SMITH-FRED

KILLED IN KAMIKAZE ATTACK

Prior to World War II the Navy had practiced racial segregation for over two decades and Black sailors were regularly permitted to serve only as mess attendants for officers or as cooks.  As the war progressed Black sailors were assigned additional battle stations for battle and aboard the carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) a large group of Black stewards were assigned to Antiaircraft Gun Tub 10.  This gun tub crew was exclusively all Black except for the gun captain who was Hispanic.

During World War II, Intrepid was attacked on five occasions by Japanese kamikaze planes.  The first kamikaze attack occurred on October 29, 1944.  When the kamikaze plane, a zero aircraft, targeted the ship it readily became apparent that it was directed directly toward Gun Tub 10 and as it came close, occupants of nearby gun tubs abandoned their positions and ran from the scene.  However, all the sailors assigned to Gun Tub 10 remained at their battle station and steadfastly continued firing at the approaching kamikaze.  Although they were successful in shooting off part of a wing and portions of the rudder the kamikaze continued its journey until it impacted directly on Gun Tub 10,  Ten of the Black sailors manning the gun tub were killed and a similar number were seriously injured as the plane exploded and fire engulfed the gun tub and nearby area. 

Stewards Mate First Class Fred Lee Smith was unfortunately one of the casualties.  Review of readily available historical records revealed little information concerning him in addition to having entered the Navy from Louisiana and he was survived by his mother residing in Monroe, Louisiana.   STM1 Smith was buried at sea and his name is listed on the Walls of the Missing at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

It is interesting that following the incident newspapers reported that the captain announced that survivors would be awarded the Navy Cross for their heroic actions.  However, the survivors were instead issued the Bronze Star.  Forty-nine years later in 1993, through the persistent efforts of survivors who contended they were issued the lesser award only because of their race, six living survivors were finally issued the Navy Cross by President Clinton

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)