During the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands the USS Smith was struck in the forecastle by a damaged kamikaze torpedo bomber, resulting in fires and severe damage to the ship from the front gun mount to the bridge.
The captain, now commanding from the aft of the ship due to the loss of pilot house control, ordered the Smith in the wake of the battleship USS South Dakota. By running through the South Dakota's wake the Smith was able to douse her flames allowing the crew to extinguish her fires. Despite the damage and the loss of 57 crew members the Smith was able to rejoin the battle.
For these actions the Smith was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, which reads:
"For outstanding performance during action against enemy Japanese forces off Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Although a hostile torpedo plane crashed on her forecastle and exploded at the height of the battle, the SMITH, with her forward topside abandoned and aflame, gallantly held to her screening position on an aircraft carrier and fought off attacking planes until the fire could be extinguished. Her survival is a distinctive tribute to the invincible fighting spirit of her officers and men."
Truly a great example of the enduring spirit of US Navy sailors.
Edited by NargilFenris, 21 September 2012 - 01:31 AM.