Smith, James E., Jr., MSG

Master Sergeant James E. Smith, Jr. was assigned to HHD, TUSLOG Det 67, Cakmakli Turkey as the Communications Platoon Sergeant. 

He was killed in Yesilkoy, Turkey on 14 December 1979, by a radical Islamic terrorist group called the Marxist-Leninist Armed Propaganda Organization (i.e. the Turkish People's Liberation Party/Front). 

Three DoD contractors who worked for Boeing Services International (BSI) were also killed;  Jim Clark, Elmer Cooper, and Robert Frantz. 

Turkish police quoted the terrorist caller who claimed responsibility as saying "we carried out this misison to draw the worlds attention to the role the U. S. imperialism plays in supressing the revolutionary activities of the people of the Middle East and Iran."  The Turkish van driver was wounded in the attack. 

The four American's were forced to get out of their bus and stand with their hands on their heads by 5 terrorists, and shot with AK47's.  MSgt. Smith died at the scene, the 3 others died at the hospital.  MSgt. Smith's body was brought back to Cakmakli in the back of a Turkish farmers pickup truck accompanied by a Turkish police officer. 

The terrorists were caught and sentenced to prison.

This was not the first, or the last, terrorist attack on American servicemen stationed at that site.  Other world events happening at this time included the Iranian hostage crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.  This event did not receive media coverage due to the sensitive nature of the units misison.

MSgt. Smith was interred in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, Owensboro, Davisess County, Kentucky.
Source: http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=80677513&PIpi=99304848

RIP MSG Smith.  You are not forgotten.