Eric “Smitty” Smith

From: Eloy Rodriguez
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2010 4:40 PM
To: Rachel Rodriguez; Alan Green; Bill Ventura; Brian Green; Bruce Pilch; Cary Cooper; Charlie Kipp; Eloy Rodriguez; Eric Smith; Frederick R. Johnson; Gary Hoopman; Gordon T. Colucci; Jerimiah Macdonald; Joseph Lynn Cooper; Lanfam163; Larry Ballard; Linda Samme Fabyukey; Maynard Sinclair; Michael Hoeffler; Pedro marquez; Robert Hommer; Tony Rodriguez; Walter Walt Philbin
Subject: Fw: erod78102 has shared: Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home – Obituary

Fellow 81s Platoon Members,

I am forwarding the obituary for our friend Eric “Smitty” Smith.  Please click on the “Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeeral Home -Obituary” icon below.  Also, you can click on the “View Messages” and “Send Messages” icons to send your condolences.  Several Marines who served with us and Smitty at Khe Sanh and LZ Margo have sent messages.  You might recognize some of the names.

Semper Fi,

Rod

Eric “Smitty” Smith obituary

Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home – Obituary

 

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From: BVRoadKing
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2010 10:38 AM
To: <email addresses>
Subject: Re: Smitty

We all would LT and it was Coop who did the FO’ing on the guest book.. I just called it in like the old days..

Bill V

 

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From: Alan Green
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2010 10:07 AM
To: ‘Alan Green’; Bill Ventura; Bruce Pilch; Cary Cooper; Eloy Rodriguez; elbrab5516; Gordon Colucci; Larry Ballard; ‘Linda Samee Fabyunkey’; Lynn Cooper; Maynard Sinclair; Maynard Sinclair c/o Denise Maiori; Michael Hoffler; Pedro Marquez; ‘Robert Hommer’; Walter J Philbin; Gary Hoopman; Charlie Kipp
Cc: Bryan Green
Subject: RE: Smitty

Guys-

Rod, your poem really sums it up: His country called and he answered — and even if the country hasn’t paid a whole lot of attention, those of us who served with him appreciate his service and mourn his loss.

Thanks Coop, Bill and Rod for locating the guest book and forwarding the link to everyone.

Linda, thanks for the reminscenses about your dad and how you connected with Smitty.

Bruce, I’m with you — Smitty’s death reminds us once again of our mortality and why we need to reunite in San Antonio.

Bill, thanks for “standing tall” for us at the graveside ceremony.

And Pedro, you said it best — it’s like taking another casualty.

I feel awful about this — couldn’t sleep last night. I’m sure that it will pass, as all things do, but for now its going to be a tough adjustment. I’d give anything for another “e-mail barrage” from Smitty…

Best and Semper Fi,

-Alan

 

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From: Linda Samee Fabyunkey
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 7:20 PM
To: <email addresses>
Subject: RE: Smitty

Hello All,

Years ago when I was beginning to come out of the grief from losing my dad I starting searching for information about him everywhere.  I was raised by him & knew my dad well.  However, there were so many layers to him and so much time he spent away from us that after his death I became like a sponge absorpbing every crumb of information I could.

I remember the night I found the Khe Sahn group & made a quick posting hoping that someone would have known my dad.  The next morning I woke up & checked my e-mail to find a couple of responses, but the first one was from Eric and it came a with a picture of my dad in Vietnam.  That picture showed my dad sitting there among a war ravaged area.  I was so excited that my reaction indicated that I was viewing the crowned prince of the world.  There was my dad…my hero, on my computer screen & Eric had delivered the goods.  Somehow in receiving that e-mail I became quite fond of Eric.  He & I exchanged e-mails sporadically from that point.

Today, I find out that Eric has passed.  It felt like something swooped in from nowhere with a giant melon baller & scooped my middle out.  He is very special to me & I am sad that I will not ever get to meet him face to face.

Again, I thank all of you for serving with my dad.  Without the job you all did I wouldn’t have been raised by him.  I am very grateful.

Semper Fi,
Linda/Samee

Thanks, Bill,

I am forwarding the sign in for the guest book to everyone in the platoon.

Rod

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From: “BVRoadKing”
To: erod78102
Sent: Fri, April 16, 2010 6:08:20 PM
Subject: Re: Eric “Smitty” Smith

That was beautiful Rod… I will hopefully read it as his internment at the services at the Bourne National Cemetary… Coop forwarded me this…

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=5291541578283&cid=full

Guest Book for Eric F Smith-Online Guest Book by the Boston Globe and Legacy.com

Please forward it to the master mailing list..

Semper Fi

Bill Ventura

2nd Bn 26th Marines

H&S Co, Comm Plt , 81 Mortars

RVN

 

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From: Bruce Pilch
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 6:18 PM
To: ‘Eloy Rodriguez’; ‘Rachel Rodriguez’; ‘Alan Green’; ‘Bill Ventura’; ‘Brian Green’; ‘Cary Cooper’; ‘Charlie Kipp’; ‘Eric Smith’; ‘Frederick R. Johnson’; ‘Gary Hoopman’; ‘Gordon T. Colucci’; ‘Jerimiah Macdonald’; ‘Joseph Lynn Cooper’; ‘Larry Ballard’; ‘Linda &quot;Samme&quot; Fabyukey’; ‘Maynard Sinclair’; ‘Maynard Denise Maiori Sinclair’; ‘Michael Hoeffler’; ‘Pedro marquez’; ‘Robert Hommer’; ‘Tony Rodriguez’; ‘Walter &quot;Walt&quot; Philbin’
Subject: RE: Eric “Smitty” Smith

Very appropriate, Rod. Thanks for sending this along.

S/F,

Bruce

 

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From: Eloy Rodriguez
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 6:02 PM
To: Rachel Rodriguez; Alan Green; Bill Ventura; Brian Green; Bruce Pilch; Cary Cooper; Charlie Kipp; Eloy Rodriguez; Eric Smith; Frederick R. Johnson; Gary Hoopman; Gordon T. Colucci; Jerimiah Macdonald; Joseph Lynn Cooper; Larry Ballard; Linda &quot;Samme&quot; Fabyukey; Maynard Sinclair; Maynard Denise Maiori Sinclair; Michael Hoeffler; Pedro marquez; Robert Hommer; Tony Rodriguez; Walter &quot;Walt&quot; Philbin
Subject: Eric “Smitty” Smith

Fellow platoon members,

I ran across this poem.  I think it’s appropriate for Eric.

He was getting old and paunchy

And his hair was fading fast,

And he sat around the Legion,

Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in

And the deeds that he had done,

In his expoits with his buddies;

They were heroes, every one.

And ‘tho sometimes to the unknowing

His tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened quietly

For they knew where of he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer,

For ‘ol Eric has passed away,

And the world’s a little poorer

For a Marine has died today.

He won’t be mourned by many,

Just his family and those who shared his life.

For he lived an ordinary,

Very quiet sort of life.

He served his country faithfully,

Going quietly on his way;

And the world won’t note his passing,

‘Tho a brave Marine has died today.

When politicians leave his earth,

Their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing,

And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell their life stories

From the time that they were young

But the passing of a Marine

Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Eric was an ordinary fellow

Who in time of war and strife,

Went off to serve his country

And offered up his life

Eric was an ordinary Marine,

Who offered up his all,

He was paid off with a medal

And perhaps a pension, small.

It’s so easy to forget him,

For it is so many times

That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,

Went to battle unnanounced,

BUT we know,

And we will not FORGET.

If we cannot do him honor

While he’s here to hear the praise,

Then at least let’s give him homage

At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline

In the paper that might say:

“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,

A MARINE HAS DIED TODAY”

Semper Fi, Eric

81s Mortar Platoon

RVN, 1967-1968

 

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From: Bruce Pilch
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 1:03 PM
To: ‘Alan Green’; ‘Bill Ventura’; ‘Cary Cooper’; ‘Eloy Rodriguez’; ‘Gordon Colucci’; ‘Larry Ballard’; ‘Linda Samee Fabyunkey’; ‘Lynn Cooper’; ‘Maynard Sinclair’; ‘Maynard Sinclair c/o Denise Maiori’; ‘Michael Hoffler’; ‘Pedro Marquez’; ‘Robert Hommer’; ‘Walter J Philbin’; ‘Gary Hoopman’; ‘Charlie Kipp’
Cc: ‘Bryan Green’
Subject: RE: Smitty

Guys:

I am stunned and saddened by this news. Alan, like you, one of my favorite pictures from Vietnam was of Smitty and I standing in the middle of the road on our way back to or around Mai Loc. This is a reminder that we should make the effort to get to the reunion.  I really enjoyed communicating with him and I am sure he would have been “the life of the party” in San Antonio.

Semper Fi, Smitty.

Bruce

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Bryan,

Thank you for your kind words regarding our “amigo” from Mass.  Eric ws special and it is only because of him that we have “found” each other after forty years.  And yes, he would definitely want us to continue what he started.  It’s such a loss to our platoon.  It’s like we are all back in Vietnam on one of those God forsaken hills and we have lost another of our brave Marines.

Semper fi,

Rod

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From: Bryan Green
To: <email addresses>
Sent: Fri, April 16, 2010 8:31:50 AM
Subject: RE: Smitty

All,

I only had the honor of speaking with Smitty a few times while designing the nomad81s site with him and have never met him face to face. Our relatively limited contact though hasn’t diminished the sadness and anguish that I feel at his sudden passing.

I wanted to reach out to those of you that knew Smitty better or served with him. If Smitty were here today, he would want us to continue to communicate with each other. He’d want us to remember the bravery and sacrifice (and brotherhood) of thousands of US veterans. He was and always will be a patriot of this country.

I know we’ll never forget Eric and his message.

Semper Fi

Bryan

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From: Alan Green
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 8:04 AM
To: ‘Alan Green’; Bill Ventura; Bruce Pilch; Cary Cooper; Eloy Rodriguez; Gordon Colucci; Larry Ballard; ‘Linda Samee Fabyunkey’; Lynn Cooper; Maynard Sinclair; Maynard Sinclair c/o Denise Maiori; Michael Hoffler; Pedro Marquez; ‘Robert Hommer’; Walter J Philbin; Gary Hoopman; Charlie Kipp
Cc: Bryan Green
Subject: Smitty

Bill-

Thanks for passing on the sad news about Smitty’s passing, and for speaking about him on our behalf at his funeral.

I am personally devastated by his death. I knew that his health wasn’t good, but somehow I just assumed there would always be one more e-mail, one more phone call…

Eric was a modest man — he’d rather talk about you than about himself. And when he talked about others, it was always to focus on the good in them, not their flaws.

He was a fiercely proud veteran and he enjoyed nothing better than reaching out to other Marines he served with. He was responsible for our platoon’s web site and was the energetic cheerleader for our reunion.

But I especially remember Smitty’s bravery under terrible artillery fire in the DMZ in October 1968, when he volunteered to lead the medevac effort for our wounded and dead. Under intense fire and at great personal risk, he got the job done. He was recommended for (and earned) a Bronze Star, and was eventually awarded a Navy Commendation Medal for his efforts.

He had his ups and downs. It was during a down period at Gitmo, after he had returned from Vietnam and had gotten in trouble for fighting, that he was called in front of a battalion formation to receive his medal. He didn’t know it was in the works, didn’t even know that his bravery under fire had been observed. He told me that the recognition he got then was the proudest day of his life, and that even decades later he would reflect on it when times were tough.

For all my career I’ve had this photo from Vietnam on the wall of my office. I served with many brave men, but I always had a special regard for Eric F. Smith.

Semper Fi, Smitty.

-Alan

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From: BVRoadKing@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 7:50 PM
To: Alan Green
Subject: Eric’s Obituary…

LT…

I will be riding with the PRG Monday for the Internment at the National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.. Please pass this on.. I will say a few words on behalf of his brothers in arms… if anyone has anything they want me to read please forward it ….

Bill Ventura

aka Snoopy

2nd Bn 26th Marines

Comm Plt 81 Mortors..

RVN

USMA Vietnam Veteran Eric F. Smith, 62, Revere MA 16,17,19 APR ’10

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The family of US Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran Eric Smith has requested our presence at the funeral of their loved one.
While serving in Vietnam, Eric received the Navy Commendation Medal for heroic achievement in the DMZ.

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WAKE: Please attend on your own

DATE/TIME:  Friday 16 April 2010 from 7-9 PM

LOCATION: Robert Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home
1803 Centre St
West Roxbury, MA 02132

&nbs p; http://tinyurl.com/y7ap2r7

FUNERAL:

DATE:  Saturday, 17 April

STAGING LOCATION:  At the Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home

STAGING TIME:  8:15 – 8:45 AM Saturday 17 April 2010

BRIEFING: 8:45 AM

We will first form a flag line at the funeral home;  afterward we will proceed to the church to again form a flag line

Church:

St Teresa of Avila Church
2078 Centre St
West Roxbury, MA 02132

Ride Captain for funeral: Howard Shrut   hshrut@rcn.com

———–Please bring your flags—————-

INTERMENT:  at Bourne National Cemetery

DATE: Monday, 19 April 2010

STAGING LOCATION:      Cape Cod Harley Davidson
750 MacArthur Blvd.  (Rte 28)
Pocasset MA 02559

http://tinyurl.com/y3gk2cp

STAGING TIME:  12:15 – 12:45 PM Monday 19 April

BRIEFING 12:45 PM

KSU:  As directed by the RC

Ride Captain for Bourne:  Ron Hill   ronocmc@aol.com

————– Please bring your flags  ———————–