Tuhia he haere tonu mo tenei whitianga - I te marama o Mei 1897, i whakawhiwhia a Smith ki tana komihana tuarua i te peka Infantry. I whakawhiwhia ia ki te 12th Infantry Regiment i Fort Niobrara, Nebraska. I te Pakanga Paniora-Amerika, i mahi a Smith i Cuba me te 12th Infantry. I uru ia ki te Pakanga o El Caney
me te whakapae o Santiago. Whai muri i te pakanga, i whakatairangahia ia ki te rangatira tuatahi ma te tohu hei whakanui i tana toa. I whiwhi ia i te whakatairanga ki te rangatira tuatahi i te Poutu-te-rangi 1899.