Homer D. Smith
Homer D. Smith Jr. (February 16, 1922March 6, 2011) was a United States Army major general. Early life and education. Smith attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1943. Career. World War II. Smith enlisted in the U.S. Army upon graduation and was deployed to England, where he worked on the logistics planning for the Normandy landings. Korean War. 7th Infantry Division. Vietnam War. On 15 October 1969, Smith, then a colonel, became commanding officer Danang Support Command, South Vietnam. In August 1974 Smith was appointed as head of the Defense Attaché Office, Saigon (DAO), making him the  highest-ranking U.S. military official in South Vietnam. In this role Smith was a key figure in the last year of South Vietnam's existence, finally overseeing Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon in April 1975. Smith left Saigon on 29 April 1975 and later resumed command of the DAO residual office at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. 1975 to 1979. Smith's assignments during this period included the following: Smith retired from active service in July 1979. Following his retirement he became head of the newly established Logistics Directorate at NATO Headquarters in  Haren, Belgium. Personal life. Smith died on March 6, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas, and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.