Brigadier General Douglas S. Smith enlisted in the Army in March 1947 as a medical technician, serving in Army hospital units for over six years before attending OCS. He graduated from OCS in January, 1954 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. | He was integrated into the Regular Army in 1955 in the Branch Armor. He served as a Platoon Leader, XO, and Company Commander in the 14th ACR in Germany; completed the Advanced Course at Fort Knox; served as an Instructor in the Infantry School; back to Germany as a Tank Battalion S-3, and then served on the 8th Infantry Division Staff. Following Command & General Staff College, he deployed to Vietnam. He served as a Staff Officer in USARV then joined the 9th Infantry Division. He assumed command of the 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 47th Infantry in the Republic of Vietnam in 1969. He returned to CONUS to command the 1st Squadron, 17th Armored Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division. Following a tour as a Staff Officer in the Pentagon and Senior Service College, Smith was assigned as Commander, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division in Germany. He later was assigned as G-3, VII U.S. Corps. Following his selection for promotion to Brigadier General, Smith served on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon, then he was assigned as Assistant Division Commander of the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. His final assignment was the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Training at Headquarters, TRADOC. General Smith retired from the service 29 February 1984. | General Smith’s awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Department of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star w/ “V” Device, and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 7 Battle Stars, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (3 awards), Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Army General Staff Badge and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge.