Commander William R. Smith U.S. Naval Reserve
1. Served on active duty during WW2 (43-46)
2. Served in the Naval Reserve for 27 years
as: Commanding officer---Naval Research Company, Rochester N.Y.
and: administrative Officer---Naval Research Company, College Station, Tx
3. During his naval reserve career Smith received significant recognition for performance "Above and beyond the call of duty" including :
1971 and 1974 Received awards from admiral Elmo Zumwalt for his public presentations on "Sea Power"
1973 Commendation from Admiral Emmet Tidd for his work as chairman of the Navy Recruiting Command's board of education.
Appointed Vice President of Naval Affairs for the Space Center's Naval Reserve Association Chapter

6-28-1945

Dearest Mother, Dad, Toots & R
I was glad to get your letter today saying that you got mine describing my meeting with Don. Congratulations too, on paying up the house—that is really something to be proud of.
Something very interesting happened again along the lines that great minds run in the same ditch or something like that—
Anyway—to get to the point—Last night I was thinking how nice it would make the whole house if the window in the breakfast nook were larger—I also thought about it this morning. And then, and then I read your letter saying you are going to make it larger. That is a coincidence.
Well, I am going to try to see Don tonight but I am not sure if I can stay very long as I am due back in the morning. I think my orders will be here tomorrow or so, so I guess I will be going to another California City for a few weeks. I think it will be Frisco. The ship I hope to get is the U.S.S. Clay. It is a flag ship, the same as Richards is going on.
Well, must sign off—
Love, Bill
Xcuse the lack of letters lately
Bill

5-27-1945

Dearest Mother, Dad, toots and R.
Well, I am back at A.T.B. again so I will drop you a line and tell you all about our weeks work. We loafed a lot in between landings—but, when the time came to land we made up for our time of leisure.
We didn’t hit any port all week and we sailed up by Catalina Island & out past there quite a ways.
Our big invasion was Thursday at San Clemente Island—about 40 miles out. We had rocket ships firing, ships bombarding, & planes bombing all day long—of course they were working inland when our boats hit the beach so no one was in danger. I didn’t hit the beach because I was control officer & merely sat on an LCI directing the waves as they left for the beach.
All in all it was really swell. Monty Richards & I were together most of the time so we quite enjoyed that. Ship-board life is really O.K. It is just like a hotel or something like that. There really isn’t much difference in this & ship life except that you can’t go as far. They have movies every evening—ice cream in the afternoon & candy etc. anytime.
I saw Gordie & last evening when we came in and he said he really had enjoyed his leave. Said he saw Dad & was glad to talk with him.
I was also glad to receive your swell bag candy & 4 letters, too. I am glad you had such good luck with bus reservations & even-though it was a hurried up get-away you made it was, nevertheless, best. Sorry you all caught cold while in sunny Cal. But, I guess the change of climate was too rapid.
Really, I can’t get over the fine time we had in those few days. And I am glad you came when you did. The, I thought I would leave in a few days—but now we don’t know when. However, it is still only a matter of days or very few weeks. But, it wouldn’t have done to put off your trip because things probably would heave turned out different.
I’m glad you heard from Don. And glad he is O.K. I’m sure he has seen plenty & it won’t be long ‘til he is back here for good.
I hope to see Bob again today. I was going to D.D. But my blues are in the cleaners & I won’t be able to get them out.
Well, excuse this scrawling but I am trying to write on my knee again.
Hope you are felling fine.
Love
Bill

5-21-1945 Sunday

Dearest Mother, Daddy, Toots & Rhods,
It was surely grand to talk to you all again tonight. But, sorry to hear Shirl has been feeling “punk” –since San Diego
Please don’t feel bad about missing me tues—of course it would have been nice seeing you all for a minute then, but, everything else worked out so “perfect” that we must expect a little bum luck. No kidding, I never will get over what a swell time we had & I hope that soon (after the war of course) we will have a heck of a lot more.
La Mont & I will be on the same ship for maneuvers so we should all come along & see what we do but I guess that is impossible.
Please don’t worry about Don again You all know by now what the mail situation is.
Yes, I spent the Day with Bob. He is a good guy & we had a good time. We came out to my base to see a radio show & then ate in & town & saw San Diego.
Well, perhaps you are getting tired of reading this as I am trying to write on the edge of my knee & it isn’t too stable.
I hope Shirl doesn’t miss too much school & that she feels very well soon—pronto!
I am still enjoying my work as I always have done & I am sure Don enjoys his, too, just as much. So while we work, learn, & enjoy it please don’t you guys worry excessively. We both know—Don & I that we are protected & we both have the required amount of “faith” to back us up.
Best of Love
Willie
xxxoooxxx

5-1-1945

Dearest Mother, Dad, Shirl & R.
This is another Tuesday and it is really nice outside. It was quite foggy over the week-end but it is clear now.
I received your letter with the check-book in it and thanks very much. I will also send that other $100 as soon as I get it & you can deposit it too.
Well, over the week-end I didn’t do very much –I had the duty so I just stood watch.
Today Gordie T. is shoving off for home. He is flying and will get there tomorrow morning. He is going to buzz out and see you so you can expect him anytime. He is a purty nice fellow.
I am going to try to get up to L.A. again this coming week-end I would like to get up there a couple more times before I shove off.
I really had a good time last night--& I didn’t spend a cent for it. Gordie met me at 1730 on Fifth St. pier after my watch and we walked up town and saw a “Flika.” On the way back we hard a lot of sour music & stopped to see what it was—we saw a bunch of holy rollers really having a big time. They were trying to save everyone & were really having a big time. We watched it for about 20 minutes & then caught the liberty boat for A.T.B.
Thanks for sending my green jacket—it will come in handy.
I hope you are all O.K. & that you are having good weather now.
Love
Bill

4-21-1945

Dearest All;
Well, how are you doing by now? I hope you are all O.K. and that you aren’t mad at me for not writing very often—I know I should but I am so tired when I get finished every day that I just forget about it—it seems. However we will have a little less work from here on out so I will catch up with my writing.
We were out in the boats all day yesterday but it was cloudy and quite choppy so it wasn’t such a good day. We practiced coming alongside large ships which is sort of hard in a heavy sea.
I am glad you received a letter from Don—even though it was a short one.
I finally got my check cashed so I will enclose $400. I will send some tithing next week, but right now I want $400 in the bank all in one piece.
So Collins is in the Army Air Forces as an “air corps st.” The reason I accentuate the air corps is that there is a distinction between an army officer and a air corps officer. You see, here at A.T.B. we work with real Army officers from Infantry school at Fort Benning and West Point. WE work with them and they are real officers. Not like those adolescents in the air corps. Perhaps I’m not an old man but I handle my crews as well as any of these guys.
I also went to our little meeting here at the base—there were 6 of us there but we still have a good little meeting.
I was going to L.A. again this week-end but the weather is working against me. It looks cold & cloudy now so I will go to Tijuana, Mexico instead.
La Mont is back from a training cruise aboard an ATA (attack transport) and we went to a show at the Del Coronado Hotel last night. There, in person, we say Admiral Wilkinson & many other big Navy men. They all hang out at that Hotel—it is really a beauty.
Well, I don’t know how much longer we will be here but it will be a while anyway—
Hope you are all very well, as I am. I am getting fat—
Love, Bill

4-19-1945

Dear Mother, Dad, Shirl, Rhoda, and Mr. Neil,
Well, perhaps you are wondering why I haven’t written for a few days—and really, I have no excuse. I just realized this morning that it had been a few days since I had given a report. However, I went to L.A. as you know, & of course Monday I was very tired—recuperating from my trip. Then yesterday we were in the surf all day making landings and last evening I went to mutual at Hillcrest Ward. They had a dance afterwards—and after that Johnny Stokes invited Gordie and I up to his apartment for some chow. He is married to a “wave” and they only see each other about 3 times a week—but still keep their apartment.
He fixed some bacon & eggs and salad etc. while Gordie and I played records. Johnny Stokes’ father works in the Post Office. He told us his father isn’t too good a Mormon but John shouldn’t be judged by his father –he is really a swell fellow. He is in the Navy and has been over-seas for quite a while. Well, after leaving there Gordie & I were very tired so we came home—and then this morning I realized how long it had been since I wrote—so here goes.
Well, I spent a very fine week-end in L.A. While there I attended Wilshire Ward and saw Mr. and Mrs. Sims. They invited me to dinner Sunday but I already had a date with some very nice people—whose son is stationed here as a seaman. After dinner However I went to see Sim’s and I spent all afternoon with them. They are very fine people & they invited me to stay with them any week-end.
I also called Mrs. Hollen—the Mother of the Ensign that called me up when I was home on leave. They also invited me out but I couldn’t find time to go. He is an Ensign and so am I—we both have exactly the same command. Any way he would be a fine guy to work under.
Well, after a very pleasant Day LaMont Richards called me & we went to the station—and Home to Coronado again—oh yes! La Mont was there too. Well, La Mont & I got very good seats on the very crowded train because his uncle is a passenger agent so we had a purty good trip. I didn’t see much of L.A. but I got my “Social Obligations” cleared up so I can see it next time.
Perhaps that all sounds mixed up but I hope you can make out the “point” of the whole thing.
I received a very nice letter form Shirlee Herzog today so I will have to devise some tactful Epistle and air-mail it to her—keeps up their morale you know.
Mother, you asked if Richards will dictate to me—heavens no!
He is an Ensign & so am I—we both have exactly the same command. Anyway he would be a fine guy to work under.
I guess you are wondering where that money is I was going to send home—well, it is right in my pocket but the bulk is in a check which I am having one heck of a time getting cashed. You see, I don’t get off in time to hit the bank & I haven’t the initiative to go into Diego in the evening—but, I will soon—very soon.
I think I have put on quite a few pounds since I have been here. The weather is so fine that it agrees with everyone—and then, too, we are in the fresh air so much different from N.Y.
I certainly wish all of you could see the things that are going on here all the time. It is really wonderful. I am certainly enjoying my work and I know it is all very fine and necessary.
I was so glad to hear that toots is O.K. and that her check up was 4.0 I think she worries too much –But really, there isn’t a thing to worry about. We are enjoying everything we do & learning a lot. I wouldn’t trade it for a million bucks and that’s no lie. I am sure Don feels the same way, too.
Well, Mr & Mrs. Sims send you their regards & so do La Mont & Gordie
--me too
Bill
P.S. wish I could help “youse” with the house cleaning, but I am trying to keep my boats clean.
Best of Love
Bill