Reminiscences of Adm. Harold Page Smith, USN (Ret.)

The first volume covers career up to assignment as CinCPac in 1958. Served five years in battleships and destroyers. In 1929 was designated naval aviator and served with Scouting Squadron Three in the Lexington. Was nearby when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Transferred to the Saratoga and as air group commander participated in first offensive action of the war at Guadalcanal. After a year in Moscow as a member of the U.S. Military Mission to the Soviet Union, returned to the Pacific in command of the escort aircraft carrier USS Chenango (CVE-28) and participated in the Okinawa campaign and occupation of Japan. After war served on CNO's staff; commanded the Franklin D. Roosevelt; was commander, Middle East Force in Persian Gulf; Carrier Division 15, Carrier Division Three, and the Sixth Fleet. Upon promotion to four stars, he was Vice Chief of Naval Operations The second volume covers Admiral Felt's recollections during the years 1958-1964 when he served as Commander in Chief, Pacific. Among the subjects discussed are: Chinese bombardment of Quemoy and Matsu; goodwill trips in the Far East; dealings with Military Assistance Groups; strategic location of troops in the Pacific; early involvement in Vietnam; establishment of joint strategic planning staff at SAC headquarters in Omaha; SEATO; political upheaval in Laos, 1959-1961; Taiwan Defense Command; relationship of U.S. and Nationalist Chinese in Taiwan; U.S. military assistance in the Philippines. Some personal notes pertaining to Admiral Felt's command in the Pacific and to developments in Vietnam are in the appendices.

Paul Stillwell is an independent historian and retired naval officer. He worked for thirty years at the U.S. Naval Institute as an oral historian and editor of Naval History magazine. He is the author or editor of fourteen books, including four on battleships and an award-winning volume on the Navy’s first African American officers, The Golden Thirteen. His 2021 book Battleship Commander: The Life of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr. also received acclaim. He lives in Arnold, Maryland.