Team Kadena celebrates life of fallen Airman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  A memorial service in honor of Tech. Sgt. Mark Smith, 33rd Rescue Squadron, was held at Chapel One Aug. 13.

Smith, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., was a flight engineer for an HH-60G Pave Hawk aircraft while he was stationed on Kadena. He deployed to Afghanistan twice and contributed to several life-saving rescue missions.

"We have lost someone very special to us over the last week, but the good news is we have not lost the memories and the impact that they have on our lives," said Brig. Gen. James Hecker, 18th Wing commander. "For us we lost a fellow warrior, fellow Airman, and these are difficult times, but time will help us."

During Hecker's remarks, he also presented Smith's spouse, Jessica, with his posthumous Meritorious Service Medal, which is a military award presented to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States.

"If you mentioned Smitty in the rescue community, he was recognized as one of the best HH-60G flight engineers ... he was that good," said Lt. Col. Pedro Ortiz, 33rd RQS commander. "His ultimate purpose was to arm his self with the most knowledge to make us all better."

Throughout the ceremony, three of Smith's co-workers spoke about the good things about him and shared how much of an impact he had on them as well.

"Webster's dictionary defines a warrior as a person experienced or engaged in warfare. However this definition is incomplete," said Master Sgt. Michael Vincent, one of Smith's co-workers in the 33rd RQS. "A warrior is also a devoted family man and a friend, simply, a warrior is defined as Tech. Sgt. Mark Smith."

"There's really only two things that got him excited, one was his love for his mission and second was his family," said Capt. Nathan Dennen, 33rd RQS pilot. "I was very privileged to have known Smitty for a long time."

"Mark wasn't just my flight engineer, he was my friend," said Capt. Mark Cerni, 33rd RQS pilot. "Mark was my confidant ... an amazing husband and a loving father to his two beautiful little girls."

Smith is a fallen warrior and Airman, but not a forgotten one.