Paul F. Smith: Difference between revisions

Paul F. Smith
Paul F. Smith
Born	November 15, 1915; Taunton, Massachusetts
Died	October 20, 2014 (aged 98); Viera, Florida
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1935–1968
Rank	Major General
Commands	173rd Airborne Brigade; 2nd Airborne Battle Group, 504th Infantry Regiment; United States Army Airborne School
Battles / wars	World War II; Korean War; Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross; Army Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star (2); Legion of Merit (3); Bronze Star Medal (3); Purple Heart (5)

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Paul F. Smith (November 15, 1915 – October 20, 2014) was a United States Army major general who served as commander of the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War.

Early life and education

Smith was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, on November 15, 1915. He was educated at Taunton High School.

Military service

Smith enrolled in the United States Army Reserve in 1935. He served with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II, jumping into Normandy on D-Day. He served at the Battle of the Bulge and made a further combat jump during Operation Varsity.

From 1945 to 1948 Smith served as commanding officer of the United States Army Airborne School at Fort Benning. From 1948 to 1950 he served as G3 Eighth United States Army in Japan.

With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, Smith served with Eighth Army (forward) at Daegu, Korea until 1951 and was awarded the Legion of Merit. He then returned to Japan joining Headquarters Far East Command.

From 1952 to 1956 Smith served at The Pentagon as Operations Officer and then as Military Assistant Secretary of the Army. In 1957 he graduated from the United States Army War College. From 1957 to 1960 he served as commander of the 2nd Airborne Battle Group, 504th Infantry Regiment in West Germany.

From 1960 to 1964 Smith served as assistant commander/G2 and deputy commander/Operations & Plans XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. He was promoted to Brigadier General in June 1964 and served as army adviser to Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan.

In July 1965 Smith was assigned to South Vietnam where he served as Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff Task Force Alpha, later redesignated I Field Force, Vietnam, Nha Trang. He was appointed Commanding General, 173rd Airborne Brigade in February 1966.^[1]^[2] In November 1966 he was promoted to major general and in December 1966 he handed over command of the 173rd Airborne and then served as Deputy for Revolutionary Development to Robert Komer in Saigon.

On his return from Vietnam in June 1967, Smith served as Chairman Special Study Group Joint Chiefs of Staff until his retirement.

Later life

Smith retired from the army on 11 August 1968 and then worked as Executive Director of the Central Florida Development Committee until 1974.

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

^ Carland, John (2000). Combat Operations Stemming the Tide May 1965 to October 1966. Army Center of Military History. p. 181-3. ISBN 9781782663430.
^ McGibbon, Ian (2010). New Zealand's Vietnam War: A History of Combat, Commitment and Controversy. Exisle. p. 222. ISBN 0908988966.

[1] Carland, John (2000). Combat Operations Stemming the Tide May 1965 to October 1966. Army Center of Military History. p. 181-3. ISBN 9781782663430.

[2] McGibbon, Ian (2010). New Zealand's Vietnam War: A History of Combat, Commitment and Controversy. Exisle. p. 222. ISBN 0908988966.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox military person
-|name=Paul F. Smith
+|name= Paul F. Smith
+|image=
-|birth_date= {{Birth date|1915|11|15}}
+|image_size=
-|death_date= {{death-date and age|October 20, 2014|November 15, 1915}}
+|alt=
-|birth_place=[[Taunton, Massachusetts]]
+|caption=
-|death_place=[[Viera, Florida]]
+|nickname=
-|placeofburial=[[Arlington National Cemetery]]
+|birth_date= {{birth date|1915|11|15}}
-|placeofburial_label=
+|birth_place= [[Taunton, Massachusetts]]
-|image=
+|death_date= {{death date and age|2014|10|20|1915|11|15}}
-|caption=
+|death_place= [[Viera, Florida]]
-|allegiance=United States of America
+|placeofburial= [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
-|branch={{army|United States}}
+|allegiance= United States
+|branch= [[United States Army]]
 |serviceyears= 1935–1968
-|rank= [[File:US Army O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg|25px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
+|rank= [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
+|servicenumber=
-|commands=[[173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team#Vietnam War|173rd Airborne Brigade]]
 |unit=
+|commands= [[173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team#Vietnam War|173rd Airborne Brigade]]<br/>2nd Airborne Battle Group, [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)#Occupation and garrison|504th Infantry Regiment]]<br/>[[United States Army Airborne School]]
-|battles= [[World War II]]<br>[[Korean War]]<br>[[Vietnam War]]
+|battles= [[World War II]]<br/>[[Korean War]]<br/>[[Vietnam War]]
-|awards= [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]<br>[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]]<br>[[Silver Star]]<br>[[Legion of Merit]]
+|awards= [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]<br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Silver Star]] (2)<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] (3)<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]] (3)<br/>[[Purple Heart]] (5)
-|laterwork=
 |relations=
+|laterwork=
 }}
-'''Paul F. Smith''' was a [[United States Army]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] who served as commander of the [[173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team#Vietnam War|173rd Airborne Brigade]] during the [[Vietnam War]].
+'''Paul F. Smith''' (November 15, 1915 – October 20, 2014) was a [[United States Army]] [[Major general (United States)|major general]] who served as commander of the [[173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team#Vietnam War|173rd Airborne Brigade]] during the [[Vietnam War]].
 ==Early life and education==
-He attended [[Taunton High School]].
+Smith was born in [[Taunton, Massachusetts]], on November 15, 1915. He was educated at [[Taunton High School]].
 ==Military service==
+Smith enrolled in the [[United States Army Reserve]] in 1935. He served with the [[507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)|507th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] during [[World War II]], jumping into Normandy on [[American airborne landings in Normandy|D-Day]]. He served at the [[Battle of the Bulge]] and made a further combat jump during [[Operation Varsity]].
-He enrolled in the [[United States Army Reserve]] in 1935.
+From 1945 to 1948 Smith served as commanding officer of the [[United States Army Airborne School]] at [[Fort Benning]]. From 1948 to 1950 he served as G3 [[Eighth United States Army]] in Japan.
-===World War II===
-He served with the [[507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)|507th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] jumping into Normandy on [[American airborne landings in Normandy|D-Day]]. He served at the [[Battle of the Bulge]] and made a further combat jump during [[Operation Varsity]].
+With the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in June 1950, Smith served with Eighth Army (forward) at [[Daegu]], Korea until 1951 and was awarded the [[Legion of Merit]]. He then returned to Japan joining Headquarters [[Far East Command (United States)|Far East Command]].
-===Post WWII===
-From 1945 to 1948 he served as commanding officer of the [[United States Army Airborne School|Airborne School]] at [[Fort Benning]]. From 1948 to 1950 he served as G3 [[Eighth United States Army]] in Japan.
+From 1952 to 1956 Smith served at [[The Pentagon]] as Operations Officer and then as Military Assistant Secretary of the Army. In 1957 he graduated from the [[United States Army War College]]. From 1957 to 1960 he served as commander of the 2nd Airborne Battle Group, [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)#Occupation and garrison|504th Infantry Regiment]] in [[West Germany]].
-===Korean War===
-With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 he served with Eighth Army [forward] at [[Daegu]], Korea until 1951 and was awarded the [[Legion of Merit]]. He then returned to Japan joining Headquarters [[Far East Command (United States)|Far East Command]].
+From 1960 to 1964 Smith served as assistant commander/G2 and deputy commander/Operations & Plans [[XVIII Airborne Corps]] at [[Fort Bragg]]. He was promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] in June 1964 and served as army adviser to [[Military Assistance Advisory Group#MAAG Republic of China|Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan]].
-===Post Korean War===
-From 1952 to 1956 he served at [[The Pentagon]] as Operations Officer and then as Military Assistant Secretary of the Army.
+In July 1965 Smith was assigned to [[South Vietnam]] where he served as Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff Task Force Alpha, later redesignated [[I Field Force, Vietnam]], [[Nha Trang]]. He was appointed Commanding General, 173rd Airborne Brigade in February 1966.<ref>{{cite book|last=Carland|first=John|title=Combat Operations Stemming the Tide May 1965 to October 1966|publisher=Army Center of Military History|year=2000|isbn=9781782663430|url=|page=181-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McGibbon|first=Ian|title=New Zealand's Vietnam War: A History of Combat, Commitment and Controversy|publisher=Exisle|year=2010|isbn=0908988966|page=222}}</ref> In November 1966 he was promoted to major general and in December 1966 he handed over command of the 173rd Airborne and then served as Deputy for [[Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support|Revolutionary Development]] to [[Robert Komer]] in [[Saigon]].
-In 1957 he graduated from the [[United States Army War College|Army War College]].
+On his return from Vietnam in June 1967, Smith served as Chairman Special Study Group [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] until his retirement.
-From 1957 to 1960 he served as commander of the 2nd Airborne Battle Group, [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)#Occupation and garrison|504th Infantry Regiment]] in [[West Germany]].
-From 1960 to 1964 he served as assistant commander/G2 and deputy commander/Operations & Plans [[XVIII Airborne Corps]] at [[Fort Bragg]].
-In June 1964 he was promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] and served as Army adviser to [[Military Assistance Advisory Group#MAAG Republic of China|Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan]].
-===Vietnam War===
-In July 1965 he was assigned to [[South Vietnam]] where he served as Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff Task Force Alpha, later redesignated [[I Field Force, Vietnam]], [[Nha Trang]].
-In February 1966 he was appointed Commanding General, 173rd Airborne Brigade.<ref>{{cite book|last=Carland|first=John|title=Combat Operations Stemming the Tide May 1965 to October 1966|publisher=Army Center of Military History|year=2000|isbn=9781782663430|url=|page=181-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McGibbon|first=Ian|title=New Zealand's Vietnam War: A History of Combat, Commitment and Controversy|publisher=Exisle|year=2010|isbn=0908988966|page=222}}</ref>
-In November 1966 he was promoted to Major General and in December 1966 he handed over command of the 173rd Airborne and then served as Deputy for [[Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support|Revolutionary Development]] to [[Robert Komer]] in [[Saigon]].
-===Post Vietnam===
-On his return from Vietnam in June 1967 he served as Chairman Special Study Group [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] until his retirement.
 ==Later life==
-He retired from the Army on 11 August 1968 and then worked as Executive Director of the Central Florida Development Committee until 1974.
+Smith retired from the army on 11 August 1968 and then worked as Executive Director of the Central Florida Development Committee until 1974.
 ==References==
@@ Line 68: / Line 53: @@
 [[Category:1915 births]]
 [[Category:2014 deaths]]
+[[Category:American army personnel of the Korean War]]
+[[Category:American army personnel of the Vietnam War]]
+[[Category:American army personnel of World War II]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
 [[Category:United States Army generals]]
-[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]