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.

Early career

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.

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 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.

World War II

In March 1941, Smoot was ordered to the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington, and assumed duty in connection with fitting out of destroyer Monssen. Upon her commissioning on March 14, Smoot embarked for her shakedown and training, which he completed by the end of June 1941. The Monssen then joined the Atlantic Fleet and participated in the convoy escort duties and Neutrality Patrols to Iceland. He was sent to San Diego, California, where he assumed command of West Coast Sound School. While in this capacity, Smoot was responsible for the training of Sonar operators, serving on the Navy ships until early 1944 and received his second Navy Commendation Medal. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on May 1, 1943.

He returned to sea in August 1953, when assumed duty as commander, Cruiser Division Three with cruiser Helena as his flagship and embarked for Far East. Smoot commanded his unit as the part of Task Force 77 on security patrol in the Sea of Japan shortly after the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed and returned to the United States in July 1954. He was subsequently appointed commander, Mine Force, Pacific Fleet with headquarters on Hawaii and returned to Washington, D.C., in mid-1955. Smoot then served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Administration under his classmate, now-Admiral Arleigh A. Burke and was promoted to vice admiral in July 1958.

Smoot remained on Taiwan and was responsible for the defense of that country, training of the Republic of China Navy and also served as Senior U.S. Military Advisor to Chiang Kai-shek until May 1962, when he was relieved by vice admiral Charles L. Melson. For his service on Taiwan, Smoot was decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and also received the Order of the Cloud and Banner by Chiang Kai-shek. He was also made an honorary citizen of Taipei.

Retirement

Following his retirement from the Navy on June 1, 1962, Smoot assumed job as Executive Director of the Anti-Communism Voters League and later became the President of an Oil Drilling firm and also president of Leisure World's home owner association in Seal Beach, California, and a board member (Council of Regents) of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks, Glendale, California.

Vice Admiral Roland N. Smoot died on February 13, 1984, aged 82, in Seal Beach, California, and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. His wife Sally Ridgely Smoot is buried beside him. They had one son, Roland N. Jr., who served with the United States Army in European Theater and a daughter, Sally Doone.