page_title: William W. Smith (admiral)
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: William W. Smith (admiral) / World War II
caption_attribution_description: English: At a shipboard awards ceremony, held at Pearl Harbor on 17 June 1942. The officers are (left to right): Vice Admiral William L. Calhoun, Commander, Service Force Pacific Fleet; Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, Commander, Task Force 17; Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, Commander, Cruiser Division 6; Rear Admiral William Ward Smith, Commander, Task Group 17.2; Rear Admiral Marc A. Mitscher; Rear Admiral Robert H. English, Commmander, Submarines Pacific Fleet. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.
context_page_description: William Ward Smith was an decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral. A graduate of the Naval Academy and participant of several conflicts, he distinguished himself during World War II as Commander, Cruiser Task Force during the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June 1942.
  Following his not very successful command of naval forces during the Aleutian Islands campaign, he was relieved of command and transferred to the administrative post as Director, Naval Transportation Service, where he remained for the rest of the War. In May 1946, Smith was appointed Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission and held this assignment until April 1949.
context_section_description: In May 1939, Smith assumed command of light cruiser Brooklyn and patrolled the Atlantic along the East Coast of the United States in the opening weeks of the War. The Brooklyn was later transferred to Pacific and participated in the opening of the Golden Gate International Exposition in February 1940. Smith then commanded his ships during the patrols along the West Coast until February 1941, when he was ordered to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for new assignment.
  Smith subsequently assumed duty as Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet under Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and served in this capacity at the time of Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Smith himself was located at his quarters at Fort DeRussy and witnessed the attack on Pacific Fleet ships on Oahu.
  Unlike Admiral Kimmel, Smith survived personnel changes following the attack and continued under new Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Chester Nimitz as his Administrative Chief of Staff. He remained in that assignment until January 8, 1942, when he was promoted to the rank of Rear admiral and assumed duty as Commander, Cruiser Task Force Eleven, consisting of cruisers Astoria, Chester and Portland.
  Smith commanded his ships as the cruiser escort for Task Force 17 centered around aircraft carrier Yorktown and took part in the battles of the Coral Sea in May 1942 and Midway in June that year. The units under his command caused the infliction of heavy damage on attacking Japanese air forces with ultimate success for U.S. forces in these distinctive engagements. Unfortunately the aircraft carrier Yorktown was sunk at Midway on June 7, 1942. For his leadership during that battles, Smith was decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
  By the end of June, Smith assumed command of Cruiser Division 9, comprising heavy cruisers Indianapolis and Louisville. He then sailed to North Pacific, where he was given additional duty as Commander of surface elements of North Pacific Force. He subsequently led his forces during the bombardment of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands and arrived off the island on the beginning of August 1942. ref name="Naval History and Heritage Command"/>
  Smith subsequently ordered his seaplanes for reconnaissance mission, but all were promptly shot down or driven off by the defending Japanese Rufe seaplane fighters, which then directed Japanese coastal artillery against Smith's force. He then ordered bombardment of Japanese positions at the harbor, but due to dense fog all shells missed the Japanese facilities by half a mile. Smith's displeased superior admiral, Frank J. Fletcher relieved Smith in late 1942 and succeeded him with Charles McMorris.
  He was ordered back to the United States and reported for duty as Director of Naval Transportation Service in Washington, D.C. in January 1943. Smith remained in that capacity for next two years and was responsible for the coordination and administration of troop and supply ships. During his tenure, the number of merchant‑type vessels commissioned by and allocated to the Navy increased from 150 to 500. For his service in this capacity, Smith received Navy Commendation Medal.
  On March 6, 1945, Smith was promoted to the temporary rank of Vice admiral and assumed command of Service Force, Pacific Fleet with headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While in this capacity, he was responsible for the Oilers, Gasoline Tankers, Repair Ships, Ammunition Ships, Destroyer Tenders and Submarine tenders of the Pacific Fleet.
caption: At a shipboard awards ceremony, held at Pearl Harbor on June 17, 1942. The officers are (left to right): William L. Calhoun, Frank J. Fletcher, Thomas C. Kinkaid, Smith, Marc A. Mitscher and Robert H. English.
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