Marion E. "Smitty" Smith US Navy USS Oklahoma |
Marion E. Smith, known to family, friends and co-workers as Smitty, enlisted in the Navy six days after he turned 17 on November 25, 1940. Assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, Smitty was below deck during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The future member of Sprinkler Fitters Local 314 also served on the cruiser USS Chester in the battles for the islands of Okinawa, the Marshalls and Gilberts, the Philippines, Truk and Iwo Jima. Smitty helped commission the battleship USS Massachusetts. He was aboard the destroyer USS Wallace L. Lind next to the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the Japanese surrender that ended World War II. In retirement, Smitty has kept busy with long-neglected chores (even though it's work, it is done when and how he chooses) and hobbies. He attends Pearl Harbor Survivor meetings and ship reunions, though not as much as he once did or would like to since he has a hard time driving at night right now. |
Information provided by Marion E. Smith. |
Marion Smith (Center) with his son, Russell (left) and his grandson Anthony (Right). |
