Alumnus Eric Smith killed fighting in Iraq

Eric Allan Smith ’84 (accounting), a chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army, was one of seven soldiers killed April 2 in the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter near Karbala, Iraq.

Eric Smith ’84

The youngest of three brothers, Mr. Smith grew up in the Rochester area and graduated from Brighton High School in 1980. After graduating from RIT he lived in San Diego before enlisting in 1987. He spent most of his Army career as a helicopter pilot and instructor. He was stationed at Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah, Ga., before being sent to Kuwait in January.

Mr. Smith was honored with a military service at Arlington National Cemetery in May. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Mr. Smith’s family has established a scholarship in his honor. Contributions to the Eric Allan Smith Memorial Scholarship can be sent to the RIT Office of Development, 116 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623. For more information, call 585-475-5500 or see the Web site at www.rit.edu.