Tommie Smith

Tommie James Smith, a Vietnam United States Army Veteran, died quietly in his sleep at age 72 on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 in Merrillville, Indiana. Tommie was drafted into the US Army at age 23. During his tour of duty, Tommie (TJ) earned several medals of service including the National Defense Service Medical, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. Tommie served with distinction and was honorable discharged on October 24, 1969. Born in Tyronza, Arkansas, he is the 4th child and 3rd son of Anthony Smith, Sr. and Lillian (Lela) Newsome Smith's 6 children both who preceeded him in death along with his brother Leon E. Smith and sister Ollie Mae Newsome. As a child, he not only learned to farm the land and grow produce, but also to repair automobiles working alongside his Dad and older brothers. In 1958, at the age of 14, Tommie's parents made the decision to move the family to Chicago where he was enrolled in Phillips High School. After high school, Tommie, following in the footsteps of his older brothers Anthony and Leon, became a long-distance truck driver. An occupation he enjoyed that also fulfilled his personal interest in "seeing more of the world and expanding his horizons." Returning home from Vietnam, Tommie began to piece his life together returning to the workforce and purchasing a home, and reconnecting with friends and family. Within 2 years of his return to civilian life, he was diagnosed with and began treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) and exposure to Agent Orange. He later began treatment for prostate cancer, and in the last year of life for cancer that had metastasized throughout his body and the brain. Tommie is survived by a host of "love ones" that include his sisters Laura Smith-Wynn and her daughter Jena' Bellezza, Mildred Hervey and her husband Elbert and family, and LaVerne Smith-Bell and family, brother Anthony Smith, Jr. and his wife Gertha and family, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial Service will be held Friday, March 24, 2017, 12:00 p.m., at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel (7535 Taft St, Merrillville, IN) Repast will be held at the Chapel following the memorial services. Full military interment service will take place on Friday, March 24, 2017, DIRECTLY at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL, at 10:00 AM PROMPTLY. For info call 219-736-5840