Kenneth Smith Obituary

Kenneth E. Smith, Colonel US Marine Corps (Retired)

Ken was born in Springfield, Vermont on February 19, 1931 to Everand Smith and Myrtle Smith (maiden name Page). He married Virginia R. Parsons of Springfield, Vermont on January 31,1953 in Springfield, Vermont. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife. He is survived by two daughters, Kathryn Baker and Karen Wilson as well as three grandchildren, Kenneth Baker, Steven Kennedy and Sabrina Kennedy. He is also survived by his half-brother Everand Smith.

He graduated from the University of Vermont and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in June of 1953. He attended the Marine Officers’ Basic Course at Quantico, Virginia and then was assigned as an infantry platoon commander with the Sixth Marines of the Second Marine Division at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. While training with his platoon to go to Korea, he received orders to flight school. From May 1954 until August 1955, he attended flight school at Pensacola, Florida, then advanced training in jet aircraft at Corpus Christi, Texas. His first operation squadron was with Marine All-weather Fighter Squadron 531 flying the F3D “Skyknight” at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Subsequent assignments were with Marine Air Control Squadron-2 in Iwakuni, Japan; Marine Attack Squadron 331 (Flying F9-8’s and A4D-2 (Skyhawk) at El Toro, California. He trained in the multi-engine R4Q (C-119) at Cherry Point then returned to El Toro to fly the C-130 (Hercules) aircraft. This was followed by a return to Quantico for the Marine Officers’ Junior Course, later named The Amphibious Warfare College. Next was a tour at Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina where he was assigned as the Executive Officer (X.O.) of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron. Next while at Beaufort, he was assigned as X. O. of Marine All-weather Fighter Squadron 235, a position he retained when the squadron deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in 1966 through 1967.

While in Vietnam, Colonel Smith was awarded the Navy Commendation medal with Combat “V” and 14 awards of the air medal while flying more than 260 combat missions in the “Crusader”. Upon return from Vietnam, then Major Smith was assigned to the North American Air Defense Command at Luke Air Force Base as the Marine Liaison Officer. While there he attended the USAF Combat Crew Readiness School in the F-106 and may be the only Marine Pilot who has stood air defense alert duties in the F-106 aircraft. Ken then transferred to MCAS El Toro, California to command a Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron before returning overseas to Okinawa to serve on the staff of The Commanding General III Marine Amphibious Force. Following a year on Okinawa, Colonel Smith was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona where he had several assignments and eventually served as the Commander of the Air Station. He was subsequently transferred again to MCAS El Toro where he served until his retirement from the Marine Corps on July 1st, 1979.

In addition to the Navy Commendation Medal and the air medals previously mentioned, Colonel Smith is entitled to wear the Legion of Merit, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Upon retirement he lived in Mission Viejo, California until moving to Henderson, Nevada in 2003 where he resided until his died at the age of 94. He enjoyed flying, riding his bicycle and traveling the world.

Funeral services will be held outdoors on Friday, September 19th, 2025 at noon at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery located at 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City NV 89005.