Naval History and Heritage Command

Description: Collection of 35 photographs from 1949-1951 related to the naval service of CAPT (then LCDR) Thomas P. Smith, officer-in-charge of the US Naval Station, Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. Smith was the station legal officer, handling all legal problems involving the command and its personnel. As officer-in-charge of the US Naval Reservation, which included the administration of the town of Ologapo and its 18,000 Filipino inhabitants, Smith acted as liaison with Filipino officials regarding the arrest, trial and release of United States naval personnel by Filipino officials. The photographs in the collection consist of several official portraits of Smith, as LCDR and later as Captain, but the majority relate to social events in Ologapo. Events include dances on base; private dinners with the local town council members; ceremony involving the laying of the cornerstone of the new Catholic Church; inauguration of the US Naval Reservation’s Saw Mill; farewell party for LtCol George B. Thomas; welcome dinner for CDR Albin, Jr., CAPT J.T. Brown, and LCDR C.O. Lowe – LCDR Smith is in all the photographs. LCDR Smith’s wife is also present in several of the views. There are a few scenes of local village life and buildings (most likely in Ologapo).