Smith continues military career
Cpl. Nick Smith, grandson of Forrest and Joyce Smith of Marion and son of Marc and Molly Smith of Council Grove is home on leave until Sept. 30, when he will report back to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.
Smith began basic training in the Marine Corps at San Diego, Calif., in August 2004, and graduated in November. He graduated from the School of Infantry in February 2005, and reported to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., on the same day.
He has just completed his second tour of duty in Iraq. His first tour of duty was with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Golf Company. He was in Iraq from July 2005 to February 2006. His company was stationed in the city of Fallujah and the small town of Ferris.
Upon returning to the U.S., the 2nd Bn., 7th Marines trained for a year and re-deployed in February, and was stationed northwest of Fallujah. The final few months of the deployment were spent southeast of Fallujah, in an area known as Zaidon. They spent the last month training Iraqi citizens who volunteered to be part of a provisional security force to help protect their homes, villages, and families from the insurgency. Smith returned to the States the end of August.
While in Iraq, Smith re-enlisted in the Marine Corps. He will remain with the 2nd Bn., 7th Marines until May 2008. At that time he will report to Quantico, Va., for Marine Security Guard school.
Upon graduation he will be deployed to a U.S. embassy, most likely overseas. He will be assigned to three embassies, for a period of one year each, helping protect the embassy, workers, and safeguarding classified materials.
Marine Security Guards are responsible for the internal security of embassies in 115 countries.
