Iowa Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bruce A. Smith

Died November 2, 2003 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

41, of West Liberty, Iowa; assigned to Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, based in Davenport, Iowa.; killed Nov. 2 in an attack on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter near Fallujah, Iraq.

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Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bruce A. Smith taught martial arts to youngsters and was actively involved in his son’s athletics and his daughter’s love for horses.

He also loved to fly helicopters, especially the Chinook. His personalized license plates read: CK 47, for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Each year, Smith would fly the Chinook to town and host class tours of the craft and lecture about serving in the armed forces, friends said. He had also been e-mailing elementary classes regularly about his life and duties in Iraq.

“He really loved helicopters and flying,” said neighbor Jennie Thurston. “He also really touched all the kids in the schools with his love of what he did.”

Smith, 41, of West Liberty, Iowa, was a pilot on the Chinook helicopter that was downed Nov. 2 while carrying troops home on leave. Smith joined the National Guard before graduating from high school and was a career officer in the Guard. He recently was assigned as a flight instructor in Davenport, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife, Olivia, daughter, Savannah, and son, Nathan.

— Associated Press