In early February 1945, Smoot and his squadron covered minesweeping operations for three days prior to the landing on Iwo Jima. During the invasion, his destroyers engaged shore batteries and fired accurate bombardments of in assistance to troops ashore. One month later, Smoot's squadron covered underwater demolition and minesweeping operations as well as antiaircraft during the invasion on Okinawa and screened U.S. battleship during the shore bombardment. His flagship, destroyer "Newcomb" was hit by kamikaze and Smoot shifted his flag to destroyer "Richard P. Leary". For his service during the Okinawa campaign, he received his second Navy Cross.