Tristan C. Smith, 23, of Bryn Athyn, Pa. died in Taji, Iraq, on Aug. 27, 2006 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M2A3 Bradley Vehicle during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Tristan graduated high school in 2002, studied at Bryn Athyn College for two years before joining the Army in July 2004. He served as a firefighter since the age of 16 at the Bryn Athyn Fire Company. He was survived by his father and mother, Grant and Kimberly Smith, and his siblings, Alizah, Jennica, and Jaron.

“Tristan always wanted to serve, and every time you turned around he was there, smiling. He would work cheerfully and diligently, whether at the Fire Company, SWET weekends, or volunteer service,” said Tristan’s pastor Rev. Grant Schnarr. “When in service to others the one thing you could always say about Tristan was that you can count on him. He will do the work. He will get the job done.”

The Travis Manion Foundation honored Spc. Tristan C. Smith through the Character Does Matter program on May 3, 2012 when we told his story to inspire 350 students at Sandy Run Middle School in Dresher, Pa.