GREEN BERETS Smith, Billy Morrison

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Smith ​

• FORENAME

Billy Morrison​

• UNIT

1 SF Group (Det A-232) ​

• RANK

Specialist Fifth Class ​

• NUMBER

18560857​

• DATE OF DEATH

7th October 1995 ​

• AGE

55 ​

• GRAVESITE

Laurel Land Memorial Park,Dallas,Dallas County,Texas​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

from Commerce,Texas​

born 16.8.1940 Commerce,Texas​

son of Billy Joe and Eupal Geraldine (nee Morrison) Smith​

married​

graduated Sunset High School 1956​

attended Arlington State College​

entered service 1958​

1 SF Group 1962-3​

medic​

WIA 8.11.1963 Ban Don,Gia Dinh Province,South Vietnam​

DOW U.S.A.​

name added to Memorial May 2001 ​

Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 01E Line 44 ​

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Billy graduated from Sunset High School at the age of sixteen. Too young to work he enrolled at Arlington State College (now UTA). There he met Captain Willard Latham (later Post Commander at FT. Benning) who influenced him greatly. Upon reaching eighteen he immediately enlisted in the army as a medic. Eventually he made his way to jump school and Special Forces as a 91B3S special forces medic. He was assigned to the 1st Group on Okinawa. His first deployment was TDY on an A team to Thailand. He was then sent TDY to Vietnam on ODA-232. Here he earned the respect of his team-mates and was highly thought of for his skill. On 6 November 1963 while on patrol and assignment to destroy VC rice fields contact was made with the enemy. While chasing VC suspects he and his weapons sergeant ran upon a VC encampment. The VC were prepared and opened fire. His weapons sergeant only fired a few rounds in return when he was instantly killed by a head wound. Billy made it into his second thirty round magazine before he likewise suffered a severe head wound. Upon regaining consciousness, Billy crawled to and attempted to bandage the wound of his teammate and himself. He then took a grenade and pulled the pin and clasped it in his hand in case the VC attempted to capture them or take their weapons and ammunition. He was found unconscious with his head resting on his team-mates leg. Billy barely survived his evacuation (his death certificate was shipped with him needing only a signature and time) having meningitis and pneumonia. When stabilized at Ft. Sam the doctor said he would never be in better shape and would slowly deteriorate​

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