Former student dies in Kuwait

Matthew R. Smith came to IU to study history. Instead, he became a part of history.\nSmith, 20, of Anderson, a former student at IU, was killed in non-military action Saturday in Kuwait. \nHe was a radio operator reservist with Detachment 1, Communications Co., 4th Force Service Support Group based in Peru. Smith was driving a Humvee as part of a convoy when his vehicle hit a parked trailer, according to The Associated Press. He died instantly. \nDavid Smith, Matthew's father, said he believes his son was the first resident from Madison County killed in Operation Enduring Freedom. \nDavid described Matthew as "an excellent son" whose goal was to become a Marine officer. \n"Matthew felt that in order to be a good officer he had to to go through enlisted man's basic," David said. \nMatthew proceeded to join the Marine Reserve before graduating high school. "If he didn't do that before he went to college he believed he wouldn't get it done," David said. \nMatthew had to delay his education at IU when his detachment, based at Grissom Air Force Base, was deployed at the beginning of this semester. \nMatthew, the youngest of two sons of David and Pat Smith, came to IU because he considered it a school with a good history program. \n"He loved history and studied military history," David said. "In grade school, he would argue with fellow students on the Civil War." \nIn fact, Smith loved history so much that, according to his father, the "History Channel" was his "Cartoon Network" as a child. David said Matthew would get mad if the program was too entertaining and the facts weren't 100 percent correct.\nDavid also recalled his son competing on an academic bowl team in high school. \n"Matthew did the history part, of course," he said. "In one competition he answered 19 out of 21 questions."\nBesides being an academic, David said Matthew enjoyed athletics, playing many sports at Pendleton Heights High School -- where he graduated in 2001. \n"He played football in high school to help his rugby game," David said. Matthew's 25-year-old brother is now the rugby coach at his brother's alma mater. \nAt IU, Matthew continued to play rugby as a club sport.\nSenior Laith Shaaban, president of the IU Rugby Football Club, the Mudsharks, said the team was shocked by the death of their former comrade, but remembered him as "a very personable guy who was fun to be around."\n"He would always do his best for the team," said Laith. "He was a classic gentleman."\nSenior Matt Taylor, a member of the team, remembered Matthew as a hard worker.\n"He always gave 120 percent," Taylor said. "He tried to motivate everyone; he would pull them along and push them harder than they were already doing."\nTaylor also said Matthew took schoolwork very seriously. \nJunior Doug Fedich, another teammate, remembered Matthew as a man dedicated to his family and his girlfriend. \nWhen Smith's aunt Vicki Buck recalls memories of her nephew, she retells the story of her father. \n"(Matthew's) grandfather lost an arm at the age of 18 while serving in World War II," Buck said. "My dad never blamed anybody, because he knew what he was doing was right. The family was raised to respect the flag and the country."\nSmith's body, which was returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, is expected to arrive home late Friday or early Saturday, said his father. Funeral arrangements are tentative. \n"We were all proud of him being overseas," David said.