Admiral Harold Page Smith

[jmpmstr]

Admiral Harold Page Smith was a United States Navy four star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1960 to 1963 and Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Allied Command Atlantic/Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet from 1963 to 1965.

 

Smith attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in its class of 1924. He served aboard USS Idaho (BB-42), USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Nevada (BB-36), USS Procyon (AG-11), USS Farragut (DD-348), USS Marblehead (CL-12), USS Stewart (DD-224), and USS Missouri (BB-63).

[manayunkman]

Outstanding medal bar.

 

He kind of looks like Buddy Hackett in the first picture.

 

Do you know when and why he got, the Navy Cross,  the V on his Legion of Merit and the Dutch medal?

 

 Thanks for posting this.

 

 

[jmpmstr]

From https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/21545

 

Navy Cross

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II

Service: Navy

Division: U.S.S. Stewart (DD-224)

GENERAL ORDERS:

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 302 (May 1942)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Harold Page Smith, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. STEWART (DD-224), in action against a greatly superior Japanese Naval force in the Badoeng Strait, off the Island of Bali, Netherlands East Indies, on the night of 19 - 20 February 1942. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Lieutenant Commander Smith pressed home the attack which resulted in severe damage to the enemy, while receiving minor damage to his own ship and only one casualty to his personnel. The conduct of Lieutenant Commander Smith throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[KASTAUFFER]

On 8/28/2021 at 2:38 PM, jmpmstr said:

From https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/21545

 

Navy Cross

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War II

Service: Navy

Division: U.S.S. Stewart (DD-224)

GENERAL ORDERS:

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 302 (May 1942)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Harold Page Smith, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. STEWART (DD-224), in action against a greatly superior Japanese Naval force in the Badoeng Strait, off the Island of Bali, Netherlands East Indies, on the night of 19 - 20 February 1942. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Lieutenant Commander Smith pressed home the attack which resulted in severe damage to the enemy, while receiving minor damage to his own ship and only one casualty to his personnel. The conduct of Lieutenant Commander Smith throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

I have the group to the engineering officer from the USS Stewart. 
 

Kurt

[jmpmstr]

On 8/28/2021 at 4:51 PM, manayunkman said:

Outstanding medal bar.

 

He kind of looks like Buddy Hackett in the first picture.

 

Do you know when and why he got, the Navy Cross,  the V on his Legion of Merit and the Dutch medal?

 

 Thanks for posting this.

 

 

CITATION:

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain Harold Page Smith, United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander Destroyer Squadron FOUR, at Wake, Marcus, Volcano and Bonin Islands, from 4 September 1944 to 5 January 1945.

[Elliott R]

Amazing grouping. Navy cross and LOM are very cool. Love the story

[Hermanus]

And the citation for his Dutch Bronze Cross with honourable mention. In 1944 this award was exchanged / upgraded to the newly created Bronze Lion.

 

It is in Dutch 😊 and translaties to: "for oustanding deeds in the succesfull naval battle in the Lombok strait against enemy cruises and destroyers."

 

The last sentence mentions the exchange to the Bronze Lion. 

 

Regards

Herman 

 

 

[katieony]

Really nice group!

[kanemono]

Great group, thanks for posting!