major john lucian smith triple ace...

  Major John Lucian Smith Triple Ace of the Pacific Theater and Recipient of the Medal of Honor

John Lucian Smith, a native of Lexington Oklahoma and University of Oklahoma graduate, was an American Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Corps flying Ace who, served as Commanding Officer of VMF-223. Smith personally shot down 16 Japanese planes and led his squadron to a destroy a total of 83 enemy aircraft during the Solomon Islands Campaign. On February 24, 1943 President Franklin D Roosevelt presented Major Smith with the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony.

"Smith would go on to take part in the aerial offensives in the Bismarck Archipelago in November and December 1944; then to Luzon in the Philippines in January and February 1945; then on to Mindoro and Mindanao, and finally up to the Sulu Archipelago."

"For his services in the Philippines during the period November 1944 to June 1945, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceedingly meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Executive Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 32 in extensive support of ground and surface forces in the liberation of Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, the Sulu Archipelago, and Mindanao."

John would go on to serve in the Korean War reaching the rank of Colonel. In August 1956 he assumed his duties at Pensacola Naval Air Station as Liaison Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Air Training. Retiring from the Marine Corps on September 1 1960, John Smith worked in the defense industry until his passing on June 10, 1972 at the age of 57 years old. Colonel John Lucian Smith lies in rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Lest We Forget.

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WWII uncovered original description and photo sourced by Marine Corps University, Oklahoma Historical Society and US Department of Defense