Smith, James H.
- Object Type
- Oral history
- Object ID
- 14696
- Date
- June 27 2008
- Description
- James H. Smith (1927- ) grew up in Canarsie, New York, where his mother worked at a bakery and his father worked at a gas station. Smith was unable to serve in World War II because of his 4-F status, but instead began working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard at age 16 or 17 as an outside machinist. He left the Yard when his family moved to Long Island, where he worked at his father’s gas station. Smith ended up working at Grumman Aerospace doing flight testing and remained with the company for 39 years before retiring. During his interview, Smith discusses his work at the Yard as an outside machinist. He describes his job as a gofer, running to get tools and coffee for others, and lending a hand where needed with mechanical work. Smith talks about security at the Yard, seeing the progress the ships made when he left every day, and similarities between working at Grumman Aerospace and the Navy Yard. He also describes damaged ships returning from war, getting tools from the tool crib, social interactions during his lunch hour, and being in awe of the size of the ships. Smith was upset with his 4-F status and explains how disappointed he was to leave the Navy Yard where he felt he was contributing to the war effort.
- Related Collection
- Brooklyn Navy Yard Oral History Project
- Subjects
- Labor and Yard Workers, Security
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