John Smith became a member of the board of trustees of the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association in 2004. He was in charge of our two major events – Memorial Day and Veterans Day – and instrumental in many other miscellaneous ceremonies. His contribution to the Veterans Committee in establishing the current plaque criteria and guidelines helped the memorial become what it is today.
John’s dedication to the memorial was invaluable and he will be greatly missed.
John volunteered to join the United States Army in June of 1966 at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, New York. After basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, John was selected to attend the Army Medical School at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas. Upon graduation he was sent to Europe for additional training with the 42nd Medical Company, Munich, Germany. In September of 1968 he received orders to join the 1st Air Cavalry Division, An Khe, Republic of Vietnam. During John’s tour in Vietnam he was wounded three times and decorated for heroism. In May of 1969, while performing his duties as a field medic on a routine combat assignment, John was seriously wounded and had to be medically evacuated out of the country to the 7th Field Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. He had one surgery there and was then sent to St. Albans Naval Hospital, Long Island, New York where he spent the next three years recovering from his injuries. In November 1972, John was medically retired from the United States Army as a disabled veteran.
In September of 1970, John entered the vocational rehabilitation program for disabled veterans sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Under that program, he began attending Long Island University while still a patient at St. Albans Naval Hospital. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in June of 1976 with a degree in Psychology. In January of 1977, he was offered an opportunity to attend the Columbia University graduate school of Psychology. That same year he took a part time job with the United Postal Service as a zip code operator. Over the next twenty-two years, John had a variety of different assignments within the Postal Service, finally retiring in 1999 in San Diego as a Diversity Specialist.
John was a Special Representative for the California Department of Veterans Affairs, with Public Affairs responsibilities at the California Veterans Home in Chula Vista. Prior to this dual assignment, he was the first Director of Volunteer Services for the Veterans Home. After developing the Volunteer Services Department, he then volunteered to take on the additional responsibility of Chief Fundraiser for the Veterans Home.
John has been married to his wife Lenora for thirty-two years and they have two grown children, Keith a teacher in Brooklyn, New York, and Kimberly a San Diego Graphics Arts designer. His wife, Lenora, is presently the principal at Clairemont High School.
John’s Volunteer Service:
Mt. Soledad Association – Member of the Board of Trustees
United Veterans Council – Legislative Chair for House of Representative Bills
American Legion – Member of the National Legislative Council
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) – Member of the National Youth Council
Veterans Village of San Diego – Board member, Fund raising Committee
Military Order of the Purple Heart - Service Officer for S.D. Chapter 49
S.D. County Veterans Advisory Council – Councilmember at large, 2000-08
S.D. Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Board – Board member,
Congressman Bob Filner’s Veterans Advisory Board - Member
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity – Vice President of the S.D. Chapter
Martin Luther King Day Parade Committee 2004, 05, 06 – Vice Chairman
Catfish Club of San Diego Inc. – Executive Board member
Veterans Day Parade – 2005 Committee member (Public Affairs & Volunteer)
American Legion Post 87 – Judge Advocate
Fleet Week Association – 2005 Events Committee member
The Crestwood Community Planning Board (Rancho S.D.) – Vice President
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) – member of the 2005-6 speakers bureau
Neighborhood House Association – Central City Head Start classroom reader
U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs - Community Advisory Board member
Toastmasters International – Charter member of “Look Who’s Talking”
Ms. Semper Fi Pageant – Volunteer Judge
Rosecrans National Cemetery – Advisory Board member
Disabled Advisory Committee – Cal. Dept. of Veterans Affairs |
