Private First Class Smith was a member of Company H, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. On 21 January 1954 while participating in the movement of 14,000 Chinese ex-prisoners of war to Formosa, he was aboard Army Landing Craft Medium (LCM 5195). It collided with Landing Ship Tank (LST 456) in Inchon Harbor, South Korea, causing his craft to overturn. He and 27 other Marines perished.

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.