The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Oliver P. Smith (MCSN: 0-920), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced) during operations against enemy aggressor forces in the Korean Area, from 6 July 1950 to 31 December 1950. Responsible for assembling units of the Division in the Far East and in rapidly welding them into a well coordinated, hard striking amphibious team, Major General Smith also supervised plans for an amphibious operation which were completed in an extremely brief period of time. Under his aggressive leadership, his force brilliantly executed a complex amphibious landing against the strongly defended city of Inchon, Korea, and thereafter, fought its way inland to seize Kimpo Airfield. Major General Smith then led his forces in the courageous crossing of the Han River against severe opposition. In the subsequent bitter struggle culminating in the liberation of Seoul, the Capitol of Korea, his forces destroyed the enemy’s main lines of communication and thus contributed materially to the dispersal and disintegration of the North Korean enemy. Following this operation, he supervised the planning and execution of an amphibious landing at Wonsan, directed the anti-guerrilla operations of his forces in the Wonsan and Kojo Areas and thereafter, led his forces in their displacement to the Hamhung Area. Under Major General Smith’s direction, the Division made its heroic advance in bitter cold over tortuous mountain roads, meeting and decisively defeating numerically superior enemy forces while en route to Chosin Reservoir. He then directed the advance of his forces to the Yudam-ni Area, simultaneously conducting a courageous defense of Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri. Upon being ordered to retire to the Hungnam beachhead, he bravely led his forces, together with isolated Army units, in an epic drive to the sea in the face of extreme hardships imposed by weather and terrain and despite continuous attack by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. A forceful, courageous and inspiring leader, Maj. Gen. Smith, after six months of bitter fighting against tremendous odds, directed the rapid and orderly embarkation and withdrawal of his troops from the port of Hungnam, Korea. His distinguished service throughout this period reflects the highest credit upon Major General Smith and the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Major GeneralDivision:
1st Marine Division (Rein.)Action Date:
September 15 – 21, 1950
Headquarters, Far East Command, General Orders No. 50 (October 27, 1950)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Major General Oliver P. Smith (MCSN: 0-920), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding General, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), United Nations Command, in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Inchon-Seoul operation during the period 15 September to 21 September 1950. His actions contributed materially to the success of this operation and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
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Army Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Major GeneralDivision:
1st Marine Division (Rein.)Action Date:
July 25, 1950 – April 23, 1951
Department of the Army: General Orders No. 102 (November 27, 1951), Amended by General Orders No. 54 (1952)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Oliver P. Smith (MCSN: 0-920), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility as Commanding General, FIRST Marine Division, from 25 July 1950 to 23 April 1951. In this capacity, he was charged with the responsibility of preparing plans for the amphibious landing of his division at Inchon, Korea, while concurrently integrating the First Provisional Marine Brigade into the division. The thoroughness of his planning was evidenced by the outstanding combat effectiveness of the First Marine Division during the amphibious assault at Inchon, and the subsequent capture of the Capitol City of Seoul which severed the lines of supply and communication of major enemy forces and contributed in a large measure to their complete rout from southern Korea. Again in northern Korea when his division was faced, and later surrounded, by seven Chinese Communist divisions in the Chosin Reservoir area, General Smith, through his gallant, inspiring leadership and broad tactical knowledge, extricated his force with minimum loss of personnel and equipment while inflicting enormous casualties on the numerically superior enemy. General Smith, as one of the key combat commanders in the United Nations struggle against aggression, proved himself of inestimable value not only in directing vital military operations of combat units despite extreme difficulties, but in his diplomacy and tact in maintaining harmonious relations with units and agencies of other nations. The manifold duties and great responsibilities of coordinating United States and Foreign troops usually of brigade strength, in an unprecedented type of warfare were capably carried on by General Smith with clearly exceptional ingenuity, resourcefulness and leadership. He provided the United Nations Command in Korea with an efficiently operating combat division which enabled that command to contain and then hurl back both the North Korean Army and, later, the Chinese Communist Forces. His distinctive ability and diplomacy proved of marked international significance and contributed in a high degree to the United Nations campaign in Korea. The exceptionally meritorious service of General Smith reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the United States Marine Corps.
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Major GeneralDivision:
1st Marine Division (Rein.)Action Date:
November 29 – December 4, 1950
Headquarters, X Corps: General Orders No. 66 (December 15, 1950)The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major General Oliver Prince Smith (MCSN: 0-920), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, Korea, from 29 November to 4 December 1950. Major General Smith’s leadership contributed materially to the break-through in the Chosin Reservoir area and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
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Legion of Merit
Heroes U.S. Marine Corps, 1861 – 1955: Jane Blakeney(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Oliver P. Smith (MCSN: 0-920), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the period from 15 September through 20 October 1944.
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Legion of Merit
Heroes U.S. Marine Corps, 1861 – 1955: Jane Blakeney(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Oliver P. Smith (MCSN: 0-920), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the period from 8 November 1944 through 21 June 1945.