COLUMBIA - South Carolina House members honored Rep. James Smith, an Army Guard second lieutenant, Thursday and wished him well as he leaves for officer training at Fort Benning, Ga.

Smith, D-Columbia, will undergo five months of infantry officer training, causing him to miss the rest of the legislative session. Thursday marked his last day this session. He does not face opposition in the upcoming election.

"We pause to honor and celebrate one of our own who truly understands what public service is about," said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg.

"Even though we may disagree on political issues," said Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, a retired Army colonel, "we all consider you a close friend and truly respect your service and look forward to having you back soon."

Smith, 38, will train in combat, weapons and other infantry skills from May 21 to Sept. 13. He hopes for a two-week extension to attend a follow-up airborne school that will include jumping out of planes.

Smith has served in the Army since 1996. The attorney switched from Army Reserve to the Army National Guard in 1998 and decided to go back through basic training to move to the infantry division after Sept. 11, 2001.

Smith said he didn't deserve the praise.

"I'm doing what hundreds of thousands of soldiers have before me and done far greater," he said. "I want to use the talents God gave me. I love what I've been privileged to do. Leading soldiers ? it's hard to find a greater privilege."

He asked House members to give a moment of silence not for him, but for soldiers overseas. When soldiers are performing their duty, he said, divisive issues such as race, religion and socio-economic background go away.

"You honor fellow South Carolinians, many of whom are not with their families and not at their jobs here but serving us far away," Smith said, tearing up. "It's where the America we love is seen in its purest and greatest form. Taking care of each other, that's what our brothers and sisters are doing right now."