Leigh Walter Smith was born in Brunswick, Maine on December 23, 1948 into a military family. His parents were Leroy Walter Smith and Norma McLuer Smith. He graduated from Auburn University in 1969 and received a regular mission in the U.S. Army. After an assignment with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, he volunteered for duty in Vietnam. He deployed in October 10970 and joined the 173rd Airborne Brigade at LZ English. He assigned as a replacement Platoon Leader in Co. D., 2nd Battalion (Airborne) 503 Infantry. He was wounded twice during the Battle of Nui Cong Chap and evacuated to the USA. He left active duty as a Captain in 1977 with a medical discharge. After his military career, he was a computer programmer for twenty years with the U.S. Civil Service. He died in Columbus, Georgia on May 14, 2017.