GARY T. SMITH, LTCOL, USAF

Gary Smith '54

Date of birth: May 10, 1931

Date of death: March 27, 1970

Age: 38

Lucky Bag

From the 1954 Lucky Bag:

Gary Thomas Smith

Klamath Falls, Oregon

All Smiths are called Smitty and this one is no exception. He was one of the forty odd Smittys enrolled at the Academy. His main interests were girls, athletics, and dragging. He claims Oregon, or more specifically Klamath Falls, as his home. His after-taps stories of the beauties of Oregon would make anyone homesick. Beauty, to him, included both girls and the wonderful scenery of Oregon. Smitty spent one year at Oregon State where he was enrolled as a chemical engineer. He worked hard on academics, and at all the hops one could see his small gold stars. Studying, however, did not deprive him from having fun as one could always find him ready to make excitement.

TENNIS—1. BASKETBALL— 2. FIELDBALL—1. HANDBALL—1. VARSITY: CREW—1. TENNIS—1.

Gary Thomas Smith

Klamath Falls, Oregon

All Smiths are called Smitty and this one is no exception. He was one of the forty odd Smittys enrolled at the Academy. His main interests were girls, athletics, and dragging. He claims Oregon, or more specifically Klamath Falls, as his home. His after-taps stories of the beauties of Oregon would make anyone homesick. Beauty, to him, included both girls and the wonderful scenery of Oregon. Smitty spent one year at Oregon State where he was enrolled as a chemical engineer. He worked hard on academics, and at all the hops one could see his small gold stars. Studying, however, did not deprive him from having fun as one could always find him ready to make excitement.

TENNIS—1. BASKETBALL— 2. FIELDBALL—1. HANDBALL—1. VARSITY: CREW—1. TENNIS—1.

Loss

Gary was lost on March 27, 1970 when his F-4 Phantom II crashed during a test flight near Englin Air Force Base, Florida.

Other Information

From the September-October 1970 issue of Shipmate:

LtCol. Gary T. Smith, USAF, died 27 March as the result of an aircraft accident at Eglin AFB, Florida. Funeral services were held at the Eglin Chapel with interment at Barrancas National Cemetery, in Pensacola, with full military honors.
Col. Smith was born in Kalamath Falls, Or., and attended Oregon State University before entering the Naval Academy. He graduated from the Academy in the class of 1954 and was commissioned in the U. S. Air Force.
During his tour of duty as an F4C aircraft commander in Vietnam, he completed 183 combat missions and was awarded, among other decorations, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Ousters.
He held a Master's Degree in nuclear physics from North Carolina State College and Master's Degree in business administration from the George Washington University. He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Societies.
He is survived by his widow, Joan Pamela, of 344 Holmes Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, Fl. 32548; two daughters, Pamela and Cheryl; and a sister.

Gary was a member of the 3246th Test Wing, based at Eglin. He is buried in Florida.