A City’s Tears for Slain Marine

In an emotional gathering, more than 100 friends, fellow police officers, city officials and well-wishers -- many in tears -- packed Anaheim police headquarters Tuesday to pay tribute to Marine Sgt. Edward C. Smith and console his wife and three children.

Smith, 39, who died Saturday of wounds suffered the previous day in central Iraq, had intended to retire from active duty earlier this year and make the jump from part-time reserve police officer to full-time special tactics officer in Anaheim.

With war looming, the military had delayed all retirements.

A tearful Sandy Smith -- flanked by Nathan, 12; Ryan, 10; and Shelby, 8 -- thanked everyone for their support. “We all knew that Edward was a great man. It’s nice to know that everybody else knew it too.”

Added Ryan: “Whenever I needed help, he would always be there to make me feel good. He was the best dad you could ever want, and I miss him a lot.”

Smith, a member of the 2nd Tank Battalion, Fox Company, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, led a company of more than 200 troops. He had been a Marine for 20 years.

“He had already put his papers in,” said Tony Toliver, Smith’s brother-in-law. “He really didn’t want to go; he wanted to be here -- he was ready to retire. He was such a great guy; I can’t believe he died over there. I never thought for a second that he wouldn’t come home.”

But Smith, a native of Chicago and a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War, shipped out from Camp Pendleton in February, promising fellow officers that he’d ride into Baghdad wearing his SWAT team cap.

“Devotion is the word that comes to mind,” said friend and fellow Anaheim Officer P.J. Wann. “Devotion to his country, his family and his community. I feel the loss.

“Nobody didn’t like the guy. As soon as you met him, you knew he was a quality person. We were all really looking forward to having him on board full time; he was an experienced Marine and the last person I would have worried about.”

Nathan said his father has left a legacy.

“Just because he died, that doesn’t mean what he stood for will. Because I plan to make that live through me and my brother and sister. I just want to let everybody know that he was really, really special.”

Added Sandy Smith: “Their dad loved them more than anything.”

The city has set up a trust fund for the children, said Sgt. Rick Martinez, Anaheim Police spokesman.

Donations can be made to the Sgt. Edward Smith Memorial Trust Fund, Harbor National Bank, 101 E. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 105, Anaheim, CA 92805.