SSG Terence Smith

SSG Terence R. Smith sat down with me for Heroes I Know. Sixty-five minutes. Jumpmaster. 82nd. We were on a secret mission together.

Born Fairfield. From Fayetteville. Father in the Army. Fun jumps on Saturdays. Soldiers took their kids. Mini towers. They strapped the children. That is why young Smitty joined.

Fort Bliss. October 1978. Midnight. Freezing. Desert at night. Reception station. First sergeant in Charlie Battery knew his father. Gary. If you are on time you are late. That is what they told him.

Vulcan. Same gun as me at the front. Stinger sections merged in. Sergeant Thompson. Division sergeant major McCoy. He grew up with the son. Injured veteran now. The war stories stay. Thank you, Terence. That is why we hit record. Get the story on tape before we are too old or too sick to tell it.