Lynwood E. Smith was born in Deep Run, North Carolina on November 7, 1932 to Mark and Ronalda Smith. He graduated from Deep Run High School in 1951. He married Clarsie Heath on November 22, 1952.
Lynwood was drafted in the Army on March 24, 1953. He was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for 3 months for infantry basic training. He was then assigned to the South-Eastern Signal School in Camp Gordon, Georgia for 3 months. He was then assigned th Company Clerk for 18 months at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was honorably discharged on March 23, 1955.