenant Junior Grade Smith was the pilot of an AD-4Q Skyraider dive bomber with Composite Squadron 35 aboard the carrier USS Essex (CV-9). On 26 August 1951, his aircraft burst into flames and crashed into the sea about five minutes after take-off. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

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