George William Smith (July 8, 1925 – September 30, 2014) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who rose to the rank of major general. He began his 34-year career as an Enlisted Reservist during World War II, later integrating into the regular Marine Corps and distinguishing himself as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines during the Vietnam War. His last assignment was commanding general, 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan.
Both of his sons followed his footsteps and joined the Marine Corps. His elder son, George W. Smith Jr., as of 2019 serves as lieutenant general and commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force, while Andrew H. Smith as of 2019 serves as colonel and chief of staff, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
Early career
George W. Smith was born on July 8, 1925, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, son of George Kobler and Myra Holder Smith. He graduated from the Camp Hill High School in summer 1943 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in September of that year. Smith completed boot camp and was attached to the 2nd Marine Division. He sailed to the Pacific theater in early 1945 and took part in the Okinawa Campaign in May and June of that year.
Following his return to the United States, Smith reached the rank of corporal and remained on active duty until his discharge in February 1946. He then went to the Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in summer 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. Smith was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve in March 1949 and attached as a platoon leader to the 6th Reserve Infantry Battalion in Harrisburg.
During his time with that unit, Smith completed the Associate Armored Company Officers Course at Army Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in December 1950 and then completed the 3rd Special Basic Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, in 1951. Smith was subsequently called to active duty and transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for service as a platoon leader with the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division under Major General Edwin A. Pollock.
Smith was later appointed aide and assistant secretary to the Joint Landing Force Board. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in April 1951. Smith served again with the 2nd Tank Battalion from December 1952 and, following his promotion to captain in July 1953, he was appointed company commander.
Smith was integrated into the regular Marine Corps in December 1953 and deployed to the Far East in April 1954. He was attached to the 3rd Marine Division under Major General James P. Riseley at Okinawa, Japan, and participated in the several amphibious exercises, during which his division served as the defense force of Far Eastern area. Smith was ordered to Korea in February 1955, when he was appointed an assistant operations officer with the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division under Major General Merrill B. Twining.
Smith returned stateside in May 1955 and assumed duty as a tactics instructor at the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia. In this capacity, he participated in the training of newly commissioned marine officers until June 1957, when he was ordered to the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico for Junior Course. Smith graduated in June 1958 and returned to the 1st Marine Division under Major General Edward W. Snedeker. He served at Camp Pendleton, California, as a rifle company commander and later as infantry battalion operations officer with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and was promoted to major in December 1958. His battalion was later ordered to Okinawa and temporarily attached to the 3rd Marine Division under Major General David M. Shoup.
Smith's second tour of duty on Okinawa ended in February 1961 and he reported for duty to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., as operations and training officer. He was transferred to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in July 1963 and served as Marine Officer Instructor within the Naval ROTC unit until June 1966. He was meanwhile promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1965. Smith was subsequently ordered to Korea for duty as the G-2 and G-3 Advisor, Marine Corps Component, United States Naval Advisory Group, Korea and remained there until the end of August 1968.
Vietnam War
Smith was deployed to South Vietnam in 1968 and assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, stationed in the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. He led his battalion during the series of jungle patrols along the McNamara Line, during which his unit reduced the enemy's manpower and materiel assets in the northern sector of the I Corps Tactical Zone.