[1] He graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on April 20, 1917, shortly following the American entry into World War I and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Cavalry Branch of the United States Army.

[5] While in this capacity, he took part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive in the final weeks of the war and, following the armistice with Germany, Smith participated in the occupation of the Rhineland, while stationed at the corps headquarters in the town of Wittlich.

While in this capacity, Smith was promoted again to Captain on April 13, 1920, and finally left this assignment in January 1921 in order to rejoin 14th Cavalry at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.

[1][2] After several months in Iowa, Smith was transferred to the staff of United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and served as an instructor in the department of natural and experimental philosophy until September 1926, when he entered the Army Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas.

His tenure with 13th Cavalry lasted until April 1929, when he returned to the United States Military Academy at West Point as assistant professor in the department of natural and experimental philosophy.

[2] In August 1934, Smith entered the Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated from the two-year course in June 1936.

[2] In April 1941, Smith was transferred to Pine Camp, New York and joined the headquarters of newly activated 4th Armored Division under Major General John S. Wood as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3).

Upon entering the towns of Mühldorf and Ampfing, units of the division discovered three large forced labor camps containing thousands of Polish and Soviet civilians.

[7][2] Following the War, the 14th Armored Division was stationed in Germany, where it participated in the occupation duty until the beginning of August 1945, when it was ordered back to the United States for deactivation.

The 14th Armored was deactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia, on September 16, 1945, and Smith was ordered to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and assumed command of 30th Infantry Division.

[3][2] Smith supervised the demobilization of the troops until December 1945, when 30th Division was deactivated and he was reverted to his peacetime rank of colonel ordered to Washington, D.C., for duty as President of War Department Board for Selection of Regular Army Officers.

[3][2] While in this capacity, Smith served as deputy to Major General Harry Hazlett and participated in the repatriation of Japanese prisoners of war on Leyte until February 1947.

[1][3][2] He was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in November 1950 and assumed duty as Deputy Commander, Fifth United States Army under Lieutenant General Stephen J. Chamberlin.