Isaac D. Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Isaac D. Smith
Smith pictured as a brigadier general
Born	(1932-05-02) 2 May 1932 (age 93) Wakefield, Louisiana, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1950s–1989
Rank	Major general

Isaac D. Smith, born on May 2, 1932, was a very important leader in the United States Army. He reached the high rank of Major General. This means he was a top commander in the military.

Isaac Smith's Education

Isaac Smith went to Southern University and A&M College. There, he was part of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program. ROTC helps college students train to become officers in the Army. He earned a degree in Agriculture from Southern University.

Later, he continued his studies and earned a Masters degree in Public Administration. He also took many special courses for military leaders. One of the most important was attending the U.S. Army War College. This college trains senior military officers for high-level leadership roles.

Important Army Roles

Major General Smith held many different and important jobs during his time in the Army. He worked in various leadership positions both in the United States and in Europe.

Some of his key roles included:

• Helping manage personnel (people) for the U.S. Army in Europe.
• Working with intelligence and operations for Allied Forces in Central Europe.
• Helping to develop new strategies and systems for the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C.
• Leading the U.S. Army Second Reserve Officer Training Corps Region. This meant he was in charge of many ROTC programs.
• Serving as an Assistant Division Commander for the 1st Armored Division in Europe.

In 1983, when he was a Brigadier general, a magazine called The Crisis recognized him as one of the "top Black leaders in the Armed Forces." At that time, he held the same rank as Colin Powell, who later became a famous general and Secretary of State.

General Smith also wrote a major report for the Army. This report was about the school system for military families in Europe. These schools helped "army brats," which is a common term for children of military members, get a good education while their parents served overseas.

Awards and Recognition

Major General Smith received many important awards and honors for his service. These awards show his bravery and dedication to his country.

Some of his top awards include:

• The Distinguished Service Medal
• The Silver Star
• The Defense Superior Service Medal
• The Legion of Merit (with an Oak Leaf Cluster, meaning he received it more than once)
• The Bronze Star Medal
• The Meritorious Service Medal (with an Oak Leaf Cluster)
• The Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters)

In 1999, an organization called The Rocks, Inc., named him "Rock of the Year." This group is made up of ROTC officers, and this award recognized his outstanding achievements.

In 2006, after he had retired, the Louisiana House of Representatives honored him with a special citation. The Louisiana Senate also passed this recognition. This was to thank him for his many years of service to the United States.