Army Chief Warrant Officer Smith was assigned to Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, Davenport, Iowa. Smith was the commanding pilot of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter when it went down after being struck by a ground-to-air missile fired by insurgents in Al Fallujah, Iraq. He sustained injuries from the crash and died at a military field hospital. Bruce graduated in 1980 from Columbus Community Schools in Columbus Junction, Iowa. As a civilian, he worked from 1980 to 2000 at the University of Iowa as Research Assistant in the College of Medicine and the Departments of Pediatrics and Anesthesia. He enlisted before his senior year of high school in 1980 as a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard and then served as a combat medic in the 209th Medical Company in Iowa City, reaching the rank of sergeant. Bruce was appointed as a Warrant Officer and graduated from helicopter training programs as a UH-1 Huey pilot in 1987. He later attended advanced Army training courses including CH-47 flight school in 1994 and instructor pilot school in 2000. He was an instructor pilot with over 2,000 hours of experience in the CH-47 Chinook and UH-1 Huey Army helicopters, including deployments to Honduras, Guyana, Iraq and disaster and law-enforcement support in Iowa. On Feb. 3, 2003, Bruce was mobilized to deploy to Iraq with his National Guard unit. He served initially in Kuwait and was later reassigned to the central Iraq area, where he flew many missions transporting troops and supplies in support of the U.S. efforts in Iraq. He served for over 23 years in the Iowa Army National Guard. Bruce volunteered his time to many organizations in the West Liberty and Iowa City area community. He was a member and former President of the Noon Optimist Club in Coralville. His two greatest loves were his family and flying and hobbies included turkey and deer hunting, teaching as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, coaching West Liberty youth sports and 4-H horse events with his children. He is survived by his wife, Oliva, and children, ages 15 and 12. Bruce was posthumously recognized for his valor in combat as a pilot with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He has also been nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military medal for extraordinary heroism in combat at the risk of life.
Army Chief Warrant Officer Smith was assigned to Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, Davenport, Iowa. Smith was the commanding pilot of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter when it went down after being struck by a ground-to-air missile fired by insurgents in Al Fallujah, Iraq. He sustained injuries from the crash and died at a military field hospital. Bruce graduated in 1980 from Columbus Community Schools in Columbus Junction, Iowa. As a civilian, he worked from 1980 to 2000 at the University of Iowa as Research Assistant in the College of Medicine and the Departments of Pediatrics and Anesthesia. He enlisted before his senior year of high school in 1980 as a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard and then served as a combat medic in the 209th Medical Company in Iowa City, reaching the rank of sergeant. Bruce was appointed as a Warrant Officer and graduated from helicopter training programs as a UH-1 Huey pilot in 1987. He later attended advanced Army training courses including CH-47 flight school in 1994 and instructor pilot school in 2000. He was an instructor pilot with over 2,000 hours of experience in the CH-47 Chinook and UH-1 Huey Army helicopters, including deployments to Honduras, Guyana, Iraq and disaster and law-enforcement support in Iowa. On Feb. 3, 2003, Bruce was mobilized to deploy to Iraq with his National Guard unit. He served initially in Kuwait and was later reassigned to the central Iraq area, where he flew many missions transporting troops and supplies in support of the U.S. efforts in Iraq. He served for over 23 years in the Iowa Army National Guard. Bruce volunteered his time to many organizations in the West Liberty and Iowa City area community. He was a member and former President of the Noon Optimist Club in Coralville. His two greatest loves were his family and flying and hobbies included turkey and deer hunting, teaching as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, coaching West Liberty youth sports and 4-H horse events with his children. He is survived by his wife, Oliva, and children, ages 15 and 12. Bruce was posthumously recognized for his valor in combat as a pilot with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He has also been nominated for the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military medal for extraordinary heroism in combat at the risk of life.
Bio by: Brenda N
