Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith, 26, of Arlington, Texas

SSgt Smith was assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Houston; died April 6, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

The 26-year-old had served three tours in Iraq. After he got out of the Marines, he joined the Marine Reserves and was sent on a tour of Afghanistan.

He was a 2003 graduate of Martin High School in Arlington.

Teachers there said he was passionate about his patriotism and following the Sept. 11 attacks he made the decision to join the military right out of school.

“I tried to talk him into ROTC first and go in as an officer. I just couldn’t talk him out of it. He was going to serve his country. He was just dedicated to doing that,” said Susan Kingen, a MHS counselor.

Sgt. Smith’s father said his son joined the reserves after his regular service so he would be able to serve his country while getting a college education.

He was studying criminal justice at UTA and was about a year away from graduating. But he ultimately wanted to return to the Marines as an officer.

Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith was killed in action on 4/6/11.