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Center for Brooklyn History Finding Aids
Guide to the Brooklyn Navy Yard oral history collection ARC.003

Oral History Interview with James Smith, June 27, 2008, inclusive

Scope and Contents

During his interview, James H. Smith (1927- ) discusses his work at the Navy 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 Navy 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. Interview conducted by Sady Sullivan.

Biographical / Historical

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 WWII because of his 4-F status, but instead began working at the Navy Yard at 16 or 17 as an outside machinist. He left when his family moved to Long Island, New York, where he worked at his father's gas station. Smith ended up working at Grumman Aerospace doing flight testing and remained for 39 years until he retired.

Conditions Governing Access

This interview can be accessed onsite at Brooklyn Historical Society's Othmer Library and online at the Oral History Portal.

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Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
https://bklynlibrary.org/cbh