Highest Honors POW / MIA
United States of America
Headstone of Michael John Smith
Headstone shared by 7 interments, including Michael John Smith
U.S. Navy · United States United States

Michael John Smith

Captain
1945 – 1986
Defense Distinguished Service MedalNavy Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal3Navy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalCongressional Space Medal of HonorNASA Distinguished Service Medal
Life Keepsakes Service Decorations Shadow Box Also Remembered Memorials Laid to Rest In Our Keeping

Captain Michael John Smith served in the U.S. Navy for 18 years and 7 months. Michael served in the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Michael was 40 years old.

How He Died
Manner Accident
Cause Multiple traumatic injuries
Keepsakes
Michael John Smith
Michael John Smith 0 views
Headstone Front of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. Shared stone
Headstone Front of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. 0 views
Headstone Back of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. Shared stone
Headstone Back of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. 0 views
Service Record
U.S. Navy
1967 – 1986
Conflicts
Vietnam War Cold War
Awards & Decorations 7

For valor

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross

For service and achievement

Air Medal two oak leaf clusters ×3
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal V device

Foreign awards

NASA Distinguished Service Medal posthumous January 28, 1986

Conferred by Congress

Congressional Space Medal of Honor July 23, 2004
Memorials
Space Mirror Memorial
Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial cut as Michael J. Smith
Also Remembered
Challenger
requiem.nw →
Burial Information
Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery
Section 46
Grave 1129-8
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krcpfmhkn13gvpx7md3mx09z
Record added August 8, 2026 neuraweb.nw
Stewarded by neuraweb.nw
Last updated August 29, 2026

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Shadow Box
Michael John Smith
Captain
U.S. Navy
1967 - 1986
Captain
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal3 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Congressional Space Medal of Honor NASA Distinguished Service Medal

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