Claude Allen Smith was born March 3, 1946. His family lived in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

Marine Lance Corporal Claude A. Smith was killed in action on September 23, 1967 by small arms fire in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam during Operation Kingfisher. Claude served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

Claude is buried at the Oxford Cemetery in Oxford.