John Lucian Smith

John Smith
John L. Smith, Flying ace, Medal of Honor recipient
Nickname(s)	"Meat Ball Smitty"
Born	(1914-12-26)December 26, 1914 Lexington, Oklahoma
Died	June 9, 1972(1972-06-09) (aged 57) Encino, California
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1936–1960
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	VMF-223 Marine Aircraft Group 33
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Medal of Honor Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Distinguished Service Order (UK)

John Lucian Smith (December 26, 1914 – June 10, 1972) is an American Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Corps ace who, as Commanding Officer of VMF-223 shot down 19 Japanese planes in World War II and led his squadron to a destroy a total of 83 enemy aircraft during the Solomon Islands campaign.

John Lucian Smith was born on December 26, 1914 in Lexington, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps, graduating in May 1936. During the same month, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Army Field Artillery, but resigned in July that year to accept a commission in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant.

After receiving his Marine Corps commission, he was ordered to Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he attended the Marine Basic School.

Following various duty assignments at Quantico, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in 1937, he was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola in July 1938 to begin flight training. A year later he graduated and was designated a Naval Aviator.

During the crucial battle for the Solomons, he led Marine Fighter Squadron 223 (VMF-223) on sorties against the enemy, during which the squadron accounted for 83 enemy aircraft destroyed.