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Marvin - Smith, Harry
Harry Marvin - Smith U.S. Navy WWII
Harry Marvin - Smith U.S. Navy WWII
 
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Date of Birth: 8/27/1912
Died On: 12/1/1984 Last Residence: 06437, Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut
Street Address: 530 Boston Post Road
Service Number: unknown
Branch of Service: U.S. Navy - Reynolds DE-42 - 16 Jul 1945


Veteran Code: USN-159


BIOGRAPHY Extended Information
 
Harry Marvin - Smith

Harry Morgan Marvin-Smith was born on August 27, 1912, in Herkimer, New York, his father, George, was 25 and his mother, Maud, was 22. He had three sisters. In Rye his family lived at 530 Boston Post Road and were members of Christ Church.

Harry was a Harvard graduate with a B.S. degree received in 1936. He was a member of the Harvard NROTC and received his commission in the Naval Reserve upon graduation.

Harry married Dorothy Roan on August 23, 1937, in Kings, New York. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Harry spent most of the war aboard ships. He was gunnery officer aboard the USS Wichita, light cruiser, from November, 1939 to June 1943.

After the United States entered World War II, the ship saw heavy service throughout the conflict. She was first assigned to convoy escort duty on the Murmansk Run in early 1942, and supported amphibious landings during Operation Torch in November 1942.

During the Naval Battle of Casablanca, Wichita engaged several French coastal batteries and warships, including the battleship Jean Bart. In 1943, Wichita was transferred to the Pacific Theater, where she remained for the rest of the war.

In July of 1943, Harry became executive officer of the USS Reynolds, a destroyer escort. He took over command of the Reynolds late in 1944, holding that assignment until the end of the war.

USS Reynolds (DE-42) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft.

She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and was awarded eight battle stars, a very high number for a ship of her type.

He then attended Navy General Line School at Annapolis, Md., from 1945 to 1946.

Mr. and Mrs. George V Smith have sold their place on the Post Road and are now at their now home on Upper King Street. Last weekend their son. Commander Harry Marvin Smith U.S.N.R., and Mrs. Marvin Smith were with them. He has been in the South Pacific for the past nine months and is now at the Post Graduate School. Annapolis.
PAGE SIX THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, August 24, 1945

Harry transferred from Naval Reserve to Regular Navy in June 1946. In November 1950 he was assigned to duty as commanding officer of a destroyer, the USS William Bowen Ault. He would retire from the Navy after over 20 years of service.


Harry Morgan Marvin-Smith died on December 25, 1984, in West Haven, Connecticut, at the age of 72, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
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