Col. Jack Coldwell Smith

Jack Coldwell Smith, retired U.S. Army Colonel, age 71, of Salado died Monday, October 15, 2007. He will be interred at the United States Military Academy Cemetery at West Point, New York. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 21, 2007 at Temple Bible Church, 3205 Oakview Dr., Temple, Texas, with Rev. Gary Desalvo officiating. Colonel Smith was born October 16, 1935 in Temple to Jack and Anne White Smith. He was the grandson of the late Dr. and Mrs. Raleigh R. White, Jr. of Temple. After growing up in Corpus Christi for several years, he was graduated from the Texas Military Institute in San Antonio in 1954. Appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, he graduated in 1959 earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. Colonel Smith's long and successful military career began in 1959 upon graduation from West Point. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry, he completed Airborne and Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia and was subsequently assigned as a Platoon Leader in the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he was awarded a Silver Star for valor. Following graduation from the advanced course in Fort Benning, Georgia, Colonel Smith served as Company Commander, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. From 1965 to 1966, he served as an adviser to a Vietnamese Infantry Battalion and was awarded two Bronze Medals (one with "v" device for valor). In 1967, he attended Middlebury College in Vermont and earned a Masters Degree in Spanish. He then assumed a faculty position at West Point in the modern languages department specializing in Spanish. During 1969 – 1970, he attended New York University for advanced studies in Latin America affairs. Following that assignment in 1971, Colonel Smith attended the Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He then served in the Republic of Korea as an Operations Officer in the 2nd Infantry Division. Colonel Smith had extensive experience in Latin America, formulating policy regarding Latin American political-military affairs. He was also assigned to the office of Joint Chiefs of Staff where he continued to formulate policy initiatives regarding U. S. national security interests in Latin America. Colonel Smith was assigned to Buenos Aires, Argentina as the principal U. S. Army Attache from 1981 – 1985. He was instrumental during the 1982 negotiations which sought to terminate the Falkland Islands Conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina as well as repatriate the prisoners of war from the conflict. He retired home to Texas in 1987 and represented United Services Life Insurance Company helping military families manage their insurance affairs. He was a regular volunteer at Churches Touching Lives for Christ, a member of Temple Bible Church and a lifelong frustrated golfer at Mill Creek Country Club. He was a great friend to many and often welcomed young soldiers at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at home. He always put his family first in everything he did. He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Gail Dorothy Smith of Salado and four children, Dr. Jack C. Smith III and wife, Kendra of Lubbock, Dr. Donald M. Smith and wife, Tami of Falmouth, Massachusetts, Douglas C. Smith and wife, Tia of Seattle, Washington, Amy Anne White Pickett and husband, Don of Paradise Valley, Arizona and nine grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the National Parkinson's Foundation or a charity of one's choice. The family would like to express our gratitude to the caregivers of the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home and Odyssey Healthcare of Temple.