God bless Captain Smathers.
Posted on 02/07/2006 4:44:43 PM PST by T-Girl
...Was watching the CBS Evening News tonight (which I'm not usually in the habit of doing) and heard some sad news. ...Not sure if anyone recalls this story from back in November (see below) but apparently Capt. Smathers died last week, after collapsing during Reserve training.
Capt. Smathers was an attorney in Maryland. During his year in Iraq, he earned four Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and an Army Commendation medal during his year in Iraq.
Might be nice if we shared our expressions of sympathy, as well as our gratitude for his service to our country. If you'd like to visit the guestbook, it's located here.
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Soldier And Dog Reunited
Scout and Army Reserve Capt. John Smathers were together for a year in Iraq. (CBS)
By the time Army Reserve Capt. John Smathers got home from Iraq he was the most decorated reservist of the war, and undoubtedly a hero to one particular Iraqi.
"He was just a little puppy at the time," Smathers said. "He was 2 ½ months old and I immediately said, 'You know, we gotta keep this dog.'"
CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports that Smathers first saw Scout wandering the streets during the battle for the Baghdad airport. One of thousands of strays — but to Smathers — one of a kind.
Smathers says the first time he saw Scout, he fell in love with him.
"He was very vulnerable but he put on a front like he was a tough guy," he says. "Which is probably how a lot of soldiers feel."
Scout and John Smathers were together for a year.
"I was about to go out on a mission and I was saying goodbye to him there," Smathers says.
But when Smathers was seriously injured and flown home for medical care, Scout was on his own, but on Smathers' mind.
"He was probably very confused and I knew I had to get him back," he says.
He spent months e-mailing troops who had taken over his unit's old house begging for information about Scout.
"There's a bond with he and I," he says. "And as long as he was alive and it was within my power to get him here, I was gonna try. I owe him that."
And, almost unbelievably, one soldier wrote back. He knew Scout and agreed to take him to the Baghdad Zoo, where Smathers knew people who would care for him.
It took a year to get Scout out of Iraq. At one point Scout was driven eight hours to the Jordanian border only to be sent back to Baghdad because of paperwork snafus.
But finally, last August it worked — Scout was flown to Washington. This moment was, in Capt. Smathers words, the successful conclusion of one last mission.
"And when I saw him laying at my feet I was just smiling," he says. "I lay down with him and I felt like … John you're done."
Scout has now taken up guard duty outside Smathers' house. One more Veteran of a Foreign War — home at last.
God bless Captain Smathers.
That indeed is a sad story. From his citations we know that the good captain was an outstanding soldier (he also was a man of compassion, having rescued some poor dog, twice). It made me very sad to learn that he has died. God bless him.
Yes, surely, absolutely, God Bless Captain Smathers. And Scout, too.
Now, Captain Smathers will have to wait, again, to be reunited with his beloved Scout.
I’d post a longer more coherent reply but I’m just too teary eyed right now.
I’ve always believed you can tell a lot about a person by seeing how they feel about and treat animals and children and how they in turn react to that person.
Capt. John Smathers is a hero, both on the big and small scale. We all can’t be heroes in the big sense but we should all strive to be a hero to someone everyday and for the rest of our lives.
I hope that Scout will be taken care of.
God Speed Capt. John. God Speed.
Oh...so sad! I remember this story. He was so looking forward to being home and had wanted to give this dog a good life. My prayers go out to his family. This had to be such a shock for everyone. He truly lived a noble life. Sad.
Scout and Army Reserve Capt. John Smathers were together for a year in Iraq. (CBS)
Touching video at the following link.
War Hero Who Rescued Puppy From Iraq Dies
(WJZ) WEST FRIENDSHIP, Md. An Iraq war hero from Maryland who made national headlines when he brought home a puppy from the war-torn nation, has died.
Army Captain John Smathers brought "Scout" to America after returning home from the war. He was first introduced to the public last November, in Richard Schlesinger's report on the CBS Evening News.
Two weeks ago Smather adopted another dog, "Judy," as a companion for his trusted Scout.
Scout and Judy were walking with John on Saturday evening when he collapsed and died. He was the only son of seven siblings. Smathers was also a law partner at McGowan Cecil and Smathers in Laurel.
Monday his sister talked with WJZ's Richard Sher about her brother's character and commitment. "He spent years defending people's rights in this country and he was willing to give his life to free the Iraqi people," says Luanne Tano. "I know that's what was truly in his heart."
Tano says her brother passed away with Scout by his side. His exact cause of death is still unknown.
There will be a viewing for Captain Smathers this Wednesday, February 8th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Witzke Family Funeral Home in Ellicott City.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Services held to remember Smathers are following:
Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Harry H Witkzke Family Funeral Home
4112 Old Columbia Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 465-848
Thursday, Feb. 9, beginning at 11 a.m.
St. Louis Catholic Church
12500 State Route 108
Clarksville, MD 21029
(410) 531-6040
In lieu of flowers you may contact:
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
1 Intrepid Square
W 46th Street & 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
1-800-340-HERO
Smathers will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be announced.
BTTT
"He truly lived a noble life."
Life just happens to most of us, but a few people rise above the rest of us and leave an example of how to live a life of purpose and honor.
OMG! Witzke's is our family's favorite FH and that 1 is just around the corner!
Never mind Clarksville!
I wonder what went wrong that this young man died. So sad. Who will take care of Scout now?
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