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PFC J. Mollohan
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Smoot, Richard, MSG.
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Contact Info
Home Town Crownhill
Last Address Tornado, West Virginia
Date of Passing Jul 02, 2015
Location of Interment Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery - Dunbar, West Virginia
Master Sergeant(Retired) Richard A. Smoot, 67, of Tornado, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2015.He was born June 28, 1948 in Crownhill, West Virginia, the son of Trilba Gay Smoot and the late Richard Smoot.Dick was a devoted husband, father, and friend always willing to lend a hand. He was the rock of our immediate and extended family. Richard was a Retired US Army Veteran having served in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Dick had numerous military accomplishments all after the age of 40. At age 43, he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course as a Weapon Sgt., at age 50, he was Combat Diver Qualified (He was the eldest at the time). He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha Team SGT conducting Combat Operations in Afghanistan in early 2002, and the Company Weapons SGT in Iraq in 2005 - 2006. Dick was a Whiskey 9, meaning he was both Halo and Scuba Qualified. Dick was a LEGEND in the Special Forces Community and respected by all. Dick was Commander for American Legion Post 73 for 3 and a half years. He was a member of the American Legion Riders, and Rolling Thunder Inc. But his greatest accomplishment of all was being the husband to a loving wife and father to his three children. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Anna Smoot; son, Richard Allen Smoot and his wife, Kellie, of Watertown, N.Y.; daughters, Tonya Smoot and Tangie Smoot, both of Tornado; 8 grandchildren; brothers, George Smoot and his wife, Terri, of Charleston, Kenneth Smoot, of East Bank; sister, Penny Ratliff and her husband, Jim, of Spencer; all his nieces and nephews whom he treated as his own. He will be forever missed but will remain among us.Celebration of Dick's life will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, at Casdorph & Curry Funeral Home with LTC (Chaplain) Rob Hudson officiating. Burial will follow in Donnel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Institute with Full Military Honors being conducted by Special Forces Association Chapter 68, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and assisted by American Legion Post 73 and VFW Post 6418.Gathering of family and friends will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.Online condolences can be sent to the family at: www.casdorphandcurry.com
Completed the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) becoming an 18B Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. He later became the oldest person to complete and graduate the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course (CDQC).
A legend in 2nd BN, 19th SFG (A) and the Special Forces Community.
Description This campaign was from 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970. An increase in enemy-initiated attacks, at the highest level since 4-5 September signaled the start of the first phase of the Communist winter campaign. This was highlighted by intensified harassment incidents, and attacks throughout the Republic of Vietnam. In November-December these were heaviest in Corps Tactical Zones III and IV (around Saigon), primarily directed against Vietnamese military installations in order to disrupt the pacification program. The most significant enemy activity occurred in November with heavy attacks upon By Prang and Duc Lap in CTZ II (Central Vietnam).
By February 1970 the focus of enemy activity began to shift to CTZ I and II. Attacks increased steadily, reaching a peak in April 1970. Hostile forces staged their heaviest attacks in the Central Highlands near Civilian Irregular Defense Group camps at Dak Seang, Dak Pek, and Ben Het in I CTZ. The enemy also conducted numerous attacks by fire and several sapper attacks against U.S. fire support bases. This high level of enemy activity began in I CTZ in April and continued through May.
During the period 1 November 1969 through 30 April 1970 U.S. and allied forces concentrated on aggressive operations to find and destroy enemy main and local forces, the penetration of base camps and installations and the seizure of enemy supplies and materiel. These operations sought to deny the enemy the initiative and to inflict heavy losses in men and materiel. Further progress was made in Vietnamization through improving the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. As a result of these advances three brigades of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division and several major U.S.M.C. units were withdrawn from Vietnam during this period.
The enemy made several efforts to take the offensive at Dak Seang, which was attacked on 1 April 1970 and remained under siege throughout the month, and at Quang Duc in the By Prong-Duc Lap area which ended on 28 December. Only Vietnamese forces were engaged in both of these operations, the Quang Duc campaign involving some 12,000 ARVN troops. South Vietnamese forces again took the offensive on 14 April in a bold 3-day operation in the Angel's Wing area along the Cambodian border. The Vietnamese Army completed this mission in an aggressive professional manner without U.S. support-further evidence of their growing proficiency.
