Thomas Jacob Smith, 05 Nov 1948 - 26 May 2024

SMITH, KOZICHEK, HOFFMANN, HECK, SCHMIDT, CAMPBELL, PUSTARFI, BATES

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 6/6/2024 at 13:26:33

Thomas Jacob Smith, a Marengo native, passed away on Sunday morning, May 26, 2024 at his home in Riverside, CA. His wife Thuthi was by his side. Over the last two years Tom battled multiple types of cancer throughout his body. It is to his honor that he passed on Memorial Day Weekend as he always carried his Brothers in Arms in his heart. Let us celebrate his gentle, loving heart and spirit. He loved his family and stayed in continual connection. We all loved connecting with Tom. He held deep friendships over many years, including with his co-workers.

Tom was a wonderful, caring and loving stepfather to Michelle, Thuthi's daughter. She flew in from South Carolina to be with her "papa" and Thuthi during the week before his death. She brought Tom great joy and peace.

Thomas Jacob Smith was born on November 5, 1948 at our family farm in rural Victor, IA. After graduating in 1969 from Iowa Valley High School in

Marengo, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in June 1969. After Basic Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, and two assignments at Chanute AFB in Illinois and Forbes AFB in Kansas, he served two tours in-country in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971 at four different AFBs.

In 1971 Tom was stationed for three months at Kwanju AFB in S. Korea, and then returned to Vietnam. He had two assignments back in the USA. This was followed by one year at Kunsan AFB, S. Korea in March 1975. He received an Honorable Discharge as Sergeant on February 13, 1976 at McCllelan AFB, Sacramento, CA.

Tom’s MOS - Military Occupation Specialty – was Heavy Equipment Operator and Welding Repair: PSP Matting and Welding of emergency runways, Construction of Aircraft Hangars and Nose Docks, Field Maintenance, Weld Repair of Aircraft ON and OFF Flight Lines.

Each Fighter Aircraft and type of equipment that Tom worked on was a personal mission and a point of pride for him. The image he always kept in mind was knowing that whatever maintenance and repairs he did would help to ensure those pilots and soldiers returned home safely.

Tom took great and special pride in working on the gigantic Nose Dock for the huge Constellation Aircraft. The Constellation played a key role in airborne command and control during the Vietnam war.

Tom served in the following USAF Units:
43rd Civil Engineer Squadron
823rd Red Horse Squadron Civil Engineers
555th Red Horse Squadron Civil Engineers
33rd Tactical Fighter Wing
320th Bomb Wing SAC - Strategic Air Command

In returning to civilian life, Tom joined Allied Signal Aerospace Systems and Equipment (now Honeywell), where he was employed for over 40 years. He was a leader in Emergency Response Team and HAZMAT Containment. He cross-trained and upgraded in every manner of welding certificates. As a specialist welding expert, Tom worked with highly reactive metals. He was promoted to quality control and critical inspector of welds, dimensional, paint, rivets, torque and MORE.

Much of his work was for deep space use, in sub-freezing temperatures.

His co-workers held Tom in the highest respect as a mentor and in the support he always provided them, choosing him to be their spokesperson for taking problems and grievances to management.

One of Tom’s favorite activities was the company-wide Campaign “Christmas Toys for Tots,” which he headed up and organized each year. At the close of each campaign came the ceremonial driving, sometimes by Tom himself, of the 18-wheeler rig fully loaded with toys, to its destination for happy children.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents William J. and Emma M. (Kozichek) Smith of Marengo IA, and four siblings: Sharon (Smith) Hoffmann, Barbara (Smith) Heck, Carroll J. Schmidt (nee Smith), and Alice (Smith) Campbell, and one niece Renee J. Smith.

Tom is survived by his wife Thuthi and stepdaughter Michelle, as well as four siblings: William Stanley (Barbara) Smith, Secaucus, NJ; Kathleen (Smith) Pustarfi, NYC, NY; Herman Philip (Linda) Smith, Belton, TX; and Faye (Smith) Bates, Santa Fe, NM, and 17 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services and interment were held at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705 in Orange County.

Published in The Hometown Current on June 5, 2024.