From a contemporary press report
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Walter A. Smith, Jr., 74, of Sun City, Arizona, died November 9. 1998. He was born May 4, 1924, in Philadelphia.
After graduation from high school in 1943, he entered pilot training and served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Air Force Outtstanding Unit Award with “V” for valor during war time.
Survivors include his wife, Flossie; sons William, Michael and Bruce; four grandchildren, two stepchildren, five step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Services were November 23 at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, andd internment was at Arlington National Cemetery.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard