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This continuous alert against attacks from other services has been shared by Holland Smith. He is so Marine-minded that he has been known to argue against hidebound Navy thinking with his blonde, six-footer only son John Victor (Annapo lis '34), until recently a destroyer commander in the Mediterranean, now aide to Admiral Leahy.
A Time for Diplomacy. Perennially truculent, Holland Smith would have been busted out years ago if he had not been the man and the Marine he is. A military liberal at the salt-encrusted age of 61, he never hesitates to admit his own mistakes.
In war or peace he enjoys a good fight. When his troops have landed he goes ashore as soon as possible, carbine over his shoulder. On Makin he came upon a young lieutenant firing madly at nothing visible. "Son," said General Smith, "if you don't quit that wild shooting I'm going to take your gun away from you." From Makin soon after the battle had ended, he flew to Tarawa. He walked through little Betio Island's 5,000 enemy and U.S. dead with the 2nd Marine Division's Major General Julian Smith.* A few minutes after they passed a pillbox rubble, Jap snipers killed three marines on the spot they had left.
When he is not learning more about amphibious warfare on places like Makin, Tarawa or Kwajalein, Holland Smith lives in a house near the naval base at Pearl Harbor with his tall, courtly Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Graves B. ("Bobby") Erskine, his aide, Major Clifton A. Woodrum Jr. (ex-SEC lawyer and son of the Virginia Congressman) and his three Marine orderlies.
He eats sparingly (only thick soup for luncheon), smokes more William Penn cigars than his doctor thinks he should. His favorite topic of conversation is his grandchildren, Marion and Holland II, aged four and two. Toward women he is an old-fashioned Southerner. Riding recently in a C-54 through the Pacific, he noticed two Army nurses aboard, mused: "Think of it. Women in a war."
Soldier's Reward. Last week President Roosevelt nominated Kelly Turner a three-star admiral (see p. 65). Observers felt certain that the three stars of a lieutenant general would soon follow for Holland Smith.
He has already won the D.S.M. When Secretary Frank Knox conferred it on him, the official citation said: "By his capable performance of duty on both coasts of the United States, he laid the groundwork for amphibious training of practically all American units. . . . His proficient leadership and tireless energy in the development of high combat efficiency among the forces under his supervision were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
* Once he sent General Holcomb a list of Marine generals he thought should be retired, to give younger officers a chance. No. 1 on the list: Holland Smith. *Not to be confused with two other approximate General Smiths in Holland Smith's command: Ralph Smith of the 27th Army Division, Harry Schmidt of the 4th Marine Division.