"For heroism on December 24, 1944, in the English Channel while serving as a member of the crew of the U.S.S. YMS-346." as stated in the Citation, signed by Admiral Harold R. Stark, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is a non-combat award presented to members of the Navy or Marine Corps, including Reserves, who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism not involving actual conflict with an opposing armed force. The medal was first authorized in 1942, during World War II. The photograph above shows Neal Smith receiving this award. All photographs in this post, including the citation were provided by Neal Smith's daughter, Kim.
December 24, 1944
On the evening of December 24, 1944, 2235 American soldiers of the 262nd and 264th regiments of the 66th Infantry Division boarded the Leopoldville at Southampton. Her destination was Cherbourg and these troops were to be reinforcements for the Battle of the Bulge. A German submarine, U-486, lay submerged and fired a torpedo that struck the Leopoldville within five and a half miles of Cherbourg. Two and a half hours after the German submarine hit her target, the SS Leopoldville sank, taking with her the lives of 763 men. That death toll has often been reported as up to 802. 493 of those bodies have never been recovered.
Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Citation
In the name of the President of the United States, it gives me great pleasure to award this Navy and Marine Corps Medal to:
Neal (n) Smith,
Signalman first class,
United States Naval Reserve.
CITATION
"For heroism on December 24, 1944, in the English Channel while serving as a member of the crew of the U.S.S. YMS-346.
During the night the ship was ordered to proceed to the rescue of survivors of a Belgian troop transport carrying American troops which had been torpedoed in the Channel. Upon arrival on the scene the sea was found to be littered with wreckage and survivors. The customary means of rescue were ineffectual because the survivors were in such a weak condition from the battering of the sea and exposion to the freezing water, they were unable to grasp the life rings and line thrown to them. The condition of the sea prevented the launching of the ship's boat and the close proximity of the other rescue vessels, which frequently came within fifty feet of his ship, prohibited maneuvering of the ship to pick up survivors. With complete disregard for his own safety, Smith went over the side into the icy water and secured life lines around helpless survivors. He continued his efforts until recalled aboard when his ship was forced to move to prevent collision with surrounding ships.
The courage, decisive action and utter devotion to duty displayed on this occasion were in keeping with the best traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Harold R. Stark,
Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe.
A previous post with the title The Sinking of the SS Leopoldville - Christmas Eve 1944, provides more context as to the gravity of what occurred that night, what the crew encountered and the heroic acts of Signalman Neal Smith. The title above is a link to that post and you can also read about the cover-up that ensued by both the British and the American governments following that tragic night. Another previous post Any Ship Can Be a Minesweeper... Once featured Phamacist Mate Charles Murphy who also played a critical role that night. His son shared what his father told him. He said that Phamacist Mate Murphy "worked with others throughout the night caring for the wounded. He soberly remembered the young soldiers he laid out in rows along the docks. He told me they helped those that they could and tagged those they could not. Many of those young soldiers drowned because with their heavy gear and cold Atlantic water, they could not swim. Dad recalled that over a thousand lives were lost that night."
Because the Navy was censoring all letters home, the crew was not permitted to talk about where they were or what was happening. In a letter to his sister on 12/29/44 Jack Whiteman wrote the following:
Dear Bess: I'm sorry you had your hopes up and was disappointed but Christmas Day found us sweeping, as usual. An incident happened here that took all the spirit out of us. I'll never forget this Christmas as long as I live and I hope God spares me another one like it.
It was over 50 years later, that Jack learned what actually happened that Christmas Eve while he was watching an episode on the History Channel entitled History Undercover-Cover-up: The Sinking of the SS Leopoldville. Some time after watching that program, he told my brother Tom about his experience with the Leopoldville. Tom remembers how visibly upset he was.
Neal Smith's daughter told me that her father was a very humble man but she remembers him talking about the Leopoldville and he would get quite choked up about it. He told her he went into the water to secure lines around the crew so they could be pulled aboard the ship. She said he was very broken up that the guys he tried to save had all perished in the water.
"With complete disregard for his own safety, Smith went over the side into the icy water and secured life lines around helpless survivors." And the United States Navy officially acknowledged Neal Smith for this selfless act of heroism.
Next: Diary of the Normandy Invasion 1944 Aboard USN Minesweeper YMS-346
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