Staff Sergeant Shannon Michael Smith, born 14 April 1978, died 8 September 2009, in Baji, Iraq. Smith was a 1997 graduate of Harding High School. He was a wrestler while at Harding. Smith was serving with the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, Alaska. While on patrol in Iraq, the vehicle Smith was in was attacked with an explosive device. Also, killed in the attack were; PFC Thomas F. Lyons and PFC Zachary T. Myers. PFC Myers was also from Ohio.
SSgt. Smith had enlisted in the United States Army in 1997. He had served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia during his enlistment. Smith participated in several missions supporting the Secret Service Tac Team and Sniper Team with the President of the United States. Among his awards were: the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Iraq and Kosovo Campaign Medals.
SSgt. Shannon M. Smith left behind his wife Cassie and son, Steven. Smith was an avid outdoors-man and a fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes.
Staff Sergeant Shannon M. Smith is buried at Berkshire Cemetery Sunbury, Delaware County, Ohio, and is honored on the Global War on Terrorism Monument, at the Marion Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio and on the west side of the Marion County Courthouse.

More can be read in the following articles.

The Associated Press

Shannon Smith was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes who loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hiking, canoeing, fishing and bowhunting for deer.
But those activities had to be squeezed in when he wasn’t defending his country.
Smith, 31, of Marion, Ohio, joined the Army in 1997 and had served tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia. He died in combat Sept. 8 after the vehicle he was in was bombed in Baji, Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Another Ohioan, Zachary T. Myers, also died in the attack. Myers thought highly of Smith, his mother, Tonya J. Latto, told the Columbus Dispatch.
“He talked about Shannon all the time and about what a great a guy he was,” Latto said. “He was a good friend who showed him the ropes.”
Smith was a 1997 graduate of Marion Harding High School, where he excelled in wrestling.
He and his wife, Cassie, liked to spend time sightseeing and photographing Alaska when they could find the time.
Smith also leaves behind a son, Steven.

Army Staff Sgt Smith was assigned to the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, Alaska. He died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device while on patrol. Shannon was a member of the football, baseball and wrestling teams while attending Marion Harding High School. He excelled in wrestling and was a National Qualifier for the Greco Roman freestyle wrestling team. In 1997 he graduated from high school and joined the Army. As a trained sniper, Shannon conducted several missions supporting the Secret Service Tac Team and Sniper Team with the President of the United States. He had been awarded numerous citations and decorations including: The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Iraq and Kosovo Campaign Medals. Shannon has served in missions in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq – he was deployed to Iraq in May leaving behind his wife, Cassie, and son. Shannon was a natural born leader and constantly challenged his guys as a coach and mentor. He loved training his men and felt it was his duty to get them in top form as their protector. Shannon enjoyed anything associated with the outdoors – fishing, deer hunting with a compound bow, sightseeing, hiking, canoeing and photographing Alaska. He loved cheering for his beloved OSU Buckeyes and had a room designed entirely with Buckeyes memorabilia in his home. Shannon was devoted to his men and job and gave everything he had to every challenge. He was kind hearted, fun loving and a constant jokester. Shannon’s family would want others to know that he did not consider himself to be special or a hero. He always took the worst of any situation and was able to make it better. He knew it was his job to protect his country and did his best every day to see to it that the loved ones he left at home were safe.

Obituary:

SSG Shannon M. Smith, age 31, a humble man, who gave the ultimate sacrifice died Tuesday, September 8, 2009 while serving his country on a military patrol in Baji, Iraq. “Though he didn’t like war, he knew it was his job to protect his country and all it stood for. He did his best every day to see to it that the loved ones he left at home were safe…..Freedom isn’t Free.”

A member of the 545th MP Co, stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska, he was deployed to Iraq in May. A trained sniper, he had been awarded numerous citations and decorations including: The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Iraq and Kosovo Campaign Medals.

He entered the Army in 1997 and became a Team Leader of the 178th Military Police Company. He conducted several missions supporting the Secret Service Tac Team and Sniper Team with the President of the United States. He performed as a Team Leader and Counter Sniper in Iraq for the 89th MP, completing over 500 protection missions in a combat environment.

SSG Smith also served as a Special Reactions Team, Protective Services, and High Risk Personnel Course Instructor training hundreds of Officers and other personnel annually. He was proudly selected as the Battle Field Hero for the 545th MP Co at the Nation Training Center at Ft Irwin, CA. As a squad leader he constantly challenged his team, serving as a coach and mentor.

He was born on April 14, 1978 in Columbus to James R. and Debbie R (Coleman) Smith Jr. of Cardington. He was a student of the Big Walnut School system until his freshman year and was a member of the football, baseball and wrestling teams. Shannon graduated from Marion Harding High School in 1997. While at Harding he excelled in wrestling and also was a National Qualifier for the Greco Roman freestyle wrestling team.

Shannon enjoyed fishing and hunting deer with a compound bow. He was happiest guiding others and cheering for his beloved OSU Buckeyes. Always active he loved a challenge. He was one of devotion, a man of integrity, who always gave 110% at every endeavor. Kind hearted as well as fun loving he was the constant jokester, who was genuine to the core.

In addition to his parents he is also survived by his wife: Cassie (McGuire) with whom he treasured spending time with. Together they enjoyed sightseeing, hiking, canoeing, and photographing Alaska.

He will also be missed by son: Steven Michael Abbott, brother: Cory, sister: Kristi Smith, grandparents: JR Smith, Betty Coleman, great-grandmother: Myrtle Smith, parents-in-law: Heidi Worcester, Dan McGuire, numerous friends including: Evan Taylor, Honor Guard Escort CPT Matt McCreary, and his beloved Aussie Alyseka.

Friends may call Wednesday 5-8 p.m. and Thursday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, SR’s 3 at 61, Sunbury. Friends may also call one hour prior to the 1:00 p.m. Friday funeral services at the Genoa Baptist Church, 7562 Lewis Center Rd. at SR 3, Westerville, OH 43082 with his grandfather JR Smith and General David Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in Berkshire Cemetery with full military honors and escort provided by the Patriot Guard Riders.

Memorial contributions can be made to Cystic Fibrosis, 740 Lakeview Plaza Blvd, Suite 225, Worthington, OH 43085 or http://www.cff.org.

Condolences may be expressed at http://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com