E. Stratford Smith, Esq.

E. Stratford Smith, Esq.

Tree Tag: V0003

Presented By/Date: Bette B. Jackson Smith on February 12, 2014

Dates of Birth/Death: December 9, 1916 - December 25, 2011

Dates of Military Service: 1943-1946

Service Branch/Stations: US Navy, Pacific Theater, Communications and Coding Officer

Highest Rank: Lieutenant

Veterans Hometown: Brigham City, UT

Who is this Veteran? During his last year of law school and while also working for the FCC, Stratford enlisted in the Navy. After attending naval training schools at Princeton and Harvard, he was assigned to the Advance HQ staff of Fleet Admiral Nimitz, Pearl Harbor, and later moved to Guam. His top-secret, high-priority work included coding and decoding messages for worldwide distribution, including those concerning "The Manhattan Project," not knowing at the time they concerned the atomic bomb. Following the Japanese surrender, Stratford transferred to the Staff of Admiral Spruance, Commander of the 3rd Fleet, aboard the USS New Jersey, stationed in Tokyo Bay.

About this Tribute Tree: Three Kousa Dogwoods (tree-form) (Cornus kousa)

Planting Date: The three trees were planted in the in Spring of 2014.

Park Location and GPS Coordinates: Oak Hall Regional Park,  Tree #1 - N 40 47.563  W 077 47.592; Tree #2 - N 40 47.563  W 077 47.588; Tree #3 - N 40 47.564  W 077 47.584