Richard Lee Smith

Major Richard Lee Smith USMC, Vietnam Veteran fighter pilot, “flew west” after his final “launch”—8 July 2016—from his Henderson, Nevada home. His beloved wife Milan Smith and Milan’s sister Joyce were at his side as he slipped away to his Eternal Home. He was born on the farm in Eldora, Iowa on 26 September 1939. As a Marine lieutenant he donned the naval aviator “Wings of Gold.” By February 1967 he was flying combat missions with the VMFA-122 “Crusaders” out of Danang, Republic of Vietnam. In March 1968 he was ordered to leave his adored fighter-cockpit to support infantry Marines surrounded at Khe Sanh Combat Base. For thirty days he expertly rallied Marine fighter-bombers and called in air strikes against the enemy. Leaving his bunker’s protection to rescue wounded Marines, he received his own wounds. For his heroism he was awarded the Silver Star and two Purple Heart Medals. As a combat wounded Marine, he was retired from the USMC in 1974. He never left the Marine Corps or the Marines he saved and honored. Richard Smith is survived by his wife Milan and by his 8 children and 9 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Palm Southwest Mortuary, 7979 Warm Springs Road, Las Vegas on 22 July 2016: viewing 11am-1pm; ceremony 1pm-2pm; repass to follow. Major R. L. Smith will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.