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PFC J. Mollohan
to remember
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.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VI Campaign (1968-69)
From Month/Year
November / 1968
To Month/Year
February / 1969
Description This campaign was from 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969. In November 1968 the South Vietnam government with American support began a concentrated effort to expand security in the countryside. This project was known as the "Accelerated Pacification Campaign."
This period covers the election of President Richard M. Nixon and a change of policy brought about by his administration after January 1969 when he announced a coming end to US combat in Southeast Asia and a simultaneous strengthening of South Vietnam's ability to defend itself. Formal truce negotiations began in Paris on January 25, 1969. The period can be characterized as marking time in preparation for an about face. Forty-seven ground combat operations were recorded during this period, the following being the most important:
(1). Operation NAPOLEON in the Dong Ha area initiated previously (1967) by Marine units, terminated on 9 December 1968.
(2). Operation WHEELER WALLOWA by 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 196th Infantry Brigade (Light) in north-central Quan Tin Province. This ended on 11 November.
(3). Operation MACARTHUR initiated by 4th U.S. Infantry Division in II Corps tactical zone terminated on 31 January 1969.
(4). Operation COCHISE GREEN conducted by the 173d Airborne Brigade in Binh Dinh Province.
(5). Operation TOAN THANG II consisted of ground operations throughout III CTZ. This was a multi-division operation involving allied forces.
(6). Operation SEA LORDS was a coast and riverine operation. On 6 December Operation GIANT SLINGSHOT was started to disrupt enemy infiltration of materials from the "Parrot's Beak" area of Cambodia. Air operations continued to be important with over 60,000 sorties flown.
