Slain Marine wanted to become an Anaheim police officer

By LYNN ELBER
Associated Press Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) A police reservist and 20-year Marine who brought his black, silver eagle SWAT team cap with him into battle planned to arrive in Baghdad wearing his law enforcement gear.

1st Sgt. Edward C. Smith, 38, of Vista, Calif., never made it. He died April 5 in Doha, Qatar, from wounds suffered while in action against enemy forces in central Iraq on April 4, the U.S. Department of Defense said Tuesday.

His wife, Sandy, spoke about her husband at a news conference at the Anaheim Police Department. The couple's three children and police colleagues were at her side. A podium was surrounded with photos of him.

``Their dad loved them more than anything,'' Mrs. Smith said of their children, breaking down in tears. ``We all knew Edward was a great man and it's so nice to know everybody else knew him too.''

She said Smith wasn't eager to go to war in Iraq, but said that as a career Marine who had never seen combat, he wanted to test himself. But she added, ``He said he was sorry he was leaving.''

``He was an unbelievable man,'' she said crying. ``He had such a good heart. He cared about people. He was just the best man I've ever known.''

Their sons, Nathan, 12, and Ryan, 10, spoke to reporters. When asked if she wanted to say something, their daughter, Shelby, 8, shook her head no.

Ryan tearfully said whenever he needed help his father was always there.

``It made me feel so good. He was the best dad you could ever have. I miss him a lot,'' he said.

Nathan added that his father was unique. ``He was really special,'' he said.

Smith's sister-in-law, Amber Toliver of Anaheim, said Sandy was with her family on Sunday when military police notified her of Smith's death.

Police officers wore black bands over their badges and flags flew at half-staff citywide.

``He had the appearance of a Marine: All-American, clean-cut, neat,'' said Rick Martinez, a police spokesman.

He called Smith ``a kind and gentle man, a professional.''

``Very sincere and just one of those people that people automatically like,'' Martinez said. ``You'd see him in the hallways and he had that twinkle in his eye and that nice smile that he gave everybody.''

Smith was hired by Anaheim police as a part-time reservist in 1999 after graduating at the top of his class from Palomar Police Academy. He was recognized as the department's Reserve Rookie of the Year in 2000 and in 2001 was the Orange County Reserve Police Officer of the Year. He usually worked weekends and was part of the Special Tactics Detail that was on guard as the Anaheim Angels played in the World Series.

To friends, he was ``Smitty'' or ``Gunny,'' for gunnery sergeant, even after he was promoted to 1st sergeant.

He had decided to retire in January but the military delayed all retirements for a year and he was shipped overseas with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

A Gulf War veteran, Smith had planned to join the police force full time after his return from Iraq, acquaintances said.

``I talked to Gunny just before he went in, the night before he deployed,'' Officer J.J. Imperial said. ``He believed in his country and his men and he was going to do whatever it took to support his country and support his troops.''

He sent e-mails and letters back to his police colleagues. They gave him a Special Tactics Detail cap and pin before he left.

In a cardboard box postcard, Smith told fellow officers that ``his intention was to wear his SWAT cap all the way into Baghdad,'' Martinez said.

Smith communicated regularly with his wife while he and his Marines were based in Kuwait. Once they crossed into Iraq, he only communicated twice more. The first time on a news reporter's satellite phone, the second time in an e-mail sent by another news reporter, Mrs. Smith said.

A memorial of condolence cards and children's drawings were left at the Police Department, which created a fund for Smith's wife and children.

One was a crayon drawing of a man in a camouflage uniform.

``Edward, you're our hero. We love you,'' the message said. ``Thanks for fighting for us. God Bless you, we all miss you.''

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Associated Press Writers Chelsea J. Carter and Robert Jablon contributed to this report.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)