I just finished Lee Halverson’s (981st 69-70) book Cong Catchers, A Soldier’s Memories of Vietnam. In the epilogue I saw that William Smith, Smitty, 981st 69-70 had died in 2005. I found this obituary:
Tribute & Message From The Family
William F. “Bill” Smith, 55, of Oskaloosa, died Friday, September 10, 2004, at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital in Knoxville after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma. He was born February 25, 1949 at Jefferson, the son of Richard Glen and Pearl Frances White Smith. He graduated from the Panora-Linden High School with the class of 1967, where he excelled at track. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He worked at Oscar Meyer plant in Perry, and later at Firestone. On December 22, 1983, he was united in marriage to Joy Prothero at Nashua, Iowa. He was an auctioneer and livestock buyer. Bill was a lifetime member of the V.F.W., and a member of the American Legion and Elks. He loved his special times with his family and enjoyed helping his girls with their F.F.A. projects. He raised exotic animals, and donated his time, auctioneering talent, and money to many different projects and causes.
Bill is survived by his wife, Dr. Joy Prothero of Oskaloosa; 2 daughters: Holly and Heather, both at home; a daughter by a previous marriage, Dana Smith of Mequeon, Wisconsin; his mother: Pearl Smith of Panora; 2 sisters: Glennis (& Jim) Peterson of Panora and Carmen Smith of Des Moines; and 2 brothers: Dennis Smith of Guthrie Center and Audrey Smith of Bayard.
Bill was preceded in death by his father and a sister in law: Gail Smith.
Funeral services for Bill Smith will be held Tuesday, September 14, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa with the Rev. Dr. Dennis Morey officiating, assisted by the Rev. Casey Cain. Military rites will be accorded at the church following the funeral by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion, V.F.W., and D.A.V. Cremation will follow the funeral ceremony. Visitation will begin at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Monday after 9 a.m., and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Monday 6 ? 8 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. A memorial has been established in his name.