SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN -- An update from our sister station KTVO in Kirksville, Mo. --
After traveling more than 7,000 miles, a fallen Navy SEAL has returned home.
On Sunday, the body of Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Smith arrived in Missouri at Columbia Regional Airport. Petty Officer Smith was one of nine U.S. service members killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan last Tuesday.
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders escorted the sailor oup Highway 63 from Columbia to Greening Eagan Hays Funeral Home in Macon, Mo. Patriot Guard Riders Captain Vern Bastion said more than 30 riders came together.
“It’s just a true honor to be invited by the family to honor this individual, pay respects to this individual, for all of our freedoms” said Bastion. “Riders came from all across the state this morning to escort this young soldier home. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms so we’re out to honor and respect his service for our freedoms.”
Visitation for Petty Officer Smith will take place Friday, Oct. 1, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Macon, Mo. His funeral will be held Saturday, Oct. 2, at 1:00 p.m., also at First Baptist Church in Macon.
Smith will be buried at the new addition of the Oakwood Cemetery in Bevier, Mo.
You can visit the Petty Officer Adam Smith section of our sister station's website heartlandconnection.com to find all our coverage on the fallen hero and to post your memories of Smith.
Our sister station KTVO in Kirksville, Missouri reports the following:
The Department of Defense announced Wednesday afternoon that a Navy SEAL from northeast Missouri was one of four sailors who died Tuesday in a helicopter crash.
It happened during combat operations in a rugged section of southern Afghanistan.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam O. Smith, 26, formerly of Bevier, was one of nine U.S. service members onboard the chopper.
Smith was assigned to an East-Coast-based SEAL team.
Smith was a graduate of Bevier High School.
In his younger years, he also attended school in the Knox County School District.
Smith's funeral arrangements are pending with Hutton and McElwain Funeral Home in Macon.
A funeral home spokeswoman told KTVO Wednesday afternoon that Smith's family was informed that the Navy won't release his body to the family for five to seven days.
The Associated Press reports the cause of the helicopter crash is not clear.
NATO said there were no reports of enemy fire at the time of the crash.
Aircraft are used extensively in Afghanistan to transport and supply troops because the terrain is mountainous and roads are few and primitive.
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Below is the KTVO story from September 21, 2010:
Another U.S. service member from northeast Missouri has died in Afghanistan.
U.S. Navy Seal, Adam Olin Smith, 26, formerly of Bevier, was killed Tuesday while serving his country, according to www.centralmoinfo.com.
Details of Smith’s death are not yet available.
A helicopter carrying nine U.S. service members crashed in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, killing all nine.
The Department of Defense told KTVO it cannot confirm yet if Smith was one of those onboard.
A spokeswoman from the department said Congress requires them to wait 24 hours after the victims' families are notified of the deaths before publicly releasing the names of those killed.
Smith's funeral arrangements are pending with Hutton and McElwain Funeral Home in Macon.
The funeral home said it's waiting to learn when Smith's body will be returned to the U.S. before it can make arrangements.
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