US FLAGBAR

anchor
Jewel E. Smith, CEM
USS Salt Lake City CA25
1941-42
USN

FLAGBAR 501x15

USS SLC...Enlisted Navy...Jewel E. Smith, CEM

US FLAG Jewel E. Smith passed away on Sept. 28th, 1963. Info. from daughter Diana

Smith was a Chief Electrician Mate who served in the SLC for several years, and was transferred to Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in late 1943 [records show he was transferred on March 17th, 1942], when the SLC was in the states for repairs. He was drafted to put a Fleet Tug in commission in Dec 1943 at the United Engineering Shipyard, Alameda, California. He was in a state of shock for several weeks after we went in commission; our main battery was only a single 3" gun.

Smith was beyond a doubt, the best Chief I ever had the privilege of serving with; there may have been better electricians, but there was never a better Chief Petty Officer.

He stayed with the USS Panaka (ATF-108) until after the war, at which time I became his relief in the Pakana. While we were at Okinawa, Capt Zacharias, who commanded the SLC earlier, thought so highly of Chief Smith, that borrowed an Admiral's Barge for transportation, and visited Chief Smith in the Chief's quarters for about an hour ... Capt Zacharias later delivered the "you better surrender terms to the Japanese" and in their own language.

Chief Smith was born in Parma, MO ... if you have any clue as to where he might be, Please let me know ... because of Smitty, I made a career of my service in the Navy and retired after twenty-six years as a LCDR. He taught me well! Aloha, George

George Davis


SLC Deck Log Mar. 1942

FLAGBAR 501x15

SLC MAIN INDEX     SLC MAIN ROSTER     WEBSITE UPDATES     ARTICLE INDEX
LG. GROUPS     MISC. PICTURES     SHIP PICTURES     SCOUT PLANES     HELPFUL INFORMATION
VETERAN'S STORIES     SHIP'S STORE     SLC ASSOCIATION     OFFICIAL DECKLOGS     SLC HISTORIAN

The address of this page is smith-je.htm
Send Questions, Comments or Report Problems to Website Curator, Sandy Eskew
Return to SLC Main Index for Email Address
©Copyright
TO THE TOP