Melvin T, Smith 1996 NATIONAL SUBMARINE DAY - April 11th
Submarine Stories of World War II by Mary Nida Smith. Melvin T. Smith, STC (SS) USN-RET a native of Northwest Arkansas breaks his silents to shared his story aboard the USS Snapper (SS-185) in 1943 while on War Patrol. He was assigned Sound and Radar Watch under the watchful eyes of Captain W.W. Walker. Later, he was rated Soundman 3rd Class-Radioman Striker. Smith was there in 1945 when the USS Snapper was decomissioned. He was assigned to the following boats: USS Quillback (SS-424), USS Sennet (SS-408), USS Sea Fox (SS-402), and the USS Sea Leopard (SS-483). He was also assigned to check the Sonar on the German U-boats' U-505, U-2513 and U=3008 after they were brought to the states as valued prizes of World War II. The U-505 is displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Illinois. In-beween serving on submarines Smith joined the Navy's HS-7 Anti-Submarine Squadron for five years earning his "Wings." Before retiring from the USS Navy he spent two years as a Navy Recruiter at Ontario, Oregon. He is a member of the Holland Club, a plank owning member of the Twin Lakes Base USSVI, Mountain Home, AR, and Submarine Veterans of World War II.
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