Private First Class Smith was a member of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 10 February 1951 and died of those wounds on 20 June 1951 in the United States.

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