[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27286]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                TRIBUTE TO MASTER SERGEANT ROBERT SMITH

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                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to bring to the attention of 
the House an article from The Lexington Chronicle, about Army Master 
Sergeant Robert Smith, which gives an account of his impressive 
military record. Sergeant Smith is truly a great American

          [From the Lexington County Living, November 9, 2000]

                         A Young Warrior's Tale


           Robert Smith enlisted in the Army at the age of 14

                   (By Robert Smith and Mike Rowell)

       Early in 1950, the North Koreans invaded South Korea. I had 
     just joined the 511th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 11th 
     Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky, in April. So I 
     volunteered for duty in the Korea War.
       I arrived in Korea in early September, 1950 and was 
     assigned to the intelligence and reconnaissance platoon of 
     the 7th Infantry Division. Most of the time, we just went up 
     the mountains and down the valleys of Korea. I was wounded 
     for the first time while on patrol near Souwan.
       Like many boys who grew up during World War II, my dream 
     was to be a soldier. I was especially interested in the 
     paratroopers and Darby's Rangers. I dreamed that the military 
     was the life for me.
       Just three months after my fourteenth birthday, I decided 
     start living my lifelong dream. I went and enlisted in the 
     U.S. Army. I lied and gave my age as 17, which required 
     parental consent.
       The recruiter said that he would drive me to my house for 
     my mother's signature. However, when we arrived at the end of 
     the twisting road with my house still a mile hike up the 
     mountain side, he stopped the car.
       He said, ``You go get your mother to sign here.''
       I had counted on that! My cousin signed it. I was in the 
     Army now.
       My basic training was at Camp Pickett, Va. During boot 
     camp, I did something wrong and my platoon sergeant called me 
     down and said, ``You little SOB--I know you're not old enough 
     to be in the Army. If I thought you could make a living on 
     the outside, I would have your ass kicked out.''
       After basic training, I volunteered for the Airborne and 
     completed jump school in March of 1949--it was one day after 
     my fifteenth birthday. At this time the 11th Airborne 
     Division was coming stateside from Japan, and the 82nd 
     Airborne was at full strength. So I was assigned to Germany 
     and flew security on aircraft involved in the Berlin Airlift.
       Then came Korea. Just before New Year's Day 1951, the 2nd 
     Airborne Ranger Company was assigned to my division. I 
     volunteered and was assigned to this illustrious Ranger 
     company.
       Not long after that, I was wounded a second time and sent 
     to a hospital in Japan. After recovery, I was returned to 
     Korea for a time. But shortly thereafter I was rotated back 
     to the United States at Fort Campbell, Ky.
       Incidentally, I bumped into my old basic-training drill 
     sergeant--the one who had threatened to kick me out of the 
     Army. I don't know what he had done, but he had been busted 
     from master sergeant to private first class. My rank was 
     sergeant first class. Revenge is a dish best served cold!
       In November 1952, I was assigned to the 32nd Infantry in my 
     old division
       After the Korean War, I had to adjust to the peacetime 
     Army. During this period, the Army decided to change the 
     dress uniform from Khaki to green. The orders went out for a 
     group of soldier to model the `new look.'
       The requirements were simple. You had to be at least six 
     feet tall and a combat veteran. I was one of the four men, 
     out of 258 from the 3rd Army who were selected. During the 
     next three and a half years, I traveled throughout the United 
     States, Europe, and Japan, modeling the new uniform. What a 
     change from Korea!
       One morning in 1964, I was at the Pentagon at the enlisted 
     branch records department. I signed in, stated my reason for 
     being there, and sat down to wait my turn. A sharp looking 
     sergeant picked up the sign-in sheet, left the room. When he 
     returned he announced,
       ``There are 28 noncoms in here trying to get out of going 
     to Vietnam. There is only one trying to go there. Sgt. Smith, 
     come with me.''
       I had my Vietnam assignment within thirty minutes. I went 
     back overseas as an advisor. I was wounded for the fourth 
     time during that tour.
       My second Vietnam tour was with the 11th Airborne Cavalry's 
     Long Range Patrol. We were involved in typical Vietnam 
     operations--patrol, search and destroy. On one of those 
     patrols I was wounded for the fifth time.
       I retired on December 30, 1969. There was a big ceremony 
     for those who were retiring. I was supposed to be awarded my 
     fifth Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor.
       When the major general came to me he said, ``Sergeant, how 
     old are you? You look like you should be coming in, not going 
     out.''
       Instead of pinning my medals on, he handed them to me and 
     said, ``You have more medals than I do. Put them on wherever 
     you can!''
       Robert ``Smitty'' Smith earned the Combat Infantryman Badge 
     and was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart at 
     age 16. He earned the Silver Star, a second Bronze Star for 
     heroism and two Purple Hearts by age 17, all while serving in 
     Korea.
       He also received the U.S. Navy Commendation Medal for 
     leading a squad that assisted the return of a U.S. Marine 
     patrol that had been surrounded by an enemy force.
       During his two tours in Vietnam, he received two Purple 
     Hearts, another Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army 
     Commendation Medal for Valor, his third Bronze Star for 
     Valor, the Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry 
     with Palm. He proudly wore a Master Parachutists Badge.
       Smitty and his wife Ann live in Gilbert, South Carolina. 
     They have three sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren. All 
     three sons served in the Airborne infantry. One son, an 
     underage veteran who joined the Army at age 15, was killed in 
     an automobile accident in 1993.
       Sgt. Robert Smith, Ret. is a proud member of the Veterans 
     of Underage Military Service (VUMS). This organization is 
     open to veterans of the Army, Navy, Marines Corps, Air Force, 
     Coast Guard, and the Merchant Marines.
       VUMS is actively seeking eligible members. The National 
     Commander is Edward E. Gilley, 4011 Tiger Point Blvd., Gulf 
     Breeze, Florida, 32561-3515. He can be reached at 888-653-
     8867, FAX at 850-934-1315, or you can e-mail him at ed-bess-
[email protected].

     

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