▁Officer ▁Dan ang ▁Support ▁Command , ▁South ▁Vietnam . ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁Smith ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁Def ense ▁Att ach é ▁Office , ▁Sa ig on ▁( DA O ), ▁making ▁him ▁the ▁highest - ran king ▁U . S . ▁military ▁official ▁in ▁South ▁Vietnam . ▁In ▁this ▁role ▁Smith ▁was ▁a ▁key ▁figure ▁in ▁the ▁last ▁year ▁of ▁South ▁Vietnam ' s ▁existence , ▁finally ▁over see ing ▁Operation ▁Fre quent ▁Wind , ▁the ▁ev acu ation ▁of ▁American ▁civ ili ans ▁and ▁" at - ris k " ▁Vietnam ese ▁from ▁Sa ig on ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 5 . ▁Smith ▁left ▁Sa ig on ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁and ▁later ▁res umed ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁DA O ▁resid ual ▁office ▁at ▁Fort ▁Sh after , ▁Hawai i . ▁▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁Smith ' s ▁assign ments ▁during ▁this ▁period ▁included ▁the ▁following : ▁Deput y ▁Chief ▁of ▁Staff ▁for ▁Log istics ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Training ▁and ▁Do ctrine ▁Command , ▁Fort ▁Mon roe , ▁Ham pton , ▁Virginia ▁( 1 9 7 5 – 7 7 ) ▁Commander , ▁U . S . ▁Army ▁Log istics ▁Center , ▁Fort ▁Lee , ▁Virginia ▁( J une ▁ 1 9 7 7 - J uly ▁ 1 9 7 9 ) ▁ ▁Smith ▁retired ▁from ▁active ▁service ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 7 9 .