Service runs in the family for local veteran

Military service was a family tradition for the Smith family. Calvin Smith, of Hart County, was one of seven brothers who grew up in Northeast Georgia. All of them served their country. 

Smith remembers his time in the Army well. 

“When I got to Korea, we didn’t get our food in like we should and I had to eat corn beef hash for about three months until we got our food in,” Smith said. “I weighed 128 pounds when I came back from over there.”

But  Korea was not the first time one of the Smith boys had been sent overseas to fight for America’s freedoms. Five of his brothers were drafted into service during World War II. John Smith served in the U.S. Army Air Force. Bill Smith and Lewis Smith each served in the Army. Troy Smith served in the Navy. J.C. Smith was a Marine who fought in the battle of Iwo Jima and once owned Smith’s Barber Shop in Lavonia. 

Later, from 1948 to 1951, Guy Smith volunteered to serve in the Army and Calvin Smith followed him, eventually going to Korea and later to the Panama Canal. Calvin is the only surviving brother.  

Despite the difficulties he faced during his time overseas, Smith, who joined as soon as turned 17, said he wouldn’t change a thing. 

“Somebody had to protect our country. If we hadn’t have served, and the men who served hadn’t have served what would we be today. We wouldn’t have had any freedom at all,” Smith said.

While stationed at the Panama Canal, Calvin Smith  was in an ordinance company and repaired equipment.

Veterans Day, originally Armistice Day, was set for the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate the end of fighting during World War I. After WWII and the  Korean War, Congress changed the name from “armistice” to “veterans” to honor American veterans of all wars. Having this day dedicated to them means a lot to Veterans across our country. Calvin Smith knows that well.

“It’s a day of recognition of the ones who have lost their lives and the ones that are still that served,” he said. “I wear a cap that says I’m a Korean veteran and I get a lot of thank you’s when I go to the store. People come up and thank me for my service. It makes me feel good that people still remember it.” 

Many veterans leave service with problems that they will carry with them into civilian life. Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem more common among veterans due to the trauma they experience while deployed. Smith said the condition is difficult for many people to understand if they haven’t gone through trauma like veterans experience themselves.

“People don’t realize how much the servicemen go through,” Smith said. “They don’t seem to respect veterans as much as they
used to.”