Last week Louisiana State Police helicopter pilots made a special stop during a training and maintenance flight to surprise retired Command Pilot Walter Smith near his home at Mount Hermon.
Smith, a Marine Corps helicopter pilot who served in Vietnam, retired from the state police in 1988. A retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, he was the first LSP Command Pilot in 1969 when the Air Support Unit was originally created.
During Thursday’s visit, current LSP Command Pilot Dean Levergne was able to meet Smith for the first time.
Recently celebrating his 85th birthday, Smith had not flown in a helicopter in over 40 years. LSP pilots were proud to include a short flight with him as part of their training and maintenance flight.
In addition to his Marine Corps and State Police service, Smith also served as Chief Civil Deputy for the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. Today, his son, Jason Smith, is Washington Parish Sheriff.
Like his dad, Jason Smith isalso a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel.
