Marine LCPL Jeremy Shock
August 11, 2024
Marine LCPL Michael Smith Jr.
August 25, 2024
MilitaryTimes.com
Smith attended Kenton Ridge High School in this city about 45 miles west of Columbus and was a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, said Marsha Stoner, his teacher in that subject for three years. 
“He was genuine, kind and gentle, but he did not want people to know that. He had a very good heart and he loved his family,” Stoner told the Springfield News-Sun.
The Spanish society had an induction ceremony Tuesday night and paused to remember Smith, a 2003 graduate.
“It’s been a hard day,” she said. “I just took a shine to him when I first had him in class. He was a special kid.” Principal Chuck Foss said the school would lower its flag to half-staff and have a moment of silence for Smith on Wednesday. Smith never got into trouble, Foss said. “You knew he was there, but he just did things the way they were supposed to be done,” Foss said.
