Private First Class Smith was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while attacking the enemy along "Phase Line Arizona", near Hyonchon-ni, South Korea on 9 March 1951.

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.