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Roland N. Smoot
Roland Nesbit Smoot (May 7, 1901 – February 13, 1984) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he distinguished himself several times during his service with destroyers in Pacific and was decorated with two Navy Crosses, the United States Navy second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.
Smoot later rose to the flag rank and held several important assignment including Command of Cruiser Division Three and Mine Force of the United States Pacific Fleet. He completed his service as commander, United States Taiwan Defense Command in May 1962.
Roland N. Smoot was born on May 7, 1901, in Provo, Utah, the son of Mormon missionary and an executive of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, Brigham Smoot and his wife Margaret. He came from deeply religious family, because his maternal grandfather was Abraham O. Smoot, an early leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and his uncle Reed Smoot was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Young Roland graduated from high school in Salt Lake City, Utah, and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1919. While at the Academy, Smoot was active in football and was nicknamed "Smut". Among his classmates were several future flag officers including future Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke; another four-star admiral Robert L. Dennison; Marine four-star general Merrill B. Twining; Vice admirals Frederick Moosbrugger, Frederick M. Trapnell; and Rear admiral John G. Crommelin, Samuel G. Fuqua and George A. T. Washburn.
Smoot graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on June 8, 1923, and was commissioned ensign on that date. He was subsequently assigned to destroyer Chase operating with the Atlantic Fleet. Smoot served aboard Chase until June 1925, when he was ordered to the Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, for submarine instruction, which he completed in December that year.
He was subsequently assigned to submarine USS S-7 under Lieutenant Clifford H. Roper and served as her Navigator off the coast of California and Panama and was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on June 8, 1926. Smoot was transferred to submarine S-26 and served as her Engineer officer until June 1928, when he was then ordered back to the Naval Academy for postgraduate course in engineering. He spent one year there and was ordered to the Pennsylvania State College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in June 1930 with Master's degree in mechanical and diesel engineering. He was also promoted to lieutenant on June 5, 1930.
Smoot was then assigned to the newly commissioned submarine Narwhal and served as her Engineer officer under the command of Lieutenant Commander John H. Brown. He took part in her shakedown cruise to West Indies and then participated in the sea trials off the Boon Island in Gulf of Maine. Narwhal dived to 332 Feet and remained there for 45 minutes, breaking the Navy record for depth. Smoot was transferred to the battleship Maryland in June 1935 and served under Captain George S. Bryan during the patrols in the Caribbean and Atlantic until May 1938. During that period, Smoot completed Naval War College's correspondence courses in optics; international law; and strategy & tactics.
He was subsequently ordered to the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Hawaii, and appointed Engineer Superintendent. For his new assignment, Smoot was promoted to lieutenant commander on June 23, 1938. He remained there for a year and completed torpedo instruction, qualifying him for command of a destroyer. Smoot then assumed command of destroyer Aulick, which was just activated from the Reserve Fleet and operated her within the patrols with the Atlantic Fleet.
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Roland N. Smoot
Roland Nesbit Smoot (May 7, 1901 – February 13, 1984) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he distinguished himself several times during his service with destroyers in Pacific and was decorated with two Navy Crosses, the United States Navy second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.
Smoot later rose to the flag rank and held several important assignment including Command of Cruiser Division Three and Mine Force of the United States Pacific Fleet. He completed his service as commander, United States Taiwan Defense Command in May 1962.
Roland N. Smoot was born on May 7, 1901, in Provo, Utah, the son of Mormon missionary and an executive of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, Brigham Smoot and his wife Margaret. He came from deeply religious family, because his maternal grandfather was Abraham O. Smoot, an early leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and his uncle Reed Smoot was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Young Roland graduated from high school in Salt Lake City, Utah, and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1919. While at the Academy, Smoot was active in football and was nicknamed "Smut". Among his classmates were several future flag officers including future Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke; another four-star admiral Robert L. Dennison; Marine four-star general Merrill B. Twining; Vice admirals Frederick Moosbrugger, Frederick M. Trapnell; and Rear admiral John G. Crommelin, Samuel G. Fuqua and George A. T. Washburn.
Smoot graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on June 8, 1923, and was commissioned ensign on that date. He was subsequently assigned to destroyer Chase operating with the Atlantic Fleet. Smoot served aboard Chase until June 1925, when he was ordered to the Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, for submarine instruction, which he completed in December that year.
He was subsequently assigned to submarine USS S-7 under Lieutenant Clifford H. Roper and served as her Navigator off the coast of California and Panama and was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on June 8, 1926. Smoot was transferred to submarine S-26 and served as her Engineer officer until June 1928, when he was then ordered back to the Naval Academy for postgraduate course in engineering. He spent one year there and was ordered to the Pennsylvania State College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in June 1930 with Master's degree in mechanical and diesel engineering. He was also promoted to lieutenant on June 5, 1930.
Smoot was then assigned to the newly commissioned submarine Narwhal and served as her Engineer officer under the command of Lieutenant Commander John H. Brown. He took part in her shakedown cruise to West Indies and then participated in the sea trials off the Boon Island in Gulf of Maine. Narwhal dived to 332 Feet and remained there for 45 minutes, breaking the Navy record for depth. Smoot was transferred to the battleship Maryland in June 1935 and served under Captain George S. Bryan during the patrols in the Caribbean and Atlantic until May 1938. During that period, Smoot completed Naval War College's correspondence courses in optics; international law; and strategy & tactics.
He was subsequently ordered to the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Hawaii, and appointed Engineer Superintendent. For his new assignment, Smoot was promoted to lieutenant commander on June 23, 1938. He remained there for a year and completed torpedo instruction, qualifying him for command of a destroyer. Smoot then assumed command of destroyer Aulick, which was just activated from the Reserve Fleet and operated her within the patrols with the Atlantic Fleet.