Commander Markle T. Smith was born on April 5, 1910, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1930. His early sea service included duty aboard the USS Louisville from 1930 to 1934 before he was selected for advanced Japanese communications intelligence training in 1934 as a member of the legendary “On-the-Roof” Class 13.

Following his training, Smith served at Oahu, Hawaii, Winter Harbor, Maine, and Guam. When Guam fell to Japanese forces in December 1941, he was captured and endured 44 months as a prisoner of war. Despite the hardships of captivity, Smith distinguished himself through extraordinary courage and resistance, actions that would later earn him the Silver Star.

After his liberation at the end of World War II, Commander Smith continued his distinguished naval career. He returned to duty at Winter Harbor, Maine, served as Officer-in-Charge of the Direction Finding (D/F) Station at DuPont, South Carolina, and completed assignments at Port Lyautey, French Morocco, Hawaii, and with several fleet units. Before retiring from active duty, he also served as aide to the Commanding Officer at Bainbridge, Maryland.

Commander Markle T. Smith passed away on July 14, 1985, in Arizona, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, courage, and dedicated service to the United States Navy and the naval cryptologic community.

While imprisoned then Radioman First Class Smith secretly escaped the camp with fellow prisoners and planted a timed incendiary device in a warehouse before returning undetected. The resulting fire destroyed five city blocks of warehouses filled with food, gasoline, and other military supplies, dealing a significant blow to the Japanese war effort and earning recognition for his extraordinary courage, ingenuity, and unwavering devotion to duty.  For his actions Smith received a SILVER STAR MEDAL.  His citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to
LIEUTENANT MARKLE TOBIAS SMITH
UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in Headquarters Camp No. 1, Osaka, Japan,  in connection with military operations against the enemy, August 8-9, 1943. In company with several of his fellow prisoners, Lieutenant (then Radioman First Class) Smith stole out of camp under cover of darkness and proceeded to a large warehouse where a timed incendiary candle was set in the midst of highly inflammable materials.  Successfully eradicating all signs of egress, he returned to the prison camp after an absence of an hour.  As a result of this heroic action, the fire which burst forth a short time later spread to surrounding buildings and, fanned by shifting winds, destroyed five blocks of warehouses containing large quantities OF FOOD, GASOLINE AND OTHER WAR SUPPLIES.  By his initiative in conceiving this exploit and his courage and skill in executing it, Lieutenant Smith succeeded in dealing a telling blow to the Japanese war effort, and set a worthy example of loyalty and bravery in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

For the President,

Secretary of the Navy

His medals are located at the Command Display, Corry Station, Pensacola, Fl.