Army Sgt. Timothy M. Smith

Died April 7, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

25, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, La.; died April 7 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

---

Soldier from Lake Tahoe dies in Iraq

The Associated Press

RENO, Nev. — A soldier from South Lake Tahoe was killed in Iraq when the vehicle he was in was struck by a roadside bomb, the military announced Wednesday.

The Department of Defense says Army Sgt. Timothy M. Smith died Monday in Baghdad.

Smith, 25, was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, located at Fort Polk, La.

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons issued a statement expressing his condolences to Smith’s family, and ordered flags at the state Capitol to be lowered to half staff in his honor.

Gibbons said Smith’s mother lives at South Lake Tahoe, and his father lives in Reno.

“I would like to offer the state of Nevada’s most sincere thanks and heartfelt condolences to Sgt. Smith’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Gibbons said in a written release.

“I truly hope that as everyone who knew him copes with his death, they find some comfort knowing that the state of Nevada, and the entire country, is safer because of his sacrifice.”

---

Army Sgt. Timothy M. Smith remembered

The Associated Press

Family members remembered Timothy M. Smith, who rappelled out of second-story windows at age 10, as a happy, independent, stubborn child who had the uncanny ability to liven up a gathering.

“Timmy was an amazing, amazing person,” said Jackie Smith, his sister. “He always had a way of putting a smile on a person’s face, no matter what the situation.”

Smith, 25, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., died April 7 in Baghdad after his vehicle struck an explosive. He was a 2001 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Polk.

He loved snowboarding, four-wheeling and cooking for his wife.

He had completed a tour of Afghanistan and was a good break dancer — and he was a hugger.

“I’ll always remember his bright red hair,” said Teresa Ortiz, whose son was a longtime friend of Smith’s. “He was such a happy kid. That smile walked into a room before he did.”

He is survived by his wife, Shayna Richards-Smith, and a 1-year-old son, Riley.

“Every leader wants his soldiers to end up being better leaders than he is, and for the first time, Sgt. Smith, I’m going to say this: You were,” Sgt. Sammy Baker said at the funeral.