Jack, who resided at 605 River Road, Wilmington, Delaware, served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade and Asst. Engineering Officer with the destroyer U.S.S. Duncan (DD-485), U.S. Navy during World War II.
During the Battle of Cape Esperance on October 12, 1942 the U.S.S. Duncan (DD-485) had just got off two torpedoes toward her first target, Japanese cruiser Furutaka, and kept firing until hits the she had received put her out of action.
The commanding officer ordered the bridge, isolated by fire, abandoned, and the wounded lowered into life rafts. The men on board attempted to beach the ship on Savo Island, but then, believing she might yet be saved, continued to fight the fires until power failed, when they abandoned ship. Destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488) rescued 195 men from the shark-infested waters and made an attempt to salvage Duncan, but she sank about 6 miles (10 km) north of Savo Island.
" 48 " members of the crew of the U.S.S. Duncan ( DD-485 ) were lost !
Jack was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for eight months at the time of his death and was decorated with the " Navy-Marine Corps Medal " and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-090729
Son of Walter A. Smyth and Ruth Van Atta Smyth.
Husband of Annie Lou Keithley Smyth.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
During the Battle of Cape Esperance on October 12, 1942 the U.S.S. Duncan (DD-485) had just got off two torpedoes toward her first target, Japanese cruiser Furutaka, and kept firing until hits the she had received put her out of action.
The commanding officer ordered the bridge, isolated by fire, abandoned, and the wounded lowered into life rafts. The men on board attempted to beach the ship on Savo Island, but then, believing she might yet be saved, continued to fight the fires until power failed, when they abandoned ship. Destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488) rescued 195 men from the shark-infested waters and made an attempt to salvage Duncan, but she sank about 6 miles (10 km) north of Savo Island.
" 48 " members of the crew of the U.S.S. Duncan ( DD-485 ) were lost !
Jack was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for eight months at the time of his death and was decorated with the " Navy-Marine Corps Medal " and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-090729
Son of Walter A. Smyth and Ruth Van Atta Smyth.
Husband of Annie Lou Keithley Smyth.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Jack, who resided at 605 River Road, Wilmington, Delaware, served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade and Asst. Engineering Officer with the destroyer U.S.S. Duncan (DD-485), U.S. Navy during World War II.
During the Battle of Cape Esperance on October 12, 1942 the U.S.S. Duncan (DD-485) had just got off two torpedoes toward her first target, Japanese cruiser Furutaka, and kept firing until hits the she had received put her out of action.
The commanding officer ordered the bridge, isolated by fire, abandoned, and the wounded lowered into life rafts. The men on board attempted to beach the ship on Savo Island, but then, believing she might yet be saved, continued to fight the fires until power failed, when they abandoned ship. Destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488) rescued 195 men from the shark-infested waters and made an attempt to salvage Duncan, but she sank about 6 miles (10 km) north of Savo Island.
" 48 " members of the crew of the U.S.S. Duncan ( DD-485 ) were lost !
Jack was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for eight months at the time of his death and was decorated with the " Navy-Marine Corps Medal " and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-090729
Son of Walter A. Smyth and Ruth Van Atta Smyth.
Husband of Annie Lou Keithley Smyth.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
During the Battle of Cape Esperance on October 12, 1942 the U.S.S. Duncan (DD-485) had just got off two torpedoes toward her first target, Japanese cruiser Furutaka, and kept firing until hits the she had received put her out of action.
The commanding officer ordered the bridge, isolated by fire, abandoned, and the wounded lowered into life rafts. The men on board attempted to beach the ship on Savo Island, but then, believing she might yet be saved, continued to fight the fires until power failed, when they abandoned ship. Destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488) rescued 195 men from the shark-infested waters and made an attempt to salvage Duncan, but she sank about 6 miles (10 km) north of Savo Island.
" 48 " members of the crew of the U.S.S. Duncan ( DD-485 ) were lost !
Jack was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He had served in the Navy for eight months at the time of his death and was decorated with the " Navy-Marine Corps Medal " and a Purple Heart.
Service # O-090729
Son of Walter A. Smyth and Ruth Van Atta Smyth.
Husband of Annie Lou Keithley Smyth.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Delaware.
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