Doctor of Philosophy in geologic and oceanographic physics by Harvard Uni- 

 versity as a result of original work and extensive thesis. 



By June 1936, he was in connmand of the Cutter TAHOE, and in February 

 1937, took command of the newly built Cutter JOHN C. SPENCER, both of which 

 were assigned duties in Alaskan waters. While with the latter he was cited 

 by the Navy Department for his rescue of the crew of the USS SWALLOW from 

 Kanaga Island in February 1938. 



In October 1938, he became Commanding Officer of the Cutter CHELAN 

 of Boston. He then was designated Commander, International Ice Patrol 

 for the seasons of 1 939 and 1 940. 

 WORLD WAR II : 



On June 1940, he was assigned as commanding officer of the Cutter 

 NORTHLAND and as Commander of the Greenland Patrol. This patrol consisted 

 mainly of Coast Guard cutters which assisted the Army and Navy in establish- 

 ing the military defense of Greenland. In Its earliest days, the Patrol's 

 mission consisted of surveying the area and estimating the probable actions 

 of the Nazis. At that time RADM Smith prepared and placed into effect a 

 plan for defenses which involved the evacuation of Danish and NonA/egian 

 civilians scattered over the territory, and the organization of these 

 trappers into a Greenland government operated sledge patrol. As a direct 

 result of this administration, the first violation of the United States- 

 Greenland agreement was foiled when in September 1941 , a German agent 

 and secret codes were captured in Northeast Greenland by the Greenland 

 Patrol. Enemy forces were repeatedly prevented from establishing a foot- 



49 



