5k run honors fallen Airman Published Sept. 11, 2013 By Airman Megan Friedl 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The fourth annual Bradley R. Smith Memorial 5k run/walk was held Saturday at the Tri-Township Park in Troy, Ill. This 3.1-mile run was a time to remember and commemorate the life of Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith. Smith was killed on duty while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He served as a Tactical Air Control Party specialist. While on a dismounted area reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Badvan village, his 13-man platoon-sized element was attacked by indirect mortar fire and an improvised explosive device. A Soldier was thrown 200 meters across the village by the blast. Smith volunteered to retrieve him. After retrieving him, Smith maneuvered his way back through the waist-high creek. Upon arrival to the Casualty Collection Point a second IED detonated, killing Smith and the platoon medic instantly. Last year the Air Force posthumously awarded Smith the Silver Star for his heroic actions. Master Sgt. Jacob Bowman, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, Det. 1, knew Smith before the deployment and said he was always very charming, funny and made their deployment enjoyable. Bowman and nearly 30 other Airmen from Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Riley, Kan., attended the event to honor Smith--a fellow Tactical Air Control Party specialist. Lt. Col. Sean Monteiro, 10th ASOS commander, said, "We're all part of one team, and we're going to support one another. We came here to honor one of our fallen brothers." Many Scott Airmen attended the event to run and support the cause. Many of them were proudly wearing their purple camouflage "Road Warrior" shirts. Runners in Kuwait and Afghanistan also completed their own 5k courses in remembrance of him. Smith's mother, Paula, said it was a little bit overwhelming to see everyone at the 5k in Troy. "It's a wonderful healing event for us," she said. "It lets us know that no one has forgotten." Monteiro said he was proud of his guys for honoring their heritage, which is something Smith represented. "He's the perfect example of courage that Tactical Air Control Party displays day-in and day-out."