Joshua Smith

Retired (TSgt)

Retired (TSgt) Joshua David Smith was born and raised in Fairfield, Montana.  His childhood and teenage years were spent working on the family ranch.  He received the Eagle Scout Award at age 14.  Joshua attended Fairfield High School, graduating in May 1996.  He served a two-year church service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1996-1998 in Connecticut and Rhode Island.  Upon returning home he decided to move to Utah where he spent the next five and one half years.

While working full time, he attended Utah Valley University taking college courses.  TSgt Smith enlisted in the Air Force in 2003 and arrived at Lackland AFB, Texas, in November 2003 for BMT.  During his 13 years of active duty service, Joshua was stationed at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, Kunsan AB, South Korea and Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.

In June 2008, TSgt Smith was attending Combat Survival School, Non-Parachuting and Helicopter Dunker Egress training courses.  He was placed in a small culvert during POW Camp/Resistance Training and sustained major injuries that caused two full hip replacements, right shoulder/right elbow surgeries, severe degenerative joint disease/arthritis in both knees and ankle joints.  He also sustained a cervical strain to the neck and severe thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease to the lower back.  TSgt Smith just medically retired in November 2016.  He will become a full-time student at Utah Valley University in January 2017, studying Emergency Services Administration with an emphasis in Emergency Management.  Joshua lives with his wife, Michelle and their five children: Kialey (14), Justice (12), Addison (11), Jett (9), Jaxton (7) and they reside in Spanish Fork, Utah.