James C. Smith (general)
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Georgia, U.S.
Lawrenceville, Georgia
James C. Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Jim |
| Born | 5 September 1923 Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | 14 December 2016 (aged 93) Lawrenceville, Georgia |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1981 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | United States Army Aviation Center 1st Cavalry Division 1st Armored Division 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment Support Command, 1st Cavalry Division |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Medal (2) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart Air Medal |
James Cliffton Smith Jr.[1][2][3] (5 September 1923 – 14 December 2016) was a major general in the United States Army who served as commander of the United States Army Aviation Center and commandant of the Army Aviation School from 1976 to 1978. He previously served as commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division from 1971 to 1973.
Smith was born in Georgia, where his father was a sergeant major in the 6th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Oglethorpe. When he enlisted in the Army on 30 June 1942, a review board waived basic training and instead sent him to officer candidate school at Fort Riley.[2][3][4] Smith completed fixed-wing flight training for artillery observation at Fort Sill in November 1946. He later received helicopter flight training and, in 1961, completed a Bachelor of General Studies degree in military science at the University of Omaha. Smith graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1957 and the Army War College.[2][3][5][6]