History of the U.S.S. Smalley
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Anthony A. Smalley, born in Massachusetts in 1836, was commissioned Acting Master on 27 March 1862 for service during the Civil War; but he subsequently became ill and his appointment was revoked on 1 September 1863. When his health permitted, Smalley applied for reinstatement, and he was commissioned Acting Ensign on 1 December 1863. He served in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron on board the PEQUOT, and distinguished himself during the Union capture of Fort Fisher which guarded the sea approach to Wilmington, N.C.. In the attack, Smalley was in command of an 18 man detachment from the PEQUOT which was responsible for digging trenches for the assault on the fort. He and his men also participated in the charge on the fort. Letters of commendation from his commanding officer praised his bravery and coolness while building the trenches under fire and while leading his men in the charge. After the end of the Civil War, Smalley was honorably discharged from the Navy on 3 August 1865. He died at Boston on 24 January 1894.
U.S.S. SMALLEY (DD565) was laid down 14 February 1943, launched 27 October 1943, and commissioned 31 March 1944. Following shakedown, the ship and one destroyer got underway 7 June 1944 to escort three troop transports to Hawaii. The convoy arrived at Pearl Harbor 11 July 1944. On the 28th, the ship's compliment manned the rail for President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he steamed into Pearl Harbor on board the BALTIMORE (CA-68). 3 August, SMALLEY sailed for the Aleutians. 21 November 1944 the destroyer fired on buildings, tents, machine gun emplacements and an airstrip on Matsuwa Islands in the Japanese Kurils. In the bombardment she fired 466 rounds. She later made three more similar bombardment missions during her Aleutian tour. 18 April 1945, SMALLEY received orders back to Hawaii. 11 May, she joined ROWE (DD564) and STODDARD (DD566) in screening aircraft carrier TICONDEROGA (CV14) to Ulithi Atoll. A week later, planes from TICONDEROGA struck Taroa Island. During this raid, SMALLEY rescued a crewman from a downed torpedo plane. 4 June 1945 SMALLEY arrived off Okinawa to help the Allied struggle for that bitterly contested island. SMALLEY was assigned close support picket duty. Following this mission, after joining Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet, SMALLEY participated in the final assault on the Japanese home islands by offensive surface sweeps, control of Combat Air Patrol, reconnaissance missions, and shore bombardment. Her final shore bombardment occurred 23 July 1945 when she shelled Chichi Jima. SMALLEY returned to the United States in December 1945; and on 10 July 1946 she was decommissioned.