Bud Smith
Procurement

©

John G. (Bud) Smith, merchant marine and U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, died on March 27, 1998, aged 76. He was born on May 21, 1921.

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, 20 year old Bud was recovering from a ruptured appendix. All his friends went into the military but he was not able to pass the physical exams for the armed forces.

Bud then tried the merchant marine and was accepted. After grueling training, he was declared fit for duty and went into combat zones as a civilian. After a couple of years, Bud then left the merchant marine and joined the U.S. Navy, where he trained at Block Island.

After World War II, Bud worked for Columbia Rubber and retired after 30 years service.

Bud was one of the earliest members of Project Liberty Ship and was adept at persuading local suppliers to donate much needed hardware to the Project.