Roland Nesbit Smoot papers, approximately 1940-1949

Series — Box: 2, Folder: 5

Identifier: MSS 3315 Series 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Contains the letters and narrative accounts of Roland Nesbit Smoot describing his military experiences as an member of the United States Navy during World War II. He mostly participated in the Pacific Asian theatre of the war, mainly in Japan, during World War II. Dated approximately 1940s.

Dates

approximately 1940-1949

Creator

Smoot, Roland N. (Roland Nesbit), 1901-1984 (creator, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Brigham Smoot family papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Roland N. Smoot (1901-1984) was an American naval officer.

Roland Nesbit Smoot was born on May 7, 1901 in Provo, Utah to Brigham Smoot and Margaret Annella Nesbit. He was nominated to attend the United States Naval Academy in 1923. Smoot began his naval career by working on destroyers then he shifted to submarines for ten years. Between 1928 and 1930 he received post-graduate training in engineering, and later taught at the Naval Academy. On June 7, 1923 he married Sally Ridgely, and they had two children.

During the Second World War, Smoot served on destroyers in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and served in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. After the war, he became Director of Officer Personnel and as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel. In 1958, he was promoted to vice admiral and given command of the Taiwan Defense Command. Smoot finally retired to California in 1962.

He died in Laguna Hills, California, on February 13, 1984.