Sean Smith (diplomat)
{{Short description|American diplomat and information management officer (1978–2012)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{other uses|Sean Smith (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sean Smith
| image = Sean Smith Diplomat.jpg
| image_size =
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1978|1|30}}
| birth_place = San Diego, California, US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|9|11|1978|1|30}}
| death_place = Benghazi, Libya
| death_cause = Assassinated during 2012 Benghazi attack
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{nowrap|Information Management Officer}}
| years_active = 2002–2012
| employer = United States Foreign Service
| known_for = Victim of the U.S. Consulate attack in Benghazi
Moderator of Something Awful Forums{{cite web |url=https://forums.somethingawful.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=46 |title=Something Awful Forums, Debate & Discussion}}
Former member of the Council of Stellar Management in the MMO Eve Online
| spouse = Heather Smith
| children = 2
| parents =
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| module = {{Infobox military person |embed=yes
|branch = 20px United States Air Force
|serviceyears = 1995–2002
|rank = 20px Staff Sergeant
}}
}}
Sean Patrick Smith (January 30, 1978{{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/online-gamer-sean-vile-rat-libyan-attack-369928 |title=Online Gamer Sean 'Vile Rat' Smith Killed in Libyan Attack |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=John |last=Gaudiosi |date=September 12, 2012 |accessdate=September 12, 2012}} – September 11, 2012) was an American diplomat {{Citation needed|reason=did he have diplomatic assignments?|date=January 2024}} and information management officer with the United States Foreign Service who was killed during the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.{{cite press release |url=http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2012/09/20120912135827.html |title=Statement on the Death of American Personnel in Benghazi, Libya |publisher=U.S. Department of State |first=Hillary Rodham |last=Clinton |date=September 12, 2012 |accessdate=December 28, 2015}}
Life and work
Smith was an only child and grew up in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego, California. He graduated from Mission Bay High School in 1995, enlisted in the United States Air Force in July 1995 and served for six years. He was a ground radio maintenance (2E1X3) specialist and was promoted to staff sergeant in August 2000. He completed his military service in 2002. As a Foreign Service employee, he lived in The Hague, Netherlands, with his wife, Heather, and children, Samantha and Nathan.{{cite news |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2012/sep/17/attack-victim-lived-to-serve/ |title=San Diegan slain in Libya attack 'lived to serve' |work=U-T San Diego |first=Nathan |last=Max |date=September 17, 2012 |accessdate=December 28, 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/09/vilerat/ |title=Diplomat Killed in Libya Told Fellow Gamers: Hope I 'Don't Die Tonight' |work=Wired.com |last=Beckhusen |first=Robert |date=September 12, 2012 |accessdate=December 28, 2015}}
Smith was a leading player and member of the Council of Stellar Management in the Eve Online gaming community (as "Vile rat") and was a moderator on the Something Awful forums (as "Vilerat").{{cite web |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/us-official-killed-in-libya-mourned-by-online-gaming-community-33141008/ |title=US Official Killed in Libya Mourned by Online Gaming Community |work=Smithsonian.com |first=Rachel |last=Nuwer |author-link=Rachel Nuwer |date=September 12, 2012 |accessdate=December 28, 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/eve-online-top-player-was-us-official-killed-in-libya/ |title=EVE Online top player was US official killed in Libya |work=PC Gamer |first=Marsh |last=Davies |date=September 12, 2012 |accessdate=December 28, 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/election2012/news-of-foreign-service-officer-s-death-breaks-over-gaming-community |title=News Of Foreign Service Officer's Death Breaks Over Gaming Community |work=Talking Points Memo |first=Benjy |last=Sarlin |date=September 12, 2012 |accessdate=December 28, 2015}}
Death and legacy
{{Main article|2012 Benghazi attack}}
Smith was one of four Americans killed in the Benghazi attack. He was posthumously awarded the U.S. Department of State's Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service on May 3, 2013.{{cite news |url=http://kotaku.com/the-extraordinary-mischievous-too-short-life-of-sean-481060252 |title=The Amazing Life of Sean Smith, the Masterful Eve Gamer Slain in Libya |work=Kotaku |first=Stephen |last=Totilo |date=April 25, 2013 |accessdate=December 15, 2013}} On the day of his death, Smith typed a message to the director of his Eve Online gaming corporation that read, "Assuming we don't die tonight. We saw one of our 'police' that guard the compound taking pictures."
Spontaneous reactions from the Eve Online player base included a mass renaming of outposts throughout its universe.{{cite web |url=http://cdn1.eveonline.com/www/newssystem/media/63411/1/RenamedStations.png |title=Renamed Stations |website=EVEOnline.com |accessdate=September 16, 2012}} The game's Council of Stellar Management published a tribute to Smith two days after his death.{{cite web |url=https://www.eveonline.com/article/csm-tribute-to-vile-rat |title=A Tribute to Sean 'Vilerat' Smith |website=EVEOnline.com |last=Heard |first=Mark |date=September 13, 2012 |accessdate=December 28, 2015 }} Zack Parsons on the Something Awful forums organized a benefit for Smith's family, raising {{USD|127,000}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.youcaring.com/tuition-fundraiser/benefit-for-sean-smith-s-family/30678 |title=Benefit for Sean Smith's Family |website=YouCaring.com |accessdate=November 1, 2013}}
In the movie 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, which dramatizes the events of the Benghazi attack, Smith was played by actor Christopher Dingli.{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Todd |title=’13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi’: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/13-hours-secret-soldiers-benghazi-2-855681/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=15 January 2025 |date=13 January 2016}}
See also
- {{annotated link|Ansar al-Sharia (Libya)}}
- {{annotated link|First Libyan Civil War}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Libya|United States|Video games}}
{{2012 Benghazi attack}}
{{Reactions to Innocence of Muslims}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Sean}}
Category:American people murdered abroad
Category:People murdered in Libya
Category:United States Air Force airmen
Category:United States Department of State officials