Shreveport soldier Sgt. Derrick Smith to get Soldier's Medal for Fort Hood action

Local soldier tapped for heroic actions
BY JOHN ANDREW PRIME • JPRIME@GANNETT.COM • NOVEMBER 5, 2010

One year ago, Shreveport soldier Sgt. Derrick Smith waited to get paperwork done in the Soldier Readiness Processing Center on the sprawling Army city of Fort Hood, Texas, when hell broke loose.

An officer whose motivations are the subject of Army court hearings started firing rounds from two guns at fellow soldiers and civilians, killing 13 people and wounding 32 others. Smith and his commanding officer rendered aid to the wounded and advanced on the officer accused of the rampage, Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Halik Hasan.

Hasan was finally felled by shots fired by civilian police officers Kimberly Munley, who was wounded several times, and Mark Todd.

One of the four heroic actions Smith performed was to save Munley's life.

For that and other actions, the now-retired Louisiana Army National Guard soldier will be among 70 soldiers and civilians honored in a ceremony today at Fort Hood, with Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey and Army Secretary John McHugh presiding.

Smith will receive the Soldier's Medal, the highest award given for heroism not involving combat with an armed enemy.
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Local soldier tapped for heroic actions