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Memories of Troy M. Smith (Sailor Rest Your Oars!)

I just discovered your site and have found it very interesting. My father, Troy M. Smith, served aboard her during her 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th war patrols in WWII. He was a member of the US Submarine Vets association but I don't believe he ever was able to join the Bergall's group. Dad died on 07 Sep 91 after a fairly long illness. He always was proud of his "dolphins", his boat, and his country. He was a good man, and served as the model I try to pattern myself after.

I am a Chief Petty Officer (my apologies.......I am an airdale not a sub-service guy-ha) currently serving on active duty (16 years..........4 to go). I have had the luxury of serving while this country has been by in large at peace. My hat is off to all of the men and women who have put there all on the line in our armed forces protecting this great country.

Mom gave me Dad's scrapbook which he put together while in Australia and on patrol. It includes several of the pics already on the site here, but many which aren't posted.  The names Welch, Nowak, Marquis and a couple of others crop up pretty regular...........they must have been the movers and shakers of the crew.  Many of them have his personal notations of names, etc. and I'll try and scan them for the guys.

I knew about the second war patrol and the near sinking of the Myoko from stories Dad told me, but never in the detail that it's written about on the website.  I also remember asking him "That must have been a little scary, eh?". His reply was "Hell son, we were too young and dumb to be scared! It was an adventure!!". He was only eighteen at the time of the action. Thanks for putting his name on the list of shipmates passed away. Those men deserve to be honored.

I will certainly be joining the association. I like to think of myself as a war historian (most of my pretty extensive library is books about this nation and the wars she has fought) and I am always interested in things that concern Dad and his service. I also had an uncle who served aboard an escort carrier (USS Kitkun Bay) which suffered some severe damage during an intensive surface action.

I am getting a new scanner later this month and I will certainly scan all of dads photos and email them to you. There are really great ones........some on the boat..........some on liberty in Australia. The names Welch, Nowak, Marquis and a couple of others crop up pretty regular...........they must have been the movers and shakers of the crew. As I said, most of them have the members identified. I have a couple of copies of the ships party pic.....Dad is barely visible..........upper left corner right below the "kissing couple"......half of his face is just visible below her left shoulder....I never would have known it was him except for Dad pointing it out to me.

I and my family (my wife and our 2 1/2 year old quadruplets) are transferring to Atlanta, GA in July (my last tour of duty!) or I would try to make the reunion this year............I would love to sit around and listen to the "old salts" that knew Dad back then. I feel a real connection with those men for some reason.   I am assigned to the staff HQ of the Naval Air Reserve, serving on RADM McLaughlin's staff as the Aviation Logistics Chief

Anyway, thanks again for the info and I will be in contact soon. I have attached a picture of me, my dad and my brother Wilson (He died three weeks prior to Dad in 91 after returning from the Gulf) at the re-commissioning of the USS Wisconsin BB-64 in (I believe) Nov of 1988. I was just a 3rd Class Petty Officer at the time (I've since made it to Chief Petty Officer). Wilson was on the recommission crew and served aboard her during the Gulf War. I miss them both greatly.

Fair winds and following seas,

AKC(AW) Riley D. Smith
USNR-TAR

I can be reached by E-mail at intowishin@worldnet.att.net.

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