SMITH, Harry Eugene, MM2

Deceased
 
 TWS Ribbon Bar
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
149 kb
View Shadow Box View Printable Shadow Box View Time Line
Last Rank
Petty Officer Second Class
Last Primary NEC
MM-9348-Machinists Mate
Last Rating/NEC Group
Machinists Mate
Primary Unit
1940-1945, MM-9348, USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390)
Service Years
1940 - 1945
Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates
Iwo Jima
Order of the Golden Shellback
Order of the Golden Dragon
MM-Machinists Mate
One Hash Mark

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

268 kb


Home State
Colorado
Colorado
Year of Birth
1923
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by Steven Loomis (SaigonShipyard), IC3 to remember SMITH, Harry Eugene (Smitty), PO2.

If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
 
Contact Info
Home Town
Pueblo Colorado
Last Address
Interment of his ashes will follow in the Roselawn Cemetery, with military honors by the Pueblo Veterans Ritual Team.
Date of Passing
Nov 22, 2013
 
Location of Interment
Roselawn Cemetery - Pueblo, Colorado

 Official Badges 

WW II Honorable Discharge Pin US Navy Honorable Discharge


 Unofficial Badges 

Pearl Harbor Memorial Medallion


 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association
  1945, Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association



World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/New Guinea Campaign (1943-44)
From Month/Year
January / 1943
To Month/Year
December / 1944

Description
The last obstacle in liberating all of New Guinea island was the Vogelkop Peninsula in Dutch New Guinea. The Japanese resistance on the peninsula gathered at Manokwari, and MacArthur did not wish to contest with this force. Instead, his "hit 'em where they ain't" strategy took the Allied forces to a number of undefended beaches near Cape Opmaria and Sansapor. Like Rabaul, the 25,000 men at Manokwari were now stranded, frustratingly idling uselessly.

In Sep 1944, Allied troops occupied the Halmahera Islands, concluding the New Guinea Campaign. MacArthur was now only several hundred miles from the Philippines. In his memoir, MacArthur attributed to the Allied victory over New Guinea to mobility and the ability to achieve surprise at key confrontations. Additionally, he also insisted that his refusal to deploy military governors over conquered regions helped his command focus on the task at hand. Instead, he brought in Dutch and Australian civil administrators immediately after the area had been deemed secure. "The success of this method was reflected in the complete lack of friction between the various governments concerned", he noted.

Although Allied attention would move toward the Philippine Islands by this time, small pockets of Japanese resistance would continue to fight until late May 1945.
   
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1943
To Month/Year
December / 1944
 
Last Updated:
Mar 16, 2020
   
Personal Memories

Memories
USS Ralph Talbot DD-390 at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Engagements included:
1. Pearl Harbor-Midway
2. Pacific Raids - 1942
3. Midway - 3/6 June 1942
4. Guadalcanal-Tulagi Landing including First Savo Island
5. East New Guinea Operations
6. Consolidation of Solomon Islands
7. New Georgia Operations
8. Bismarck Archipelago Operations
9. Marianas Operation
10. West Caroline Operation
11. Leyte Operation
12. Luzon Operation
13. Iwo Jima Operation
14. Okinawa Operation

   
My Photos From This Battle or Operation
No Available Photos

  648 Also There at This Battle:
Copyright Togetherweserved.com Inc 2003-2011