Navy Federal Credit Union

Homer Smith graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1949. It is believed he was captured by the Vietnamese after he was shot down over North Vietnam on May 20, 1967, and according to another Navy officer, was tortured to death while being held in captivity. Following his shoot-down, he was seen with hands raised, and in 1972 his helmet was put on display in Hanoi. On March 15, 1974, the Vietnamese returned the remains of Homer L. Smith to U.S. control with no explanation regarding his captivity or his death.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Batallion:

    Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)

    Action Date:

    April 24, 1967

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Captain [then Commander] Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 24 April 1967, as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-212), embarked in U.S.S. HANCOCK (CVA-19), during combat operations in Southeast Asia. As strike leader of a sixteen-plane strike group in an attack against the well-defended and extremely important Hon Gai Railroad Marshalling Yard in North Vietnam, Captain Smith skillfully led the strike group to a position behind the mountains north of Hon Gai. As the strike group crossed the mountains, it unexpectedly ran into heavy, accurate anti-aircraft fire from a fully alerted enemy. In the face of this intense opposition, Captain Smith tenaciously positioned the attack and flak-suppression elements at their pre-selected attack positions and led them in a devastating attack. He delivered his own bombs with great accuracy and destroyed numerous railroad boxcars, cutting the railroad tracks in several places. By his inspiring leadership, outstanding airmanship, and courage in the face of extremely heavy enemy defenses, Captain Smith made a most significant contribution to the success of this important mission. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)

    Action Date:

    May 20, 1967 – May 21, 1967

    Captain Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from May 20, 1967 until his death in captivity on or about May 21, 1967.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Batallion:

    Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)

    Action Date:

    May 19 – 20, 1967

    Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain [then Commander] Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 19 and 20 May 1967, while serving as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-212), embarked in U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31), during aerial attacks on two strategically important and heavily defended thermal power plants in Hanoi and Bac Giang, North Vietnam. As strike leader in each of these actions against the enemy, Captain Smith was faced with adverse weather and difficult terrain, formidable opposition from the enemy, and the necessity for violent, evasive maneuvering. Despite these obstacles, he expertly led his strike groups in executing brilliantly successful attacks which subsequently hindered the enemy in his efforts to make war. By his heroic actions, superb airmanship, and inspiring devotion to duty throughout, Captain Smith reflected great credit upon himself and his squadron, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Batallion:

    Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)

    Action Date:

    April 4, 1966

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Captain [then Commander] Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 4 April 1966, as pilot of a light jet attack aircraft, serving with Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-212), embarked in U.S.S. HANCOCK (CVA-19), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. As leader of a light jet attack division, Captain Smith participated in a strike against the Phuc Loi Petroleum Storage Area near Vinh, North Vietnam. In spite of extremely heavy enemy anti-aircraft defenses, he led his flight into a known surface-to-air missile envelope and to the assigned target. Captain Smith then led a precise, low-altitude bombing attack which scored direct hits on and inflicted substantial damage to the target. His superb judgment and airmanship were greatly responsible for the success of this important mission. Captain Smith’s leadership and steadfast devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Batallion:

    Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)

    Action Date:

    June 30, 1966

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain [then Commander] Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 30 June 1966, while serving as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-212), embarked in the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CVA-19), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. As strike leader in an extremely hazardous and important strike against the Bac Giang petroleum storage area twenty miles northeast of Hanoi, North Vietnam, Captain Smith, through his outstanding airmanship and courageous determination, successfully led the strike group to the target area in adverse weather conditions across seventy-five miles of enemy territory. He then expertly positioned the fighter-cover and flak-suppression elements and led the attack element through heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire in a devastating bombing attack which destroyed more than 80% of the target. By his inspiring leadership and courage in the face of extremely heavy enemy defenses, Captain Smith ensured the success of this important mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Batallion:

    Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)

    Action Date:

    June 12, 1966

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Captain [then Commander] Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 12 June 1966, as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-212), embarked in U.S.S. HANCOCK (CVA-19), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. Assigned as strike leader in a twelve-p-lane strike against the Nam Dinh railroad yard, Captain Smith, disregarding two warnings of the imminent launching of surface-to-air missiles against the flight and in the face of extremely heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire, tenaciously led his flight to the pre-selected roll-in point. He then led the attack element in a devastating attack against the target in coordination with finely-timed flak-suppression runs. Through his superb planning and brilliant execution, seven buildings were destroyed and eleven buildings damaged. The courage, determination and leadership displayed by Captain Smith were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Batallion:

    Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)

    Action Date:

    March 10, 1967

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Captain [then Commander] Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 10 March 1966, as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-212), embarked in U.S.S. HANCOCK (CVA-19), during combat operations against enemy forces in North Vietnam. As the leader of twenty-one aircraft in an attack against the heavily defended Hon Gai ammunition storage area, Captain Smith demonstrated outstanding ingenuity and superb aerial leadership in planning and leading the strike. Using his extensive combat experience and his knowledge of enemy defenses, he carefully planned the route to the target in order to lessen the chance of opposition and increase the probability of attaining surprise during the attack phase of the mission. The strike was made with such swiftness and surprise that even though the enemy defenses were alerted by another attack in the immediate area shortly before this attack, only light and sporadic anti-aircraft fire was encountered, and that occurred only after the first bombs had exploded in the target area. All bombs of the attacking group were in the target area. By his courageous determination and unstinting devotion to duty, Captain Smith upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Captain [then Commander]

    Batallion:

    Attack Squadron 212 (VA-212)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)

    Action Date:

    August 2, 1966 – March 12, 1967

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” (Posthumously) to Captain [then Commander] Homer Leroy Smith, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VA-212) from 2 August 1966 to 12 March 1967, during which time the squadron was embarked on board U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31) and participated in aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. In the short span of less than six months, Captain Smith, through brilliant leadership, selfless dedication, and outstanding administration, was able to train his squadron in the use of a new weapon system, despite a large turnover of officers and enlisted personnel within the squadron, other training requirements, and the late assignment of aircraft requiring extensive modifications. These training efforts culminated in two flights from U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD on 11 and 12 March 1967 against the Sam Son Army Barracks, the Phu Dien Highway Bridge, and the Thanh Hoa Highway and Railroad Bridge, in North Vietnam. Captain Smith planned and led these combat flights with extraordinary skill and precision. Of the four weapons he delivered, the first was a direct hit on an administration building in the Sam Son Barracks area, the second was a direct hit on the Phu Dien Highway Bridge; the third was a direct hit on the Thanh Hoa Bridge, and the fourth was a probable hit on the Thanh Hoa Bridge. By his superb leadership and superior performance of duty in the face of major obstacles, Captain Smith made a significant contribution to the United States effort in Southeast Asia. His actions throughout his assignment as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Captain Smith is authorized the Combat “V”.)