March 27, 1946 - September 17, 2025
Rank: Sgt.
Dates of service: 1965 - 1968
After graduating from Knightdale High School in 1965, Franz Duane Smith joined the Air Force. His first assignment was in Maine and then Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, Vietnam. During this time, there was a major attack on the base called the Tet offense. Duane shared with family that soldiers used trash cans to help with defense. Duane served until December 1968 as a Communication Specialist, Sargent E-4.
Duane retired from the Department of Transportation in 2006 as the Deputy Director of Transportation for information technology. He was married to his wife Dianne for 56 years. Duane was blessed with daughters Kimberly and Jessica, two wonderful sons-in-law, Joe and Jason, and four fantastic grandchildren, Izabella, Jacob, Ruby, and Molly. Last but not least, his dog child Sadie. On September 17th, 2025, he left this world a better place for having been in it.
