In the Bunker with Allan R Smith (Crux Distillery)

Allan R. Smith Story: Born in Hollywood, California as a dumpster baby and then adopted by a mixed family (Armenian/American) where he grew up as an only child. His adopted father a professional musician had a connection in the television industry and quickly Allan had a job at age 6 as a child actor working in television commercials. After a couple years this moved into network television shows such as Gunsmoke, Medical Center, Brady Bunch, Cannon, rockford files and then onto feature films where he appeared in the Academy Award winning film Chinatown with Jack Nicholson. Age 16 he felt the need to transition away from the “industry” and with the hit show at the time “Emergency” on TV about LA Country Fire Department Paramedics, this sparked an interest in the fire service and he joined the Glendale Fire Department explorer program. In his senior year of high school he earned his certificate as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). Thinking this was his future, one of his fire instructors said he should explore the Air Force as a PJ or firefighter to gain valuable experience. So after visiting the recruiting office and taking the ASVAB, the direction seemed solid, until, stopping to look at the most badass recruiting posted he had ever seen at the Marine Corps Recruiting office. After a conversation, the recruiter say, Marines are the best of the best warriors out there, no, don’t think you could cut boot camp and earn our EGA. Well all common sense went out the window and the challenge was on. I skipped high school graduation and headed straight to boot camp wanting to prove I had what it takes to me a Marine. Post active duty and assigned to a reserve battalion, Allan entered paramedic training and became a Los Angeles county Paramedic working in South Central Los Angeles. Years later he accepted a position working as a firefighter-paramedic in the Eastern Sierra of California covering the Eastern side of Yosemite National Park. He was the lead responder in the worst bus crash in America’s history earning him several valor awards. With the fire department schedule, he found that time on his hands that made him restless and the training from the Marine Corps along with his Fire/Medic skills offered him a unique opportunity to create a film production company focused on indigenous cultures, hostile territories and 3rd world countries. A team that could get into a country, get the requested footage, treat themselves medically if need be and have the situational awareness to get home safely. A luck would have it, it has led to over 80 countries visited, multiple film awards, filming the oldest American to ever summit Mt. Everest, to the jungles of borneo and beyond. He Produced and Directed the Award winning documentary “RESCUE MEN: The Story of the Pea Island Lifesavers” about 7 African American that led the all only all black lifesaving station in the history of the LSS. These men lead the most rescues and some of the most heroic rescues off the coast of North Carolina, that led to the formation of the United States Coast Guard. This film alone, led to the naming of a new Coast Guard Cutter the “Richard Etheridge” after the station keeper, as well as the new crest and logo currently carried on the Cutter. After years in the fire service and tired of the climate in California, a decision was made to relocate to North Carolina. A sister company was born and “Pipe Hitter Media” was created and quickly grew to be a leader in the firearms and tactical industry for video production and photography.