Articles written by Donald Z. Smith

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About me - Donald Z. Smith

UNDERSHERIFF STEUBEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE- 1999 2009 Proven management skills with 9 years experience.

NEW YORK STATE POLICE 1977-1999- Proven management skills with 13 years experience as a Station Commander SP Wayland, Dresden, and Watkins Glen. Sergeant

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Death: 1 of 118
We opened fire on the unsuspecting enemy as they passed in front of us in the open rice paddy field. I could see the look of horror on one Viet Cong's face as I directed my rifle fire into his chest. He screamed as though he was more surprised then in pain. He fell face down onto the ground on top of another body. I ordered m... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Insomnia: 3 of 165
Here I sit at 3 o'clock in the early morn,searching Google on my computer and forlorn.Each morning I rise at the crack of dawn,unable to sleep as I am a pawn,of early morning rise which is wrong,as in bed with my lover I really belong.Early to bed and late to rise,I'm different - what a surprise!Everyone else is smarter than ... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs My second chance at life: True stories about facing death: 3 of 161
It was dry and extremely hot. It certainly wasn't the monsoons. I was attached to a Marine combat squad in Vietnam and it was June 1969. I was now a seasoned infantryman and was a grenadier with the squad. I carried an M-79 grenade launcher and was referred to as the "blooper man". My weapon was used for a variety of reasons.... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Terrorism Are we safer now than we were immediately after 9/11, or have we just been lucky?: 2 of 72
Our apathy toward terrorism only grows and is stimulated by the lack of terrorist attacks in the United States homeland since 9/11. Although the immediate aftermath of the World Trade Center catastrophe in 2001 produced remedial steps in this country toward planning and security at every level of government, the absence of a ... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: The worst job I ever had: 2 of 55
The worst job I ever had was also the best job I ever had. I was in the United States Marines Corps and in the Vietnam war 1968-1970. It was the worst job because of the mandates of the job in a war. It was the best job because I was serving my country.It was April 1969, and we were at Vandergrift airbase, in the I Corps area... More..
Arts & Humanities > Meaning of Life Why we exist: 3 of 52
Why we exist. We only exist because of the arrangement of events over millions of years. We, the physical body, exist due to biological, cell, DNA and other stuff clumped together over time and reproduce according to cell reproduction simulating our ancestor's genes. Most recognize our existence is solely because God's specif... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Reflections on success, struggle, and happiness: 18 of 298
To struggle is to make a strenuous labored endeavor,to succeed, not thinking of defeat whatsoever.Happiness is your emotions in a contented state,usually very dependent on your struggle's fate.Success is a state of prosperity or fame.In this poem all three are fair game.To succeed without any earnest activity,is any person's ... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Memories: 8 of 98
Whenever I see a small stream in a wooded area, my mind always seems to wander back to that day in 1969. I was a grunt with Alpha Company, 3rd Marines in 1969, and assigned with my Company to another search and destroy mission somewhere in the jungles of Vietnam. My platoon had camped overnight on a small knoll overlooking a ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms We need to take action to ensure a better future for society: 1 of 12
We do need to take action to ensure a better future for society. My consideration in this article is to the insidious threats that face democratic societies around the globe.A growing threat exists and it thrives under our noses. Democratic societies face internal destruction from fifth columnists planted in their midst by va... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Tales of horror: 18 of 211
The horror we faced was unimaginable to most of the world in 2009, except for the terrorists that had been planning the new attacks against America for a long time. They simply waited since 9/11 for the right time to strike us when we were vulnerable.We had fought them in other countries and destroyed many of their training c... More..