Jeshua Smith was born on March 30, 1975, in Pontiac, Michigan. He graduated from Sage Creek High School in Falcon, Colorado, with the Class of 1992, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on September 29, 1994. Amn Smith completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, in November 1994, and then attended Air Surveillance Technician training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, and E-3 Sentry Air Surveillance Technician training at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, before joining the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in July 1995. Amn Smith was killed in the crash of an E-3B Sentry (Call Sign "Yukla 27") shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB on September 22, 1995.

His Meritorious Service Medal Citation reads:

Members of Flight Yukla 27 distinguished themselves in the performance of outstanding service to the United States and Canada while serving as E-3 Airborne Warning and Air Control Systems air crew members assigned to 3rd Wing, 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron and the 381st Air Intelligence Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. They consistantly demonstrated outstanding airmanship while providing long range airborne surveillance, detection, identification, and command and control during deployed operations and in the Alaska region. All were dedicated volunteers selflessly serving, and fully committed to the defense of their nations and the Alaska region. Our memory of these airmen will forever be of professionals who stepped to the front and answered the call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace and freedom. The distinctive accomplishments of each of these individuals reflect credit upon themselves, the United States Air Force, and Canadian Forces.