Peace with Honor
Posted on 5/21/15 - by Bob Ahles, Vietnam Vet, St. Cloud, Minnesota
You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor Harold
Never forgotten
Posted on 3/1/15 - by Jeannie
Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him Oh Lord, May His Soul And All The Souls Of The Faithfully Departed Rest In Peace.
Just saying high and letting you know that you will never be forgotten. Every once in awhile I run into some of our old college crowd. It's pretty scary around here on earth right now. If you can put in a word for us to the Almighty. Rest easy "farm boy" Every time I hear "American Soldier" it reminds me of you.
48 Years Ago
Posted on 11/10/14
Just wanted to leave some thoughts today Harold. We had such good times didn't we? Your beautiful 56 Black and White Ford coup. That flat top haircut. Remember the day we went to your farm and then cruised back up 95 to River Falls? Remember homecoming at UW River Falls? Such a joyous laugh and good nature were the things I remember most about you! It broke my heart to have you lose your life in that crappy place. Life went on here in Western Wi and you wouldn't recognize Stillwater anymore. Every time I hear "Traveling Soldier" I think of you. Jeanne
A Note from The Virtual Wall
The other two men killed in action on 02 March 1969 also are remembered on The Virtual Wall:
1LT Thomas D. Thompson, Los Angeles, CA
SGT Michael D. Hyatt, Tulsa, OK
Remembering An American Hero
Dear SGT Harold John Smith, sir As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned. May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you. With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir Curt Carter
He is remembered
Posted on 5/16/05 - by Dave Schell
This is a photo of Harold Smith. THis picture is from the Stillwater Senior High School Yearbook, 1965. That is the year Harold graduated. Harold was killed on March 2, 1969. He was a friend of mine, and a great human being. We miss him and will never forget him. I thank him for his courage and his sacrifice
I will never forget that day.
Hi Smitty, It's "Short Round" Thinking of You today and everyday since that tragic day. Sorry it's taken Me so long to post. But I haven't forgotten You and never will. That day haunts me and will til I too, pass from this life. Rest in Peace.
We remember
Harold is buried at Ft Snelling Nat Cem.
A good student and FFA officer
As a teacher I had four years to become acquainted with Harold and his family. Harold made a surprisingly good FFA president and was a top student in class. His desire to do a second tour in Viet Nam was no surprise as he understood community service and was always willing to participate. I had just returned to my teaching after a job with USAID in Viet Nam when word of his death reached us at Stillwater Senior High (MN).
never forget that day
Posted on 4/8/01 - by jack noble
smitty, just thinking about you and Lt Thompson, what a terrible day 3-2=69 was. I remeber when your track got hit, and hit again, and there was nothing we could do. Still runs fresh through my mind, even though its been 32 years ago, seems like yesterday. take care old friend
A very good friend of Smitty's, as we called him, He was oh so dedicated to winning the war
Posted on 2/11/01 - by Bobby "Bingo" Bingham
I met Smitty in early December at Cu Chi base camp and issued him his M-16 rifle just like I had done for many others. He was so gung ho when he checked in, little did I know that he was on a second tour. I think he didn't want to share this with many people including his friends. I truly think of him..sometimes on a daily basis and at other times for hours. I wonder what his family thinks now that he has been gone for nearly 32 years. I left there on April 30, 1969 or about 57 days after his death and I guess I will go to my grave wondering about him had he lived. I wish there were some way I could talk to his family and possibly make them feel better but that probably would only make it worse, surely time has helped dull that place so deep inside that I can't describe it. Oh I'm sure we all feel that way about some things in our past. I miss seeing you Smithy and I know you've had a few of THE TROOPERS to join you over the last few years and I probably will see you sooner than I plan. I will keep you in my heart till then, okay. I miss you to much to say. I know Tommy feels the same way. Till then your friend forever "Bingo
To Harold
Posted on 4/23/00 - by Dave Schell
Harold was a good athlete, he especialy like wrestling. He was a good person, the kind of man you wanted to be your neighbor. I talked to him after his first tour and asked him why he was going back ? His answer, those people need our help. Thats the way Harold was.
Garnet Jenkins
garijen@bresnan.net
Grand Junction Co
~ In Remembrance of a Fallen Hero ~
In Tribute to Sgt Harold John Smith, with So Much Gratitude for his Courage, Service and Dedication to our Country and for Freedom. Rest in Peace and know that you will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. I am the sister of such a young hero, who also made the Supreme Sacrifice in Vietnam 1967... ...NOW ARISES FROM HALLOWED GROUND A DELICATE CLOUD OF BUGLE NOTES THAT SOFTLY SAY, GO TO SLEEP....COMRADES TRUE, BORN ANEW, PEACE TO YOU. YOUR SOULS SHALL BE WHERE THE HEROES ARE AND YOUR MEMORIES SHINE LIKE THE MORNING STAR....SLUMBER WELL, WHERE THE SHELLS SCREAMED AND FELL....THE DANGER HAS PASSED, AND NOW AT LAST, GO TO SLEEP.... By ~ Sgt Joyce Kilmer, 165th US Infantry (formerly 69th NYNG) KIA Ourcq, France~July 30, 1918 ~TO THE EVERLASTING GLORY OF THE INFANTRY~
Mar 2, 2009
Manuel Pino B/2/8 Cav,1st Cav Div 68-69
mpjr54@msn.com
Fellow Army Vietnam Vet
B Trp/ 3/4th, Cav Rgt, 25th Inf Div
~TREASURE THIS HERO LORD, IN YOUR GARDEN OF REST, FOR WHILE HERE ON EARTH, HE WAS ONE OF OUR BEST~
Jun 10, 2008
Gary Books
hoppy@onlyinternet.net
Training Company Friend
Ossian, IN 46777 USA
A Really Good Guy
Harold and I pushed troops together at Ft. Lewis, Wash., after NCO school taught kids mortar, getting them ready for Vietnam. He was a big guy, a gentle guy was devastated when I checked the Wall website and saw that he was killed. I knew that he had been wounded not long after arriving in country, as a kid whose last name was Guy saw me when riding by on a truck and told me, "Sgt. Smith got hit." "Dead?" I asked. Guy shook his head no. If anyone knows how Sgt. Smith died from burns please contact me. Thanks. I was 1st platoon sgt., company D, 2-12 25th division 12-68 to 6-69.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
David Pilliod
dkpilliod@yahoo.com
Army Buddy
5000 Birch St.
Newport Beach, Ca 92660
We attended basic training at Ft. Benning together. He is truly a hero. Rest in peace brother.
Thursday, May 16, 2002
doug snyder
C2555D@aol.com
FELLOW SOLDIER 25TH INF.
2555 MIDDLE WAY
EASTON, PA 18040 USA
NOT FORGOTTEN HERO
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN, HERO. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE. DOUG, CO.A, 222ND INF., 25TH INF. DIV. 1968
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
5Jul 2004
Smitty, we had another reunion, this makes number 9. We have one every other year. You are still missed by many, SFC Maxey, Bingo, CPT Jackson and many others to include myself. You were one of three that died on that fatal day, besides yourself there was LT Thompson and SGT Hyatt. Your track getting hit is still as fresh in my mind today as when it happened 35 years ago. The other thing that is still in my mind is that there was nothing we could do for you even though we tried.
16 Nov 2004
Harold's girlfriend Cathy works at our local coffee shop and was delighted to get The Virtual Wall internet printout. She is saving many such items about Harold and the Vietnam conflict for her grandchildren.
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