Scope and Contents

Less than one linear feet of slides, negatives, and contact sheets document Michael O. Smith's service aboard the USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, 1966-1967.

Biographical / Historical

Michael O'Halloran Smith was born on April 21, 1938 in Los Angeles, California. After birth, his family moved to Phoenix Arizona where he remained while growing up. Smith spent two years at Arizona State University before going to the Naval Academy in 1958. He received a Bachelor of Science in both Aeronautical Engineering and Naval Science. Smith volunteered for the Navy on June 30, 1958 and served for fourteen years until his discharge on June 30, 1972. During his service, he served as a rescue pilot aboard the USS Roosevelt in the Gulf of Tonkin from 1966-1967. While in Southeast Asia, Smith also served in Binh Tuy and Song Ong Doc. As a rescue pilot, he was a Lt JG and then progressed to the rank of 1Lt. Upon discharge from the Navy, Michael Smith had participated in 620 missions and retired at the rank of 1Lt.