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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
William Smith

Major William Ralph Smith, USA (Ret) was born October 8, 1941 in Detroit, MI. His aviation career started in the first R.O.T.C. Flight Class at Central Michigan University in 1965; he entered on active duty in June 1967 and completed Armored Officer Basic.
Entered U.S. Army Rotary Wing Primary Helicopter School at Ft. Wolters, TX in the winter of 1967, ORWAC Class 68-16, transferred to Advanced Rotary Wing Helicopter School at Ft. Rucker, AL, set back to ORWAC 68-512, and graduated in August 1968.
Reported to the Republic of Viet Nam in October 1968 and was assigned to B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry. Assigned to the Lift Platoon and then transferred to the Scout Platoon. While in country, he scouted in the Tay Ninh and Dong Tam areas of operation as a leader of a Hunter/Killer team. In the spring of 1969, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross three times for valor in three separate engagements initiated by him in support of the 9th Infantry Division. In 1968 - 1969, B Troop was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palm and the Vietnamese Civic Action Honor Medal.
Returned to the United States and flew proficiency flights when in ground assignments. While assigned to U.S. Army Recruiting duty in the San Francisco District Recruiting Command, he was temporarily attached to the 6TH U.S. Army Flight Detachment at Hamilton AFB. Here in 1975, he participated in Operation Baby Lift. Specifically when the children from Viet Nam arrived, some were in serious medical condition. He flew MEDEVAC missions from Travis AFB to the "hot spot" at Lettermen U.S. Army General Hospital at the Presidio of San Francisco. This mission merited the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Other Aviation assignments include the Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Armored Cavalry; 227th Aviation Company and Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade (Ironhorse), 1st Cavalry Division; Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 13th Aviation Battalion and Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 6th Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat); and as the Assistant Division Aviation Officer for the Second Infantry Division, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Aviation Battalion (U.S. Army Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year, 1982).
Civilian Rating: Piper 152 (Colt); Military ratings include TH-55A (Osage); OH-13T (Souix); UH-1A, B, D, H (Iroquois); OH-6A (Cayuse); OH-58A (Kiowa) and AH-1G (Cobra).
Memorable achievements were receipt of R.O.T.C. Aviator Badge; Distinguished Military Student Award; Army Aviator Badge; Hughes Helicopters', Combat Aviation Award; Senior Army Aviator Badge; and assignment to the U.S. Army Aviation Branch, 1984 (the 75th Anniversary of United States Military Flight).
Military Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 OLC; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal w/3 OLC; Air Medal w/22 OLC; Army Commendation Medal w/OLC; National Defense Service Medal; Viet Nam Service Medal w/four battle stars; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal and three foreign awards.