CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Chat with a veteran Russell Smith

The Daily Commercial - 3/4/2018

Town: Minneola

Branch of service and rank: Army (E5) and Coast Guard (seaman)

Enlisted or drafted? I initially enlisted in the Coast Guard. It seemed like an adventurous thing to do because I was from a small county in Ohio. I transferred to the Army after they tried to change my status to becoming a reserve officer. I wanted to be active military.

What did you do in the service? The Coast Guard was basic maintenance stuff. In the Army, I was an infantry mortar man stationed in Germany.

Why was it important? In the Army, we would provide support for the front lines, and we had to make sure we were right so we wouldn't hit them. I'm not a fan of friendly fire.

What is your most important memory from service? I guess the friendship and the camaraderie. It lasts you forever.

What did you like least about service? Getting out. I loved the service.

What do you want people to understand about war? People fight it that don't necessarily want to fight it. We need to be there for those people, no matter what our opinion about the war.