Joseph J. Smith was born on September 2, 1936, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith. His home of record is Bogota, NJ. He attended St. Joseph's School and the Carmelite Seminary in Hamilton, MA. He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in East Orange, NJ.

He served in the US Army and attained the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT). Smith had hoped to make a career in the Army. He had already spent 16 years in the service.

He was killed in action on February 4, 1969. Joseph is buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Hackensack, NJ.

Sources: Newspaper clippings, www.vvmf.org, and NJVVMF.