Paul was one of my best friends at B-CC. He died in 1968 in Vietnam. I get back to the DC area at least once a year and always take time to visit the memorial wall to say hi.
I checked Paul's info at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial web site. Paul's (2nd LT, USMC) "date of casualty" is listed as Nov. 20, 1968.
I think of Paul Smithson and Johnny Joyce often. I was blessed that my brother Wayne (BCC '65) came back and is doing well today. To all our classmates who served, you have our respect, gratitude and honor.
Paul Smithson was a good guy and a very good football player. He had great potential and decided to join the Marine Corps after high school.
I was on the University of Maryland campus mall one day in 1967 or 1968 and ran into Paul. He had just returned from Basic Training was in College Park to visit a friend. Our interaction was coincidental.He talked about how he really got his act together with the Marine Corps. he knew that he had some great things in store in his life. However, he recorgnized that he was going to fulfill his duty to his country and then return to build his life. He parting words were that he was going to Vietnam and when he returned we would get together and see what the future holds.
When I visit the Vietnam Memorial I think of Paul Smithson as one of the great tragedies of that war. The thought of so many people like him having given their life for our country has always been and will always be very difficult to accept.
Yes, Steve, I also talked with Paul that day at Maryland, in front of Cole Field house. I had already been in the reserves for almost 3 years and was thinking of dropping out and going active. We had just lost John Joyce whose mother had gone to school with my mother was in Scranton PA. Paul seemed resigned with his decision to go. Two years later I got my " turn in the barrel", and witnessed lots of losses in the final two years of Vietnam. Fate and luck. Still bothers me to this day. A good young man gone too soon.
Stephen Hudson
Paul was one of my best friends at B-CC. He died in 1968 in Vietnam. I get back to the DC area at least once a year and always take time to visit the memorial wall to say hi.
David Springer
I checked Paul's info at the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial web site. Paul's (2nd LT, USMC) "date of casualty" is listed as Nov. 20, 1968.
I think of Paul Smithson and Johnny Joyce often. I was blessed that my brother Wayne (BCC '65) came back and is doing well today. To all our classmates who served, you have our respect, gratitude and honor.
Ben David Goodman
Thanks to Paul and John for their service to the country. Your sacrifices are not forgotten.
Steven VanGrack
Paul Smithson was a good guy and a very good football player. He had great potential and decided to join the Marine Corps after high school.
I was on the University of Maryland campus mall one day in 1967 or 1968 and ran into Paul. He had just returned from Basic Training was in College Park to visit a friend. Our interaction was coincidental.He talked about how he really got his act together with the Marine Corps. he knew that he had some great things in store in his life. However, he recorgnized that he was going to fulfill his duty to his country and then return to build his life. He parting words were that he was going to Vietnam and when he returned we would get together and see what the future holds.
When I visit the Vietnam Memorial I think of Paul Smithson as one of the great tragedies of that war. The thought of so many people like him having given their life for our country has always been and will always be very difficult to accept.
Thomas Terlizzi
Yes, Steve, I also talked with Paul that day at Maryland, in front of Cole Field house. I had already been in the reserves for almost 3 years and was thinking of dropping out and going active. We had just lost John Joyce whose mother had gone to school with my mother was in Scranton PA. Paul seemed resigned with his decision to go. Two years later I got my " turn in the barrel", and witnessed lots of losses in the final two years of Vietnam. Fate and luck. Still bothers me to this day. A good young man gone too soon.