Branch of Armed Services: Army

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Institution of Higher Learning: Washington University (St. Louis, MO)

Degree Sought: Master of Social Work

Moved by an inner calling to do the “right thing,” Sergeant Timothy Smith enlisted in the Army in June 2003 to join the forces of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Seven months later, Timothy found himself on the streets of Baghdad experiencing the realities of war. Almost four years later, in 2007, Timothy reentered civilian life as both a husband and a father. Not knowing where to go after this experience, Timothy applied to the prestigious fellowship program through St. Louis-based The Mission Continues and was awarded a 14-week position with the local Veterans Administration as a peer support counselor.

Timothy was so good at what he did that the V.A. hired him on after his fellowship ended. Sparked by the direct impact he was having on a group of individuals he himself is a part of, Timothy decided to pursue his Master’s degree in social work from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. It is with this experience and education that Timothy plans to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and continue his work with the V.A.

“I have the utmost respect for Pat Tillman because he chose to serve his country before serving himself. The Army was a way for me to be part of something a lot larger than myself. I had the privilege to wear the uniform that many great warriors wore before me and our future servicemembers will wear long after I’m gone. I would not trade in my military experience for anything. I had the privilege to serve with men who were not only outstanding soldiers, but were great fathers, husbands, sons, and most of all lived everyday they had on this earth to the fullest.”