Change of XOs

In October 1969, the Biddle changed Executive Officers. CDR Ian Donovan arrived on 20 October and CDR Allen Smith III departed on 23 October.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I found CDR Smith a bit patrician, maybe because of the “III” in his name, maybe because of the Naval Academy class ring he wore. I also later came to appreciate the role of an Executive Officer, which does not always include making people serving under him happy. I recently learned CDR Smith was the son of a Navy captain and grandson of an Army colonel, both named Allen Smith. So I give him respect and some slack now about the III.

Didn’t give much of it back then. My journal for 20 October: “New XO came today. Looks OK, an improvement anyway.” CDR Donovan, a graduate of Ohio State, appeared more easy-going to me, I think. And there might have been a bit of kerfuffle between ENS McDonald and CDR Smith as he was departing.

Earlier in October, I had been “elected” Mess Treasurer. My name had been the only one put in nomination. Elected unanimously! This was a position not sought. I’ll explain.

In the arcane world of the Navy, particularly distinctions between commissioned officers and all others, enlisted personnel on board ship were issued uniforms and provided food, free of charge, while officers had to purchase the same. Officers of all ranks received, at the time, however, $47.88 each month in what was termed “Basic Allowance for Subsistence.” This was to be pooled among the officers in each ship’s “mess” or wardroom and used to purchase food and drink.

Just about every officer wanted his mess to spend the least possible each month. This resulted in wardroom cuisine that was “subsistence” at best. Low-end cuts of meat, pasta, rice, “bug juice.” But woe to the mess treasurer who didn’t keep that monthly charge as low as possible. It was his — now my — job to determine and to collect the monthly fees.

The mess treasurer also had to maintain the books, if you will. What was received, what was spent, what was returned . . . and you calculated the monthly “mess share.” The Executive Officer, as “President of the Mess,” had to review and approve the books. On 15 October, according to my journal, I computed the mess share to be $2.91, a decrease of $7.52 from the month before. (I cannot imagine how two dozen or so grown men could eat for 30 days for $2.91 each. UPDATE: ENS Graham has advised me recently that the amounts to which I referred reflected amounts above the monthly allowance. That seems more reasonable.)

When CDR Smith was to depart, I was to pay him his share of the mess. As he had not by then signed the new mess audit, I had to pay him the earlier share of $10.43, not $2.91. I guess even Commanders could use that extra $7.52.

CDR Smith left the Biddle to take command of USS Barney (DDG-6), on which he made a second WESTPAC deployment. Prior to the Biddle, he had served in various billets aboard destroyers and as Commanding Officer of the ocean-going minesweeper USS Affray (MSO-511). Shore assignments before and after duty on Biddle included Navigation Instructor at the Naval Academy and two Pentagon tours. He also served as Chief of Staff to Commander Middle East Force and as Commanding Officer of Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado. His final tour was as Deputy Chief of Staff, Support/Logistics, to Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe. He retired in 1984. Among his awards were the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V (twice).

CAPT Allen Smith III died at his home in Orange Park, Fla., from Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) on 9 January 1995. He left a widow, Donna; five children; and six grandchildren. RIP.