Broken Bow remembers Marine killed in accident

BROKEN BOW, OK (KSLA) - Private First Class Jordan Smith signed up with the Marines to serve his country.

But that service was cut short when PFC Smith was killed in a traffic accident at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on June 17. He was only 19 and still in training with the Marine Corps Engineer School.

The circumstances surrounding his death have not been released and the accident is still under investigation.

Regardless, friends and family of the young Marine said farewell at his funeral in Broken Bow, Oklahoma on Wednesday.

"He touched many lives within this community and we felt that we owe our respect to that", said Christian Smith, Assistant Store Manager at Pruett's Grocery which lowered flags to half-staff in Smith's honor.

"Well it is just patriotism in honoring the folks in the military, in other words, the veterans," said Dale Young a Patriot Guard Rider.

PFC Smith was a graduate of Broken Bow High School. Broken Bow policeman Richard Luper says he became a school resource officer about the time Jordan began school.

"It's like losing one of my own it is real hard right now," said Luper.

Luper says he followed Jordan throughout his school years and was proud to lead the funeral procession.

"It is almost like he was always on a mission to make sure you were having a good day and if you were having a bad day your day would get better. When I heard the news he had passed I felt a part of me was missing," Luper said.

PFC Jordan Smith will be buried at the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas at 9:15 Friday morning.

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