Jerome ‘Jerry’ Smith entered the US Army on 06/27/1967 and was sent to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, for basic training. Following basic, Jerry Smith served 5 months as an AV specialist at HQ, Ft McPherson, GA. Ordered to Wurzburg, Germany’s Third Infantry Division in February 1968, and served his final 15 months as a Broadcast Specialist primarily working in the 3ID’s Public Information Office and the American Forces Radio Network (AFN). While supervising the Division’s Marne Monitor radio show, Smith also did some writing for the Frontline newspaper, as well as providing an occasional story for the European Stars & Stripes newspaper.
Jerry reached the rank of Spec 5, and was discharged on 06/03/1969.
His civilian life is a story in its own, from business management to the Community Foundation, to the Mayor of DeKalb, and more.
Jerry Smith is Co-Chair of the DeKalb County Veterans Recognition Fund and active in many DeKalb Veteran Projects.
He will arrive back into Chicago tonight with fond memories of all the activities and memorials in Washington. DC. The first stop will be the World War II Memorial. The Memorial was built in honor of the 16 million men and women who defended our freedom over 80 years ago. After visiting the WWII Memorial, they will travel to the Lincoln Memorial, which is centrally located between both
the Korean War and Vietnam Veterans Memorials. Dedicated in 1995, the Korean War Memorial features 19 steel statues and a mural wall commemorating the 5.8 million Americans who served during the Korean War.
Construction on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial began in 1982. The Memorial comprises three parts: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, The Three Soldiers, and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. The last stop will be at the Udvar Hazy National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. They may drive by the NEW “Pentagon Memorial-9/11”, Air Force Memorial, the new World War I Memorial, and the site for the new “Desert Storm Memorial”. What an experience.
Welcome Home, Jerry Smith. This will be the ‘Welcome Home‘ and ‘Thank You‘ we never received when we returned home after serving our country during the ‘Vietnam Conflict‘. I know you will enjoy the Mail Call and letters and notes from all your friends-veterans and civilians, business associates, and other admirers.
I am proud of our friendship for over 50 years and look forward to greeting Jerry Smith when he returns this evening … Welcome Home, Buddy.
Michael Embrey, USAF Veteran
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