'He always had a smile in his eyes'

Image courtesy: Hornell Evening Tribune

When 19-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Zach Smith left for Afghanistan in December, the proud community of Hornell, New York, couldn't wait for him to finish his tour and get back home.

"When he went away, everybody said, 'C'mon back, we can't wait to get you back,'" [family friend Dennis] Canty said. "And when this happens, it's just devastating."

Lance Cpl. Smith was killed on January 23 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Daniel Angus and Lance Cpl. Timothy Poole also lost their lives in the IED attack.

As WHEC-TV reports, hundreds of Hornell residents braved frigid temperatures to salute Smith's return to his hometown on Saturday night. Waving American flags and holding candles, the article said friends and family mourned the enormous loss of an exceptional young man, while also remembering the good times.

"Just his whole life he wanted to be a marine," Nik DeGaetano said.

"He's done so much and he's been through so much just for us," Colby DeGaetano said.

They also remembered the way he lit up their lives.

"He always had a smile in his eyes," Canty said. "Always a good word to say for people."

Everyone had so much to say about him.

"He was the funniest kid I ever met, honestly," [Meghan] Quinlan said.

According to a post on the Hornell Evening Tribune's website, Smith got married on July 25, 2009, and leaves behind his loving wife, Anne. His parents, grandparents, brother, sister, and many other relatives are also grieving at this hour.

Smith was a gifted golfer and a big sports fan, rooting for the Syracuse Orange, New York Yankees, and New York Giants. He sacrificed the things he loved to go over to Afghanistan to give that country hope and protect his own. The fallen hero will be laid to rest on Wednesday morning in Hornell with full military honors. Like the two Marines he died alongside, Zach Smith will never be forgotten.