MIDDLEBORO — Nearly 50 years after the status of Middleboro soldier William M. Smith was changed from missing in action in Vietnam to died by hostile action, he was honored at a remembrance ceremony hosted by the Taunton Area Vietnam Veterans Association.

Middleboro has not forgotten the young soldier. He is remembered  by two POW/ MIA chairs, one at Middleboro Town Hall lobby and the other at Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 Legion quarters. The bridge on Center Street over the railroad tracks is dedicated to him.

Smith was an Army Staff Sergeant, who was reported "Missing In Action" on March 3, 1969. He had been on patrol with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry near Kontum, South Vietnam.

Officials later learned that he had been captured by enemy forces and died while being marched North, according to U.S. Government reports. In May 1973, the Pentagon announced that Smith’s status changed from “Missing In Action” to “dead by hostile actions” based on interviews with former prisoners of war.

His body was never found. 

Smith was 21 when he was captured and later lost his life. He was born on April 2, 1949 in New Bedford. He had lived in Middleboro for 16 years. In high school he enrolled in the College Preparatory course and played basketball in his freshman year. He was a member of the graduating Class of 1967 of Middleboro’s Memorial High School.  

The class yearbook states: “Bill likes physical education and plans to be a future teacher in that area.” He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Smith of 2 Starrett Avenue. Other survivors included two brothers, Robert and Richard and three sisters, Susan, Shirley and Sandra.

He  was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and POW medal.

His photo was presented at the March 26 ceremony by Air Force veteran Mary Standish, an active member of the Siemon L. Nickerson American Legion Post 64 and a member of the Middleboro Veterans Honor Guard.