James 'Jamie' Smith

Cpl. James "Jamie" Edgar Smith Jr. (1972 – October 3 1993) was a U.S. Army Ranger who served in Mogadishu, Somalia. He was one of the 18 casualties of The Battle of Mogadishu, and noted for bleeding to death after being shot in the thigh. Smith was the eldest of three sons of James H. Smith, a Vietnam War veteran. Smith was from Long Valley, New Jersey. Born in 1972 and graduated from West Morris Central High School in 1990, he went on to enlist in the US Army, his goal all along to become an Army Ranger. Smith actually was a sharpshooter, one of the top in his particular regiment.

Smith was one of 18 US military personel killed in action in Somalia between October 3 and 4, 1993. He was helping a fellow soldier when an enemy bullet struck his thigh, severing his femoral artery. Although the other Rangers whom were with him at the time did all they could to save his life, administering fluids and taking turns pinching off the severed artery, Smith passed away shortly before 8pm on October 3. He was 21 years old.

Film portrayal

In the 2001 film Black Hawk Down, based on the operation, Smith was portrayed by Charlie Hofheimer and served as Matt Eversmann's second in command.

Tributes

Jamie Smith was pothumously awarded a Bronze Star with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a Purple Heart.

During the reading of a tribute to him in the senate he was said to be "dedicated and responsible...extremely focused on his commitment to the U.S. Army"

See also

  • Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
  • Black Hawk Down (book)
  • Black Hawk Down (film)
  • Fall of Mogadishu
  • Operation Gothic Serpent
  • Somali Civil War

Sources