Obituary: Martin Charles Smith

Martin Charles Smith, a Prescott resident for more than a decade, passed away and into the arms of our Lord on May 21, 2012, from the ICU at the VA Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz.

Martin, a fourth-generation native-born Californian, was born on Jan. 11, 1964, in Monterey Park, Calif. He was an alumnus of the University of Maryland.

He served his country in the United States Army. Sergeant Smith attended basic training; AIT; P.L.D.C. and Airborne Jump School (Parachute) at Ft. Benning, Ga. He served the United States on four continents. He served during the first Gulf War as well as in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and an extended tour with the famed 1st Battalion/506th Infantry Regiment (PIR) "Currahee's" on the DMZ in the Republic of Korea, where he engaged in four skirmishes/firefights against Communist Korean infiltrators. He then served three years in counter-narcotics seizure duty on the U.S./Mexican border as a squad sergeant and as a brevet platoon sergeant with Task Force Grizzly and Task Force Engineers, a field force of Joint Task Force Six. He personally seized more narcotics than any other member of his command. Sergeant Smith was a member of the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Scottish-American Military Society.

Martin was also a United States Department of Defense police officer assigned to the Long Beach Naval Station and shipyard. He received the U.S. Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for his duties as a federal peace officer.

Martin later served as a corrections officer with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. He was a key member of the Adobe Mountain Correctional Facility staff.

Martin was a member of the Scots of Prescott and a 20-year member of the Libertarian Party.

Martin is preceded in death by his only daughter, Leslie L. Smith; his grandparents George Adam Smith (World War I, World War II and Korea) and Lylah Reaford (Creighton) Smith (native Canadian); father Ernst Walter Smith Sr. (U.S. Tank Destroyers, United States Army - World War II); mother Alma-Jean (Campbell) Smith (D.A.R.); his eldest brother, Maj. Ernst Walter Smith Jr., Field Artillery, United States Army; and his elder brother, (Ranger) LTC George Argyle Smith, Infantry, United States Army (retired).

Martin is survived by his remaining brother, Anthony, and fiancée Melinda of Prescott; his uncle, Harold Anthony Smith (World War II, Korea and Vietnam - United States Navy and United States Army (Retired) of Modesto, Calif.; aunts Patricia Vaughn (Smith) Jackson of Sacramento, Calif. and Alyce Grace (Smith) Orr of Sonoma, Calif.; three nephews and three nieces; and his two ex-wives, Darlene and Faith.

Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the VA Chapel, Prescott.

Information provided by survivors.