U.S. NAVY, LIEUTENANT GREENVILLE – Lt. Jerry R. Smith, 26, died Aug. 15, 2007, in a plane crash shortly after launching an E-2C Command and Control Aircraft from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. He was born March 9, 1981, in Greenville, the son of Carroll and Fonda (Putnam) Smith. He and two other crewmembers perished in the Atlantic Ocean. After an exhaustive search by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard all were pronounced deceased. He attended school in Green-ville and then transferred to Penobscot Valley High School, PVHS, Howland, to follow his dad and brother. He graduated from PVHS in 1999, where he played soccer and basketball while in school. He attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., and graduated in 2003. Upon his graduation he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy and was selected for naval aviation. Jerry “Granny” earned his wings in May 2006, by qualifying in solo flights from an aircraft carrier in the T-45A Goshawk jet. His carrier landing and takeoff training was to have been completed this week with the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 120, based at Norfolk Naval Station. He was scheduled to visit his family next week, celebrate the completion of his training and prepare for his first assignment. His love of flying was his mission in life. With each flight, Jerry soared to heights that allowed him to whisk through Angel Wings and feel the breath of God on his face. He was a proud patriotic American, serving his country with dignity and honor. His pleasant smile will be missed by everyone who knew him. He was a great man, leader and a very proud member of the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his parents, Carroll and Fonda (Putnam) Smith of Greenville; his brother, Eric and his wife, Jill and their children, Krystal and Kevin Levesque, of Howland; his sister, Maria of Greenville; and his uncles, Vernon H. Smith and his wife, Nancy Smith, of Las Vegas, Dana C. Putnam and wife, Natalie, of Peru, Maine, and Ceylon E. Putnam III and his wife, Linda, of Peru, Maine. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by his grand-parents, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. A Mass of Christian burial will be conducted 11:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Green-ville, with the Rev. Richard Malo presiding. Graveside services with military honors will be conducted after the Mass in the family lot at Greenville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Alumni Foundation, Babson Center, King’s Point, NY 11024-1699, in memory of Lt. Jerry Smith. Arrangements are in the care of Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft, where messages of condolence and memories may be left at www.laryfuneralhome.com
JERRY R. SMITH
