A Final Salute Published Feb. 4, 2026 By Senior Airman Jessica Blocher 14 FTW PA COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The morning hum of the 14th Flying Training Wing felt markedly different following the passing of a giant. At Smith Plaza, a location lined with heritage and named in his honor, the air held a distinct stillness as the “Blaze” family processed the loss of retired Lt. Col. Richard Eugene “Gene” Smith. Gene, a legendary figure in the Air Force community and a former prisoner of war, was laid to rest in a ceremony marked by the sharp folding of the American flag presented to his wife, Lynn, and the somber notes of "Taps." High above the gathering, the roar of T-38 Talons from the Columbus Air Force Base family provided a final salute in the missing man formation. This aerial salute is a poignant tradition in aviation. As the aircraft approach, one pilot abruptly pulls out of the formation and climbs steeply into the heavens, leaving a conspicuous gap in the flight. This symbolizes a brother-in-arms who has departed the formation of life, heading toward a final, higher horizon. A native of West Point and a proud Eagle Scout, Gene’s roots in the Golden Triangle ran deep. He was a lifelong supporter of his alma mater, Mississippi State University, where he remained a fixture of the community. His influence was particularly felt at the university’s ROTC detachment, where he was held in the highest esteem as a model of leadership and resilience. Gene’s story was defined by the five and a half years he spent in captivity in North Vietnam. He and his fellow POWs used a secret "tap code" to maintain their sanity and resolve. He lived his life with that same rhythmic persistence, proving that no wall was thick enough to break a pilot’s spirit. While his decorations were numerous, Gene’s true passion was mentoring the next generation of world-class pilots. “Gene didn’t just talk about ‘Service Before Self;’ he survived it in the darkest conditions imaginable,” said Col. James Blech, 14th Flying Training Wing commander. “His true passion was ensuring that those who followed him were prepared for the weight of the cockpit.” In the high-tempo environment of pilot training, where students and instructors rotate every few years, Gene provided the continuity required to sustain excellence. He served as a bridge between the Air Force’s storied past and its high-tech future, offering a depth of institutional knowledge that ensured the mission never faltered. The atmosphere at the plaza reflected the weight of his absence. It is a space designed for reflection, centered on a man who understood that leadership was not about the rank on a person's shoulders, but the strength of the people they lift up. “The legacy of a leader is measured by the people they leave behind,” Blech said. “If you look at the professionalism of our current instructor corps, you are looking at Gene’s handiwork. He didn’t just teach people how to fly; he taught them how to endure. We are a better, stronger Air Force because Gene chose to come home to Mississippi and keep serving.” As Columbus AFB continues its mission, the standards Gene established remain the flight path for every airman. "Taps" has faded and the T-38s have returned to base, but for retired Lt. Col. Gene Smith, the sky remains open and the message remains clear: his legacy lives on.