GRAND PRAIRIE, TX, USA
U.S. Army
CPL, E CO, 215 BSB, 1-12 CAB, 3 HBCT, 1 CD (TASK ORG TO 25 ID)
BAQUBAH, IRAQ 12/31/2006
The most fitting tribute to Rich is in the words of his father, James Smith:
My son Rich had a zest for life. At the age of 20 his eyes still had a boy’s wonder in everything they saw. He soaked it all up, learned from it, took the best from it and applied it to his life. Rich never said a bad word about anyone and no one had a bad word to say about him and, as I said for the reporters that called my house, he was more man at 20 than most are as grown ups. God, The United States Army and a good wife did that for him. Rich gave the ultimate sacrifice and we are thankful that he died doing his duty to the best of his ability. We must all continue to pray for Amber and my first grandchild, all of Rich’s surviving family and the fighting men and women of the United States of America!
Rich grew up in Arlington, with the exception of the time his family spent in Whitehouse in East Texas. He graduated from Summit High School in Mansfield, TX, where he met his wife-to-be when they were both juniors. They were married in July 2005 after he completed boot camp, and he was very excited about becoming a father. He was taking college courses and intended to get a degree after his military service was complete.
Rich believed he was called by God to serve in the Army, and his family and friends find solace in knowing that he was doing what he believed was right. During the short time he served in the Army, Spc. Richard Anthony Smith gained recognition as the Calvary Division’s soldier of the year. He was killed by a roadside bomb while driving a Humvee with his unit northeast of Baghdad on New Year’s Day, 2007.