BG Frederick Adair Smith, Jr.

Frederick ("Fred") Adair Smith, Jr. was born in Trinity, Texas on December 8, 1921. He graduated from North Dallas High School in Dallas, Texas. He accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) where he graduated 23rd in the class of 1944, whereupon he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army, Infantry (ASN: 26494).

World War II

During World War II Smith served in Europe with the 5th Infantry Regiment of the 71st Infantry Division. He remained with the 5th IR for post war occupation duty in Germany and Austria even being promoted to company commander. This was followed up with a company command in the 505th Military Police Battalion in Augsburg, Germany. By November of 1945 he had been promoted to Captain.

Post WWII Career

Smith was assigned to West Point as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics until 1952. He then attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course. In August 1953, was assigned to the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea, where he served as a battalion executive officer.

He returned to Germany for assignment to the 8th Infantry Division in Mannheim, where he commanded a mechanized infantry battalion until December 1964, after which he was assigned to the Seventh Army G-3 section as Chief of Operations.

Returning to West Point for another instructional post, Smith served as a professor in the Department of Mechanics. In 1969 he became head of the Mechanics Department.

In 1974 was promoted to brigadier general as well as Dean of the Academic Board at West Point. On September 30, 1985, he retired as a Brigadier General.

Dates of rank

June 6, 1944: Second Lieutenant
January 20, 1945: First Lieutenant
November 16, 1945: Captain
July 25, 1951: Major
March 25, 1959: Lieutenant Colonel
October 28, 1965: Colonel
1974: Brigadier General

Education

1944 - Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy

1949 - Master of Science degree in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University

1955 - United States Army Command and General Staff College

1959 - Armed Forces Staff College

1963 - Industrial College of the Armed Forces

1963 - Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University

Doctorate in theoretical and applied mechanics from the University of Illinois.

Frederick Smith Obituary

Smith, BG Frederick A. Born in Trinity, Texas on December 8, 1921, Brigadier General (Ret.) Frederick Adair Smith, Jr. passed in San Antonio on December 19, 2011. Raised in Dallas, where he attended North Dallas High School, General Smith graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1944 and retired from the Army 41 years later, in 1985. A veteran of two wars and an infantry battalion commander, General Smith was also a distinguished academic, earning two masters degrees and a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering. In 1968 he was assigned to the faculty of the U. S. Military Academy, where he served for eleven years as the Dean of the Academic Board.

Obit source: Dallas Morning News on Dec. 25, 2011.

Army Distinguished Service Medal

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING Peace Time Awards

Service: Army

Rank: Brigadier General

GENERAL ORDERS:

United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

Brigadier General Frederick Adair Smith, Jr., United States Army, was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Dean, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, from 1974 to 1985.

Legion of Merit

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING Peace Time Awards

Service: Army

Rank: Brigadier General

GENERAL ORDERS:

United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

Brigadier General Frederick Adair Smith, Jr., United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Dean, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, from 1974 to 1985.