Col. John William Smith III was born February 15, 1929 and died December 27, 2020. John died peacefully at home with Jeani at his side. The good Lord granted John his wish to spend Christmas with his family. He was able to visit, via phone, with his out-of-town family and shared the day with some of his in-town family. December 26 he was able to share the day with the rest of his nearby family.
It is impossible to describe the very essence of John – his unbelievable excitement for being alive – his motto: faith, family, friends, love, live, laugh. John had a tremendous joy for life, friends, strangers, education and places; for over forty-five years he shared this joy with his best friend, lover, longtime companion and wife, Jeani.
John joined the military in 1946, during his 24+ years in the military John flew sixty-one low level Night Intruder combat missions in B-26 aircraft over North Korea in 1950/51; John flew cover for the evacuation of the First Marines after the battle of the Chosin Reservoir. He flew 3000 hours in B-36 combat aircraft; he flew over 4000 hours in B-52 combat aircraft and served three tours of duty in South East Asia flying combat missions in B-52 aircraft, out of Thailand, over Viet Nam and Cambodia. John also served as Staff Officer and Deputy Wing Commander for Operations. John logged more than 10,000 hours in United State Air Force combat aircraft. His many decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star, six Air Medals and the “pretty good Conduct Medal.”
After John’s 3rd tour in Viet Nam he chose to retire. After retiring from the military John let his red hair grow – he wore a beard, sideburns and a braid down his back while he attended the University of Texas. He always said, “After three tours in Vietnam it was either drugs or school”. He chose school. John took a degree from the University of Texas at Austin Magna Cum Laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. After U.T. John went to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Austin for 17 years, as a computer systems analyst and special assistant to the Director.
John loved Austin, the lakes and the hill country where he spent long hours building ‘things’, boating and just ‘enjoying’. He was dedicated to the cultural community and belonged to: Knights of the Symphony, Executive Board member of the Symphony Square Committee; charter member of the Austin Lyric Opera Guild; the Historical Society of Austin; the Heritage Society; Life Member of Texas-Exes; member of The Longhorn Club of Austin; Longhorn Foundation; Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion; Charter member of the Dell Children’s Hospital Grandparent’s Club. John loved history and working with genealogy.
John and Jeani spent 24/7 together and never tired of each other’s company; playing tennis; traveling; riding bicycles; walking, hiking; attending educational classes. He took great interest and pleasure in his family and shared their love. Time spent with his sons and their families was precious as was every minute spent with his sister; brother; brother-in-law; sisters-in-law; and his nieces and nephews. He had extended families of very special friends – ‘Bethany Lutheran Church and the Wednesday Bible Study group’; ‘Our Supper Club’; the ‘VA Coffee Klatch of retired VAers’; the ‘OLLI LAMP Breakfast group’ at the University of Texas - all were an integral part of his life – it is important they know how much they enhanced his life and how much he loved them; they lifted his spirit as they graced him with their love and friendship.
Service will be live streamed https://bethanyaustin.online.church/
