EL DORADO, CA, USA
U.S. Army
SGT, COMPANY A, BRIGADE SPECIAL TROOPS BATTALION, 4 BCT, FORT POLK, LA
BAGHDAD, IRAQ 04/07/2008
Sergeant Timothy Michael Smith of El Dorado, California was known for his infectious laugh and the stubbornness that always seems to be associated with freckles and red hair. Tim was a rambunctious youngster growing up, and he and his younger brother Tommy were close “trickster” partners. Friends and family saw his big heart and wonderful sense of humor and knew that he always wanted to be a military man. He was born at South Lake Tahoe on September 20, 1982. He graduated from South Tahoe High School in 2001 and joined the Army in 2004.
Sergeant Timothy Smith was killed the morning of April 7th after a roadside bomb exploded while while he was leading a small convoy on patrol in Baghdad; a mission he had conducted more than 140 times before.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 28th, 2004 as a combat engineer. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Sergeant Smith was then assigned to Alpha Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light) at Fort Polk, Louisiana, on October 24th, 2004. Sergeant Smith deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom withTask Force Warrior from March 9th, 2006 to November 21st, 2006. He proudly servedas a driver on his team while on numerous successful missions. On November 27th,2007, Sergeant Smith deployed with Alpha Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion insupport of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was a Husky operator for First Platoon. Sergeant Smith valiantly led his company in IED and EFP finds.
Sergeant Smith’s awards include the Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and a Driver’s Badge.
Military Stop-Loss orders suspend discharges so that experienced members of the military can continue to serve at a time of national crisis. Hollywood made a movie about it. The reality ordered Sergeant Timothy Michael Smith back to duty last year. He died April 7th when his Humvee struck an improvised explosive device in the streets of Baghdad. He was 25 years old. Sergeant Smith and Sergeant Lords were brothers in arms, and they had made a pact. If one was lost in combat, the other would escort his body home. Sergeant Lords did exactly that and escorted his battle buddy back to the US.
Sergeant Timothy M. Smith is survived by his wife Shayna, his son Riley, his father Michael Smith, mother Patricia Smith, brother Tommy Smith and sister Jackie Smith. Known to many as “Timmy”, he was a shining light and an American hero.