William "Bill" John Smith

William “Bill” John Smith, 93, of Atlantic, NC passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at home surrounded by his Family.

The funeral service will be held 3:00 pm Sunday, February 26, 2017 at Atlantic Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Adam Self and the Rev. Michael Fields officiating. Interment will follow at Atlantic Community Cemetery.

Bill was born in Mosby, Missouri on August 10, 1923. He was the Son of the late Rolla K. Smith and Nauvita Davis Smith. Bill graduated High School and at the age of 17 joined the United States Navy.  On August 25, 1944 he married the love of his life Rita Gertrude Smith from Atlantic, NC.

Bill was a veteran of three wars and was in the US Navy during WWII and in the USAF during Korea and Vietnam. At one point, he was second choice in competition for “Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force”. He was Maintenance Superintendent at Misawa AFB during the ”Pueblo Incident”. His two squadrons of  F-4 Phantoms could not respond to help USS Pueblo because all aircraft had been loaded with live tactical nukes for an exercise. Bill suggested to the Base Commander to “…send them anyway…”.

Bill was in charge of an anti-aircraft gun emplacement on the beach at Guadalcanal, with Carlson’s Raiders, when the US Navy fleet had to abandon him and all the invasion troops. He loved coconuts (which was all they had to eat on that island for about two weeks…). He later flew as Combat Air Crew with the PBY “Black Cats” Squadron at New Guinea.

One night the Japanese retaliated and he had to run for the bomb shelter. When he pulled his boot on to go, a scorpion was waiting inside and he spent some time in the sick bay getting over the sting. Later, he came down with Malaria and ended up on the hospital ship Solace.

After his retirement from the United States Air Force on June 30th, 1965 he worked with the United States Postal Service, maintenance at Sea Level Hospital and with the Civil Service as a forward air controller on the bombing range called BT-11.

Bill is survived by his daughter Kathy Jo Smith of Swansboro, Son Robert Smith and wife Linda of the home, Brother Guy Smith and Wife Myrnaloy of Rapid City, South Dakota, Sister Diann Sapp and Husband Stephen of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, grandchildren Heather Carpenter and husband Guy of Swansboro, Katie Smith of the home, great grandchild Garrett Carpenter of Swansboro and several nieces and nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

The family would like to say thank you to all the care givers that helped take such great care of Bill during the last few years to allow him to be able to remain at home.

Memorial donations can be made to the Atlantic Missionary Baptist Church PO Box 54, Atlantic, NC 28511 or the Atlantic Senior Meals Program PO Box 145, Atlantic, NC  28511.

Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.