Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class (SEAL) Adam O. Smith

Remember Our Heroes

Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class (SEAL) Adam O. Smith, 26, of Hurdland, Mo.

PO2 Smith was assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team; died Sept. 21, 2010 in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash during combat operations in the Zabul province, Afghanistan. Also killed in the crash were Army Maj. Robert F. Baldwin, Army Sgt. Marvin R. Calhoun Jr., Lt. (SEAL) Brendan J. Looney, Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonah D. McClellan, Navy Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class (SEAL) Denis C. Miranda, Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) David B. McLendon, Army Staff Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, and Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew G. Wagstaff.

Being Adams 1st platoon chief... I can say he was one of my best! Hard charging new breed of Frogman! You will be missed my brother! God bless!
(from the Navy SEAL facebook pages)

Macon, Mo —
Macon County received word one of their former citizens had died in Afghanistan Tuesday while serving his country.

He is the son of Eric Smith of Columbia and Michele Jorgenson of Macon. He is the grandson of Gene and Lucille Smith of the state of Louisiana, formerly of Bevier and Katherine and Stanley Lay of Bevier.

On Tuesday, Sept. 7, Spec. 4 Jacob Richardson, a cousin to Navy Seal Adam Smith, was among 10 other soldiers who were shot by an Iraqi soldier in northern Iraq.

Spec. 4 Richardson has been transported to a VA hospital in Hawaii so he can be near his wife, Robin Morgan of Bevier, Spec. 4 Richardson’s aunt said.

“Adam and Jacob are cousins,” Robin said. “Jacob is undergoing extensive therapy now. There is a 50/50 chance he could lose his leg. His focus is to walk again.”

Below is the KTVO story from September 21, 2010:

The Department of Defense announced Wednesday afternoon that a Navy SEAL from northeast Missouri was one of four sailors who died Tuesday in a helicopter crash.

It happened during combat operations in a rugged section of southern Afghanistan.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam O. Smith, 26, formerly of Bevier, was one of nine U.S. service members on board the chopper.

Smith was assigned to an East-Coast-based SEAL team.

Smith was a graduate of Bevier High School.

In his younger years, he also attended school in the Knox County School District.

Smith's funeral arrangements are pending with Hutton and McElwain Funeral Home in Macon.

A funeral home spokeswoman told KTVO Wednesday afternoon that Smith's family was informed that the Navy won't release his body to the family for five to seven days.

"On behalf of the entire Naval Special Warfare community -- we extend our sincerest condolences to all the families of our fallen brothers, our Navy SEALs and support tech, Army air crewmen, and coalition personnel," said Rear Adm. Edward Winters, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. "Our prayers are with these families during this very difficult time."

Smith entered the Navy in October 2004 and attended aviation technical training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla. In March of 2005, Smith was accepted to BUD/S. After SEAL qualification training, Smith was assigned to an east coast SEAL Team, where he excelled as a special warfare operator, making numerous deployments in support of overseas contingency operations. Smith was described by fellow SEALs as a highly decorated combat veteran and dedicated teammate. Smith is survived by his mother and father.

"These men bravely and unselfishly answered the nation's call to defend freedom and protect the nation and its allies from terrorism," said Rear Adm. Winters. "The loss of these brave warriors will only strengthen our resolve in the fight against extremism and terror."

Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class (SEAL) Adam O. Smith was killed in action on 9/21/10.