Marines top general hospitalized after issuing threat to resistance
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According to anonymous sources familiar with the situation, General Smith apparently suffered a heart attack while jogging.
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U.S. Marine Gen. Eric M. Smith, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, speaks to Marines from Marine Corps Recruiting Station Montgomery and Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Feb. 10, 2023. (U.S. Marine Corps/Shannon Doherty)
General Eric M. Smith, the Marine Corps' top general, was hospitalized on Sunday evening following an unspecified medical emergency, the New York Times reports.
The Marine Corps confirmed this without disclosing further details about his condition. According to anonymous sources familiar with the situation, General Smith apparently suffered a heart attack while jogging, which occurred near his official residence at Marine Barracks Washington.
The Marine Corps, in adherence to the family's wishes and medical privacy laws, has not released additional information at this time.
Authorities from the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department could not confirm or comment on the identity of the individual treated near the incident location on Sunday afternoon.
"I can confirm that D.C. Fire and E.M.S. responded to reports of cardiac arrest in the vicinity of G Street and Seventh Street SE at 4:58 p.m. yesterday," Noah Gray, chief of communications for the department, told NYT.
"Witnesses said that they saw an adult male running, then walk down the street and stumble, falling face-first on the sidewalk," Mr. Gray added. "At that time they called 911 and started chest compressions. Our crews arrived and provided CPR and transported the patient to a nearby hospital."
Read more: Senate confirms 1st military nominee amid wider blockade by Tuberville
General Smith, aged 58, is among the three generals confirmed for new roles since mid-February. This confirmation process was delayed due to Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, who is blocking the promotions of senior military officers in protest of a Pentagon policy that allows military personnel to access abortions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
General Smith's Senate confirmation took place on September 21, and he assumed the position the following day after being sworn in by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.
Notably, the Marine Corps is currently facing a vacancy in its No. 2 position due to Senator Tuberville's hold on the appointment process.
Lt. Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, currently serving as the Marine Corps' deputy commandant for programs and resources in Washington, was nominated as the assistant commandant on August 13, but his promotion to a four-star rank has been delayed.
In response to General Smith's hospitalization, the Marine Corps issued a statement explaining that, in compliance with federal law, Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl, the senior officer stationed at Marine Corps headquarters, is temporarily assuming the responsibilities of the commandant.
Eric's threat to the resistance
Only a week ago, at the 40th Anniversary Memorial Service for the Beirut Barracks Bombing, where 241 US servicemembers were killed, General Smith threatened the resistance that if they attack the marines in case of a potential deployment, the children of resistance fighters will be raised by someone else.
"I’ll be Less Diplomatic and more Marine-Like. For those that are in the area, if that MEU has to go in and you Target them, someone else will Raise your Children," he said.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Eric M. Smith stated yesterday during a 40th Anniversary Memorial Service for the Beirut Barracks Bombing which Killed 241 U.S. Servicemembers, regarding the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit which is currently in the Middle East and may… pic.twitter.com/9wkNd1J2u7
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 25, 2023
