Whitehall Township resident Commander Nathaniel Smith, of the Donald S. Reinert Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7293, Egypt, was honored Oct. 23 at the Penn Harris Wyndham in Camp Hill.

The black tie event was in recognition of his ascension to the position of department commander of Pennsylvania. Smith and his wife were greeted by a standing ovation.

Smith is married to Deborah Sue Harris Smith, a past three-term District 8 VFW auxiliary president. He has four children and 12 grandchildren.

The VFW state color guard presented the colors to open the festivities, followed by the invocation and pledge. The principal speaker was VFW National Council member Glenn Umberger Jr., PSC, who spoke of Smith’s tutelage, humility and commitment to the VFW.

Whitehall Township Mayor Michael Harakal Jr. presented Smith a commendation noting his commitment to his community and country.

Smith was born in Scranton July 3, 1955, and graduated from Mid-Valley High School.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy June 16, 1975, attended basic training at Naval Recruit Training Command and attended a three-week course at the apprentice training battalion at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., where he advanced to E-2/fireman apprentice.

His assignments include more than 12 years of sea duty as a boiler technician on the William M. Wood (DD-715), USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), USS Puget Sound (AD-38), USS Coral Sea (CV-43), USS Lawrence (DDG-4) and USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6).

Smith’s shore duty assignments include shore intermediate maintenance activity at the naval station in Norfolk, Va., and the naval training center in Great Lakes, Ill. His last duty station was commander regional support group at the naval station in Mayport, Fla., where he served as a type desk maintenance broker, type desk officer and maintenance department leading chief petty officer.

He officially retired Nov. 30, 1999, after 24 years as an E-9/master chief boiler technician.

He joined the VFW Post 8488 in Lenox shortly after retiring and transferred to the Egypt VFW, where he became a life member in 2005. His eligibility for VFW membership was in 1989 when he received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in support of Operation Earnest Will (Persian Gulf) and the Southwest Asia Service Medal in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

He recently retired as a commissioned boiler inspector director and chief boiler inspector for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety after 20 years.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Navy Battle Efficiency Ribbon, six Good Conduct Awards, a National Defense Service Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a Southwest Asia Service Medal and six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

His military leadership positions include boiler division leading petty officer and leading chief petty officer, liquid cargo fuels officer, engineering department leading chief, senior instructor machinist mate/boiler technician Class “A” school, company commander and maintenance department leading chief.

His special qualifications include enlisted surface warfare specialist, master training specialist and steam generation plant inspector.

For the Egypt VFW, he has been an adjutant, honor guard member and the VOD and Patriot’s Pen chairman. He served as a judge advocate, senior and junior vice commander and trustee.

For District 8, he was a chief of staff, judge advocate, commander, junior vice commander, surgeon and hospital chairman, membership chairman, Buddy Poppies chairman, Loyalty Day chairman, homeless veteran chairman and VFW rider’s group secretary.

He has served as a department state junior vice commander and an assistant sergeant-at-arms and membership recruiter since 2016.

He was a national Aide-de-camp and was an assistant inspector general.

Smith was the 2019 American Legion Post 739, Hokendauqua, Commander of the Year; was a past first vice commander and sergeant-at-arms at the American Legion Post 739; was a past president of the American Legion Rider’s Group for Post 739; and was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association of Chapter 115, Bethlehem.

Smith’s civic participation includes past AFSCME union president and chief steward of Local 1979; member of the National Board of Boilers and Pressure Vessel Inspectors Commissions; a member and usher for Bethany Wesleyan Church, Cherryville; chairman for local veterans fundraisers; member of Harley Davidson owners group; and military chairman for Wreaths Across America, Lehigh Valley Chapter.