SIDNEY L. SMITH, LCDR, USN
Sidney Smith '26
Lucky Bag
From the 1926 Lucky Bag:
Loss
Sidney was lost when USS Houston (CA 30) was sunk on on March 1, 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was the ship's gunnery plotting room officer.
His wife was listed as next of kin.
Biography
From Find A Grave:
S. L. Smith was a Commander in the United States Navy. He was the son of Layton Fontaine Smith and Mary Alexander Beasley Smith - born and brought up in Maryland in the household of his mother's parents. He attended the U.S. Navel Academy. When he was 23, he married Katherine L. Bechtold Smith and in 1930 they were living with her parents. Sidney and Katherine had two sons Sidney L. Smith Jr. and Gordon Leigh Smith who was born March 6 1935.
He was not officially declared dead until December 15, 1945; this also explains his late listing on the Class of 1926 panel in Memorial Hall.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
October 1926
Ensign, USS Maryland
Others at this command: LCDR Franklin Van Valkenburgh '09, ENS Fremont Wright '25, ENS Harry Hubbard '25, ENS Thelman Lester '25, and ENS John Graff '26.
January 1927
Ensign, USS Maryland
Others at this command: LCDR Franklin Van Valkenburgh '09, ENS Fremont Wright '25, ENS Harry Hubbard '25, ENS Thelman Lester '25, and ENS John Graff '26.
April 1927
Ensign, USS Maryland
Others at this command: LCDR Franklin Van Valkenburgh '09, ENS Fremont Wright '25, ENS Harry Hubbard '25, ENS Thelman Lester '25, and ENS John Graff '26.
October 1928
Ensign, USS Wyoming
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20, LTjg Harold Pound '25, and ENS John Pierce '28.
January 1929
Ensign, USS Wyoming
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20, LTjg Harold Pound '25, and ENS John Pierce '28.
April 1929
Ensign, USS Wyoming
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20, 2LT David Claude '24, LTjg Harold Pound '25, and ENS John Pierce '28.
July 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Wyoming
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20, 2LT David Claude '24, ENS John Pierce '28, and ENS John Bermingham '29.
October 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Wyoming
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20, 2LT David Claude '24, ENS Donald Lovelace '28, ENS John Pierce '28, and ENS John Bermingham '29.
January 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Wyoming
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20, 2LT David Claude '24, ENS Donald Lovelace '28, ENS John Pierce '28, and ENS John Bermingham '29.
April 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Wyoming
Others at this command: LT Paul Slawson '20, 2LT David Claude '24, ENS John Pierce '28, and ENS John Bermingham '29.
October 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Dupont
January 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Dupont
April 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Dupont
July 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Dupont
October 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Dupont
January 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Dupont
April 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Dupont
October 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Francis Bridget '21, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Graff '26, and LTjg Loren Morris '27.
January 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Francis Bridget '21, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and 2LT Harold Bauer '30.
April 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT Francis Bridget '21, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Hobby, Jr. '23, LTjg Hubert Hayter '24, LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24, LTjg Neville McDowell '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28, and 2LT Harold Bauer '30.
July 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Albert Rooks '14, LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT Howard Healy '22, 1LT Charles Kail '23, LT Hallsted Hopping '24, LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg August Lentz, Jr. '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Eugene Karpe '26, LTjg Francis Black '26, LTjg Heywood Edwards '26, LTjg Hilan Ebert '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Reybold '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis LeHardy '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Ralph Smith '26, LTjg William Myers '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28.
October 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Albert Rooks '14, LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT Howard Healy '22, 1LT Charles Kail '23, LT Hallsted Hopping '24, LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg August Lentz, Jr. '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Eugene Karpe '26, LTjg Francis Black '26, LTjg Heywood Edwards '26, LTjg Hilan Ebert '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Reybold '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis LeHardy '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Ralph Smith '26, LTjg William Myers '26, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28.
April 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command: LCDR Albert Rooks '14, LCDR Charles Cecil '16, LCDR Lyman Swenson '16, LT Robert Smith '20, LT George Brooke '21, LT Paul Register '21, LT William Gray '21, LT Howard Healy '22, 1LT Charles Kail '23, LT Hallsted Hopping '24, LT Lawrence McPeake '24, LTjg Andrew Harris '25, LTjg Austin Behan '25, LTjg Charles Tolman, Jr. '25, LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25, LTjg Knowlton Williams '25, LTjg William Hank '25, LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25, LTjg August Lentz, Jr. '26, LTjg Earl Olsen '26, LTjg Eugene Karpe '26, LTjg Francis Black '26, LTjg Heywood Edwards '26, LTjg Hilan Ebert '26, LTjg Howard Gilmore '26, LTjg John Crane '26, LTjg John Reybold '26, LTjg John Graff '26, LTjg Louis LeHardy '26, LTjg Louis Shane, Jr. '26, LTjg Ralph Smith '26, LTjg William Myers '26, LTjg Harry Hicks '27, LTjg Loren Morris '27, and LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28.
July 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Gun Factory, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command: LTjg William Hank '25 and LTjg Howard Gilmore '26.
Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: LT Edwin Crouch '21 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.) and LT Raymond Hansen '22 (Experimental Diving Unit).
October 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Gun Factory, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command: LTjg Howard Gilmore '26.
Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: LT Edwin Crouch '21 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.) and LT Raymond Hansen '22 (Experimental Diving Unit).
January 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Gun Factory, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command: LTjg Howard Gilmore '26.
Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: LT Edwin Crouch '21 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.), LT John Hollowell, Jr. '22 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.), and LT Raymond Hansen '22 (Experimental Diving Unit).
April 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Gun Factory, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command: LT Elmer Kiehl '20 and LTjg Howard Gilmore '26.
Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: LT Mark Crouter '20 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.) and LT John Hollowell, Jr. '22 (Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.).
October 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), gunnery officer, USS Dale
Others at this command: LT Edwin Crouch '21.
January 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), gunnery officer, USS Dale
Others at this command: LT Edwin Crouch '21.
September 1937
Lieutenant, gunnery officer, USS Dale
January 1938
Lieutenant, gunnery officer, USS Dale
July 1938
Lieutenant, Bureau of Ordnance, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command: CAPT Mervyn Bennion '10.
January 1939
Lieutenant, Bureau of Ordnance, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command: CAPT Mervyn Bennion '10.
October 1939
Lieutenant, Bureau of Ordnance, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command: CAPT Mervyn Bennion '10.
June 1940
Lieutenant, USS Houston
Others at this command: LCDR David Roberts '21, LT Richard Gingras '25, LT Alfred Grove '30, LTjg George Davis, Jr. '35, ENS Francis Weiler '39, ENS John Shepherd, III '39, ENS Kenneth Kollmyer '39, ENS Alva Nethken '40, ENS Coleman Sellers, IV '40, and ENS Fred Mallory '40.
November 1940
Lieutenant, USS Houston
Others at this command: LCDR David Roberts '21, LT Richard Gingras '25, LT Alfred Grove '30, LT Russell Ross '30, LTjg George Davis, Jr. '35, LTjg John Patty, Jr. '37, ENS John Woodruff '38, ENS Francis Weiler '39, ENS Kenneth Kollmyer '39, ENS Alva Nethken '40, ENS Coleman Sellers, IV '40, and ENS Fred Mallory '40.
April 1941
Lieutenant, USS Houston
Others at this command: LCDR David Roberts '21, LT Richard Gingras '25, LT Alfred Grove '30, LT Russell Ross '30, LTjg George Davis, Jr. '35, LTjg Bruce Skidmore '37, LTjg John Patty, Jr. '37, ENS John Woodruff '38, ENS Francis Weiler '39, ENS Kenneth Kollmyer '39, ENS Alva Nethken '40, ENS Coleman Sellers, IV '40, and ENS Fred Mallory '40.
Others at or embarked at this command: ENS Edmundo Gandia '38 (Asiatic Fleet).
Class of 1926
Sidney is one of 36 members of the Class of 1926 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
