KCSD Deputy Smith Honored By Commissioners For Service To Country

January 5, 2017 at 6:25 p.m.

By Staff Report-

James Smith, a deputy with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, was honored recently for his military service.
The county commissioners honored him during a ceremony in December and thanked him for his service.
Smith enlisted in U.S. Army Reserves as a senior at Warsaw Community High School  in 2000.
He said he decided to enlist in the military instead of going to college, since he had already decided that he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement.
He left for basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., in the winter of 2000 and was trained to drive the 88M truck.
Once training was completed, he was assigned to the 542nd Transportation Unit in Kingsbury, where he  fulfilled his obligations to serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year.
In January 2003, Smith began a one-year stint at the 685th Transportation Company in Hobart.
His unit was then called up and he left for Iraq/Kuwait in 2003 for a nine-month deployment.
During that time, Smith drove semi-trucks, with 40-foot flatbed trailers, used for transporting supplies to the infantrymen.
His unit also provided perimeter security at an ammunition point in Kuwait and was promoted to the rank of specialist.
Once returning back to the states, he returned to his Kingsbury unit for a couple of years.
In 2005, Smith transferred to the 1/330th Unit, a drill sergeant unit in Fort Wayne, where he became part of the 11B (Infantry) and a 42A (human resources specialist).
He stayed in the Army Reserves until August 2012, for a total of 12 years of service.
He began his law enforcement career with the Syracuse Police Department in December 2005 and has been with the KCSD since January 2011.
Smith said he is convinced he is a better person because of his military service, and added that if he could go back in time he would do it all again.
Smith is married to Trish. They have two children, Zachary, 13, and Isabelle 11.

James Smith, a deputy with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, was honored recently for his military service.
The county commissioners honored him during a ceremony in December and thanked him for his service.
Smith enlisted in U.S. Army Reserves as a senior at Warsaw Community High School  in 2000.
He said he decided to enlist in the military instead of going to college, since he had already decided that he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement.
He left for basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., in the winter of 2000 and was trained to drive the 88M truck.
Once training was completed, he was assigned to the 542nd Transportation Unit in Kingsbury, where he  fulfilled his obligations to serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year.
In January 2003, Smith began a one-year stint at the 685th Transportation Company in Hobart.
His unit was then called up and he left for Iraq/Kuwait in 2003 for a nine-month deployment.
During that time, Smith drove semi-trucks, with 40-foot flatbed trailers, used for transporting supplies to the infantrymen.
His unit also provided perimeter security at an ammunition point in Kuwait and was promoted to the rank of specialist.
Once returning back to the states, he returned to his Kingsbury unit for a couple of years.
In 2005, Smith transferred to the 1/330th Unit, a drill sergeant unit in Fort Wayne, where he became part of the 11B (Infantry) and a 42A (human resources specialist).
He stayed in the Army Reserves until August 2012, for a total of 12 years of service.
He began his law enforcement career with the Syracuse Police Department in December 2005 and has been with the KCSD since January 2011.
Smith said he is convinced he is a better person because of his military service, and added that if he could go back in time he would do it all again.
Smith is married to Trish. They have two children, Zachary, 13, and Isabelle 11.

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