Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin S. Smith

Died March 21, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of Springfield, Ohio; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed March 21 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

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Marine from Ohio killed in Iraq

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A Camp Lejeune Marine has been killed in action in Iraq’s Anbar province, the Defense Department said Tuesday.

Lance Cpl. Kevin S. Smith, 20, of Springfield, died Monday. The military did not release any other details about his death.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

A spokesman for the unit said Wednesday that Smith was a rifleman who joined the Marines in August 2003 and his current unit on Feb. 3, 2004. His awards included the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

He had no additional details on the circumstances of Smith’s death.

Smith attended Kenton Ridge High School in this city about 45 miles west of Columbus and was a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, said Marsha Stoner, his teacher in that subject for three years.

“He was genuine, kind and gentle, but he did not want people to know that. He had a very good heart and he loved his family,” Stoner told the Springfield News-Sun.

The Spanish society had an induction ceremony Tuesday night and paused to remember Smith, a 2003 graduate.

“It’s been a hard day,” she said. “I just took a shine to him when I first had him in class. He was a special kid.”

Principal Chuck Foss said the school would lower its flag to half-staff and have a moment of silence for Smith on Wednesday.

Smith never got into trouble, Foss said.

“You knew he was there, but he just did things the way they were supposed to be done,” Foss said.

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Fallen Marine buried in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A Marine from this western Ohio city who was killed in Iraq was remembered Thursday as a man of integrity who served his country quietly.

About 400 people attended funeral services for Lance Cpl. Kevin S. Smith, 20. He died March 21 when an improvised explosive device hit his Humvee near the Syrian border with Iraq.

“Kevin quietly served his country and paid the ultimate price,” Fellowship Christian Church pastor John Essig said.

The Rev. Bill Yowler recounted memories from friends and family members who said that Smith loved to work on his car, play guitar and had a hug for everyone.

The pastor also said Smith’s fiance, Kristi Leider, told him that she still waits by the phone for the 2 a.m. calls Smith made when he couldn’t sleep. They became engaged on Christmas Day.

After the funeral, a bagpipe player led six Marine pallbearers out of the church. People passing by stopped their cars, some saluting and others holding their hands over their hearts as the two mile procession wound its way to Vale Cemetery in nearby Springfield Township.

He had been assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

— Associated Press

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