Vet returns to family life after service
Howland native honored for action in Vietnam War
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FOWLER -- A decorated U.S. Army veteran, Smith A. "Smitty" Mealy remains humble about his service and strives to live a family-focused life, just as he was raised.
He served as a sergeant in the First Infantry Division -- the Big Red One Division -- during the Vietnam War. Mealy was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and a Combat Air Defense Medal for his service in 2016, he was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.
He said when he was first drafted in 1966, he did not like the idea of joining the military.
"We were pretty family oriented," Mealy said. "I didn't want to leave everyone."
Mealy, who grew up in Howland, was 24 at the time and had just married his wife, Dolores, in 1964. The two built a house together in Fowler the same year, and he worked at Copperweld Steel.
After leaving home, his first stop was Fort Benning in Georgia for basic training, then to Fort Polk in Louisiana, also known as Tigerland, for advanced infantrymen training. Mealy said during this time, he eventually warmed up to the idea of being in the Army, thanks largely to his dad.
"When I got my head screwed on right, I was OK with being in the military," Mealy said. "I just wasn't used to being screamed at like they did.
"At one point, I called home to my father and explained the situation I was in and how I was feeling about it. He told me there was nothing we could do about it, so I better suck it up and make the best of it."
He said he "went all over" Vietnam while he was there as an infantrymen from April 1967 to May 1968. His first job was point man, followed by tunnel rat and then radio telephone operator. He said it was the final one he liked best because he found it to be the least hazardous.
On May 24, 1968, he was awarded a Silver Star for his actions on Feb. 12 of that year while serving as a radio telephone operator. His company was in Viet Cong territory when it was engaged by a large enemy force. His Silver Star declaration states he braved the hostile fire to come to the aid of two fellow soldiers who had been wounded.
He administered first aid and carried one man to a safer area. Mealy went back for the other and moved the wounded soldier to the medical evacuation area.
Radio communications became disrupted, so he ran through hostile fire from one position to another with urgent information.
"His extraordinary courage, aggressiveness and professionalism during the hazardous situation were instrumental in saving several friendly lives, and significantly contributed toward the successful outcome of the encounter. Sergeant Mealy's unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the First Infantry Division, and the United States Army," the declaration reads.
After leaving Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, where he was able to bring Dolores. After the couple returned to their home in Fowler, Mealy went back to work at Copperweld Steel, from which he retired after 32 1/2 years.
Mealy and Dolores have two children, Melissa Orfin and Shane Mealy, along with two grandsons, Andrew and Lucas.
These days, he keeps busy as a member of the American Legion Post No. 700 and the Masonic Lodge. He and Dolores also are members of Grace Fellowship Church in Niles.
One of Mealy's favorite hobbies is restoring old fans. In the past four years, he has stripped, cleaned, rewired and painted just under 25 fans. He also used to play golf and scored three holes-in-one.
"I did one and it looked so good, I just decided to do some more," Mealy said of the fans.
As he did when he was 24, Mealy still enjoys spending time with his family. His grandson Lucas plays travel baseball and he is able to watch him play all over the country through an app. He and Dolores still live in the same home they built in 1964.
Smith A. Mealy
AGE: 80
RESIDENCE: Fowler Township
SERVICE BRANCH: Army
MILITARY HONORS: Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and a Combat Air Defense Medal
OCCUPATION: worked at Copperweld Steel
FAMILY: Wife, Dolores Mealy; son, Shane Mealy; daughter, Melissa Orfin; and grandsons, Andrew and Lucas