David Pirtle Smith, born on February 23, 1921 in Vanoss, Oklahoma to Percy Gill Smith and Katie Maude Latimer passed away on November 18, 2009 in Enid.  The son of a Santa Fe Railroad agent, Smith’s early years were defined by the family’s frequent relocations around the state including residence in Enid, Norman, Kindrick, Cushing, Sparks, Hillsdale and Skedee.

    In 1938 Smith graduated from Skedee High School as World War II was engulfing Europe and America's allies were joining forces to fight the Nazi machine.   Motivated by patriotism and a sense of adventure, Smith, 18, convinced his mother to allow him to enlist in the U.S. Navy.

    After completing boot camp in San Diego he was assigned to the USS Utah on November 8, 1939 as an apprentice seaman.   On arrival he was given duty as a Mess Cook.  "I still hate to look a spud in the eye," he was fond of saying. 

    Smith was eventually assigned the position of Electrician’s Mate Third Class and the ship sailed to Pearl Harbor.  In early December, the USS Utah, was moved to a temporary dock, replacing the USS Enterprise, which was sent out to sea. Within 24 hours David's world would change along with the rest of America.  Japanese bombers believing that the modified superstructure was the Enterprise selected her as their first target, granting the Utah the unenviable designation as the first ship to be attacked and sunk at Pearl Harbor.  

    Dave recalled that morning with vivid memory.   He awoke to the sound of aircraft, and wearing nothing but his skivvies, went to a nearby porthole.  He could see aircraft flying just off the water coming towards him. Suddenly, an 18- foot torpedo dropped from one of the aircraft as it began its upward climb, barley missing the vessel's mast. The large red sun painted on the bottom of each wing provided the undeniable evidence that the United States had just been pulled into the second World War.  Dave could see the wake of the torpedo as it came toward the ship. He could feel the ship shake as the torpedo hit and exploded upon impact. He called out to his shipmates that they were under attack by the Japanese. With a shudder, the ship began to list to port.  The sailors, with no way to defend the fleet, could only watch as the other battleships began taking hits, burning and blowing up.

    The Utah commander gave the call to abandon ship. Adorned with life vests the sailors began jumping off the rapidly sinking Utah.  Dave recalled swimming under water to avoid strafing from the Japanese aircraft and burning oil on the surface of the water.  Dave and his surviving shipmates made it to shore where an officer's wife gave the men clothes and attended to the wounded.  Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, David was reassigned to the USS Honolulu and spent the next two and a half years in the Pacific theater and where he received three battle stars. 

    In October 1942, with seven days leave, David took a bus to Utah and married his high school sweetheart, LeLoris Gertrude Waters.  He was eventually  assigned to the USS Inch.  While on duty there he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer.  The Inch was credited with sinking three German U-Boats, one of them in the American Theater of War.  Following the war, Smith transferred to the U.S. Air Force working first in the B-36 program at Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth, Texas then transferring to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota where he was part of the 5th Fighter Squadron.

    Smith retired from the Air Force in 1962 as a Senior Master Sergeant and relocated to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  There he worked as an airplane mechanic for 19 years eventually purchasing his own shop, Sioux Air Repair.  In 1981 Smith sold his shop to work in the plant-engineering department at McKennan Hospital from which he retired in 1992.  Upon his wife's retirement in July 2002 David and LeLoris returned to Oklahoma, settling in Enid near two of their children.

    David Smith is survived by his wife, LeLoris Gertrude; children David M. "Mike" Smith and Patricia C. Ward, of Enid and Dayna Smith Cary, Fairfax, VA; and grandchildren Mike Ward, Tonkawa, Gregg Smith, Oklahoma City, Tania Warnock, Enid, and Mack and Cal Cary, Fairfax, VA. He is also survived by four great grandchildren; Kyle and Kristen Smith of Oklahoma City, Brett Ward of Tonkawa, and Parker Warnock of Enid.

    A funeral service will be held on Monday November 23, 2009 at 10:00 AM at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kenneth Wade officiating. Full military honors will be by the Silver Talon Honor Guard Vance Air Force Base.  At Dave's behest his remains will be repatriated to the USS Utah now located beneath the waters at Pearl Harbor. Visitation with the family will be Sunday from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

    Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the DAV.  Condolences may be made online at www.andersonburris.com.