Page 5 - Veterans.2017

El Dorado NEWS-TIMES – Saturday, November 11, 2017 – 5
Thank You
Pipin’ Hot
PIZZA PARADE
Daily 11 am-2 pm & Tuesday & Friday 5-8 pm
VETERANS For all you have done for this great nation!
I
Larry’s Pizza El Dorado invites you to have lunch on us Veteran’s Day Saturday, Nov. 11
In appreciation for all of your sacrifices,
from 11-2
8904
Mike Hodge National Guard 1972-1992
From the Family with Love!
(870) 639-3922 • 2500 N. West Ave.
8821
8911
We thank and support all Veterans!
Troy Barrios, Agent 508 N. West Ave • 870-864-9000
From the military to the ministry
By Haley Smith
Staff Writer
Spc. Charles Smith, now known as Lt. Charles Smith with the Salvation Army, came from a long-standing military family.
Four out of five of Smith’s brothers served, as did his father and his eight uncles, in several branches of the military throughout their lives. Smith explained that there were military members in his family trac- ing all the way back to the Revolutionary War.
Because of this tradition, he felt compelled to fol- low suit. He served in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1992, then with the National Guard from 1992 to 1997.
“It was by seeing them in their uniforms and hear- ing personal stories of what they experienced that I wanted to be a part of that as well,” he said as he recalled his time in the military.
Smith served in Afghanistan during Desert Storm, and although he was trained as a cook, that was far from what he did when he was serving overseas.
“The big red one or the 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army is the oldest continuously serv- ing division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917,” he said. “It was while I was with this tank battalion that I encountered sleepless nights pulling guard duty around the perimeter to rappelling out of helicop- ters, in helping burying the dead, to being shot at, to sleeping in the back of a ton and a half truck, to driving Humvees in the sand and going through two chemical assaults.”
He remembers the bombs filled with pamphlets that President George H.W. Bush dropped on the country, and even kept a couple. The pamphlets are written in Arabic, but he said he was told that pam-
Contributed Photo
Service: Spc. Charles Smith spent time in Afghanistan during Operation Desert Storm in the early '90s.
phlets told people that the U.S. would fight them but if people gave up arms, the soldiers would help.
“We were involved with destroying 550 enemy tanks, 480 armored personnel carriers and taking 11,400 prisoners of Saddam Hussein’s republican guards,” he said.
Because of his participation and service, Smith received the Southwest Asia Service Medal, a mili- tary award of the United States Armed Forces cre- ated by Bush on March 12, 1991, to honor those who
served during the Persian Gulf War. He also received the National Defense Service Medal for honorable active military services during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm; the Kuwait Liberation Medal, awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for participation in Operation Desert Storm; and the Army Service Ribbon for the completion of his ini- tial MOS producing course.
After his military career, Smith’s father became a preacher. Smith said he had been taught about God and Christianity from an early age, but did not accept Christ until July 8, 1992, at a fellow soldier’s house in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
“I believe for me knowing that I had a family that was praying for me, I knew of Jesus but had not begun a relationship with Him yet,” he said. “God spared me in the desert to experience his grace, his love and his mercy ... That was my resolve, my anchor and my ability to survive these days of com- bat.”
He said it wasn’t long until he felt a calling to preach, again following his family into another pro- fession.
He spent 19 years as a Freewill Baptist Preacher and met his wife. From there, he said he felt called to become a preacher for the Salvation Army.
He said he feels like his military experience has given him discipline that has translated to running the El Dorado Salvation Army. Smith said he also believes that his experience with cooking for large groups of people would help him serve the commu- nity more if the need ever arose for such a service.
Haley Smith can be contacted at 870-862-6611 or at hsmith@eldoradonews.com. Follow her on facebook and twitter at @hsmithEDNT.
Family photos: A piece of propaganda sent by U.S. soldiers is pictured above. Right, one of Smith's uncles, John Smith, served in the military. A newspaper article, below, lists Smith's family members who served in the military. Smith's father, below, right, poses with his fellow servicemen in the Air Force.
Proudly Supporting
All Veterans
Campbell & Company INSURANCE
Honoring Our Veterans
Wendell Barbaree - U.S. Army Ed Peppers - U.S. Army Robert Wolfe - U.S. Air Force
900 Green St. • El Dorado, AR • (870) 863-7393
Thank you to those who have served and those currently serving.
Magnolia 234-6707 409 N. Jackson
El Dorado 863-4467 400 Griffith
Tim Foster, Owner 870-863-6188 • 870-315-6954
8913
8850
Camden 836-5724 221 Washington
8855