BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD BERTRAND SMITH Donald Bertrand Smith was born in Detroit, Michigan, January 19, 1903. After graduation from high school at Denver, Colorado, in 1921, he enlisted in the Colorado National Guard, with which he served until July, 1924. He then entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and was graduated and commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry June 9, 1938.In September, 1938, he began flying training and upon graduation from the primary and advanced flying schools at Brooks and Kelly Fields in Texas, was rated a pilot and transferred to the Air Corps March 24, 1930.General Smith’s first assignment was with the 95th Pursuit Squadron at Rockwell Field, California. In October, 1931, he was transferred to the 34th Pursuit Squadron at March Field, California, and in June, 1932, became a flying instructor at the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas. In March, 1937, he was assigned to the 29th Pursuit Squadron at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone.General Smith was transferred to Lowry Field, Colorado, in July, 1939. The following year he was graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, and returned to Lowry Field. He was named commander of the Headquarters Squadron at Keesler Field, Mississippi, in July, 1941, and the following April became intelligence and operations officer at Keesler Field. In August, 1942, he was named personnel officer for the AAF Technical Training Command at Knollwood, North Carolina.In March, 1943, General Smith assumed command of Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina. The following November he was named deputy chief of staff for the AAF Training Command at Fort Worth, Texas, and in August, 1944, became chief of staff of the 3700th AAF Base Unit at Denver, Colorado.General Smith went overseas in January 1945, to become administrative officer in the office of the assistant chief of staff for plans of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe.He returned to the United States in May, 1946, and two months later was assigned to the Plans and Operations Division of the War Department General Staff at Washington, D.C. In June, 1948, he became a member of the Joint War Plans Committee in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Washington, D.C., and in May, 1949, was named a member of the Joint Strategic Plans Group in the Office.In August, 1950, General Smith was appointed an instructor at the National War College. A year later he went to Alaska to command the 5001st Composite Wing at Ladd Air Force Base at Fairbanks. In April, 1953, following a reorganization of Air Force units in Alaska to effect more efficient operations, General Smith assumed command of the 11th Air Division (Defense), also at Ladd Air Force Base.He returned to the United States in August, 1954, and was appointed vice commander of the Eastern Air Defense Force at Stewart Air Force Base, New York.General Smith suffered a fatal heart attack on September 7, 1955, while on leave at Rangeley, Maine.General Smith has been awarded the Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Ribbon with two Oak Leaf Clusters, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). He is also authorized to wear the National Military Establishment Badge.He is rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.General Smith is married and has two children.PROMOTIONSPrivate, Service Company, 157th Infantry, Colorado National Guard, January 19, 1921, to July 1, 1924; Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, July 1, 1924; Second Lieutenant, Infantry, June 9, 1928; transferred to Air Corps, March 24, 1930; First Lieutenant, December 22, 1933; Captain, June 9, 1938; Major, A.U.S., January 31, 1941; Major (temporary), February 1, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), January 5, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., October 12, 1943; Major, June 9, 1945; Colonel, April 2, 1948; Brigadier General (temporary), July 28, 1951, with date of rank from July 3, 1951.