David R. Smith
Deck Dept
Vice-President

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Captain Dave Smith, Vice-President of Project Liberty Ship, died on November 21, 2006, of complications following surgery, at age 79.

Captain David R. Smith served in four wars in a nearly 50-year career as a mariner that spanned both the Navy and merchant service. He was born in Reading, MA, the son of a mariner, and was raised there and in Beverly, MA, and Warwick, RI. He said that he always wanted to go to sea.

He began his maritime career in 1943 when he went to work as a welder in the Walsh Kaiser Shipyard in Providence, RI. Two years later he enlisted in the Navy during the waning days of World War II. As a commissioned Navy officer for 12 years, he served as an executive officer, salvage and diving officer, and chief engineer aboard a destroyer. During the Vietnam War he saw combat while serving aboard patrol boats and as an adviser to the Vietnamese. While in the Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Rhode Island in 1957 and did graduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University's Maritime Institute of Technology.

Retiring from the Navy in 1970 with the rank of lieutenant commander, Captain Smith became a merchant marine licensed master of steam and motor vessels of any gross tons. For the next 21 years he served as second mate, chief mate and captain aboard tankers and cargo and container ships. His final voyages were made in 1991 during the first Gulf War, when he made three round trips from Baltimore as captain of the SS CAPE ALEXANDER that was transporting jeeps and Bradley fighting vehicles to Saudi Arabia.

After leaving the sea, Captain Smith became the owner of Allcargo Inc. and co-owner of Marserv Inc., two maritime consulting and surveying firms. He was also the national secretary/treasurer of the Council of American Master Mariners. Captain Smith was often called as an expert witness in maritime cases and testified in the EXXON VALDEZ disaster.

Upon retiring, Dave became active in Project Liberty Ship. His broad experience in maritime matters made him a valuable asset in addressing the many issues involved in the preservation and operation of the JOHN W. BROWN. His numerous contacts and the respect he enjoyed in the maritime field opened many doors for Project Liberty Ship.

He is survived by two sons and a daughter, two stepsons and a stepdaughter, and six grandchildren. His wife, the former Joan Franklin Burgess, died in 2002. Dave was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.