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Jack Smith was born as Jack Hensley. His mother died in child birth and his father, left with several other small children couldn't take care of him. He was adopted by Wiley J.S. and Nancy D. Smith.

He attended college and was a paymaster.

He volunteered for the Army of the United States in Dallas, Texas on 5 May 1942.

The airplane was observed going down in flames south of the target. It was believed that the bomb bay fuel tank was punctured by flying debris from explosions on the ground. A fire ignited in the bomb bay and a wing. The aircraft disintegrated on impact. The plane crashed in the Prahovah river bed, approximately 2,5 miles southwest of Campina, near the village of Bobolia.

Seven crew members were killed in the crash, two men, S/Sgt Kaufman and S/Sgt Lambert, died of their wounds on 4 August, one man survived and was taken prisoner.

The mission took place on 1 August 1943 and was part of Operation Tidal Wave, the low level bombing of the oil refineries in the area of Ploesti, Rumania. All ten members of the crew were awarded the DSC for this mission.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. The citation cited: for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Radio Operator and Gunner on a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 566th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group (H), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. During a long and hazardous attack against a vital enemy oil installation made at low-altitude by a formation of B-24 type aircraft, Sgt Smith acquitted himself with great skill as his aircraft flew through one of the most heavily defended areas of Europe. When the plane on which he served was severely damaged he continued on, in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Over the blazing target, Sgt Smith, with heroic calm and unflinching loyalty, remained steadfast at his station. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Sgt Smith on this occasion, at the cost of his life, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Sgt Smith is remembered at the cemetery of Fouke, Arkansas.