Major General
Homer D. Smith

Major General Homer D. Smith was born in Breckenridge, Texas on February 16, 1922 and graduated from Texas A&M in 1943.

As Chief of Staff of the 1st Logistics Command, Vietnam 1968, he was almost entirely responsible for the organization's administration. During this period, the organization was the largest in the United States Army, with an assigned strength of over 100,000 troops, who provided logistical support to Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines engaged in combat in the Da Nang area.

In 1974, he was assigned as Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Vietnam and was responsible for the materiel assistance support to the Vietnam Armed Forces. In 1975, the escalating advances of the enemy required his expertise to plan and execute operation “Frequent Wind.” This operation resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of U.S. and Vietnamese citizens and culminated on April 29, 1975 with the evacuation of 1,373 U.S. citizens and 4,595 Third Country Nationals and Vietnamese citizens by U. S. Air Force and Marine helicoptors. He departed the Defense Attaché Office at Tan Son Nhut Air Base only hours prior to the evacuation of the Marine Landing Force and the demolition of the communication equipment.

As Commanding General, U.S. Army Logistics Center, he increased the credibility and visibility of the Logistics Center, by increasing the number of visits and contacts made by its staff. Because of his experience and expertise, he was chosen as the first Director of Logistics, NATO International Staff, Brussels, Belgium following his retirement on August 1, 1979.