Don Smith: Have cause, will travel

PINE RIVER - In a 30-year U.S. Navy career Don Smith visited 80 foreign countries, yet after retirement he settled about a stone's throw away from his rural Pine River birthplace.

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Retired from the Navy since July of 1987, Smith is back to his traveling ways in his role as American Legion Sixth District commander in Minnesota. His district stretches from Wadena to Hill City and from Elk River to Baudette. Smith said he's put 50,000 miles on his car since his June election as commander.

Don Smith of rural Pine River talked about his travels and activities as American Legion commander of Minnesota's Sixth District. Smith spent 30 years in the U.S. Navy before returning to his Pine River home.

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Increasing membership at a time when World War II and Korean War veterans are becoming less active or departing from the scene all together is his biggest goal this year.

"I'm not out to win any trophies but my goal is to see our district grow, if only by one member," he said. "In numbers is strength."

Nationwide, American Legion membership is about 2.5 million people compared to a membership of about 3 million in the mid-1990s. Increased membership translates to increased clout when the organization's national leaders advocate on behalf of veterans, he said.

Legion clubs in Brainerd, Walker and Bemidji have experienced success in recruiting younger veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Smith said. At times,

he said, the music in the club will tell you how successful the recruitment efforts have been.

Don Smith

Age: 70.

Residence: Rural Pine River.

Family: Wife, Wenonah; many children and stepchildren. His wife, Ruth, passed away in 2001.

Pets: A stray, deaf cat named Sugar.

Hobbies: Fixing small engines in his shop, gardening, fishing.

Member of: Fraser-Nelson American Legion Post 613 in Pine River.

Enjoys: Working with young people as executive officer for Boy Scout Troop 73 and Cub Scout Pack 3073 and as an adviser for Boys State, a Legion program.

Best advice: His father told him, If you like what you're doing you ought to stick with it.

"If you're my age you need ear plugs," the 70-year-old Smith said. "They (the younger veterans) don't want to hear that oom-pah-pah music."

Sometimes American Legion members don't join until their late 30s or 40s, he said. They get busy with work and raising their families, Smith explained.

The American Legion has a variety of programs that serve members and non-members alike. Individual clubs provide assistance to the families of any deployed armed forces member. Examples he cited of potential problems were a refrigerator that breaks down or a plumbing problem. The American Legion also supports programs to help veterans deal with brain, spinal and other injuries.

"We don't blow our horn enough or brag enough," he said.

One encouraging sign Smith has observed is that the Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are receiving a much better welcome home than he and his other Vietnam War veterans received.

Smith served aboard the USS Enterprise on two 13-month tours of duty in Vietnam in 1965-66 and in 1966-67. They were separated by only a 90-day stint in the U.S. When he came home in 1966 the mayor of San Francisco presented sailors with the key to the city. When he returned home in 1967, they were advised to be as low key as possible.

"They advised us not to wear uniforms ... to wear civvies."

Friends of Smith were called baby killers by some people, upon returning to the U.S. from Vietnam. The public is much more supportive of its military members today.

"They've gotten better educated," Smith said of the public. "This guy and gal (in the military) is just doing their job. They may not want to be there. Let's face it. Who wants to get shot at?"

Last Veterans Day stood out in his memory as an example of how the attitude of the public has changed toward the military. He drove to Zimmerman and stopped at a coffee shop before going to a Legion function. He was wearing "Retired Navy" and a "District Commander" lapel pins and the cashier wouldn't let him pay for his coffee and cookie.

"You paid by serving," she told him.

On his way back home he stopped at the Little Falls Perkins where a family in a nearby booth noticed his Navy pin and engaged him in discussion because they had a family member who also had served on the USS Enterprise. When Smith prepared to leave the restaurant the waitress told him that the family had paid his bill. He said he felt humbled by the two generous gestures.

"It was just shocking to be treated that way," he said. "When it was fresh we weren't treated that way.

"That was my Veterans Day," he said.

Smith moved back to rural Pine River to be near his mother, who will turn 91 in February. His shop now sits on the site of the log home with no indoor plumbing where he was born.

During his time in the Navy, Smith did photo reconnaissance work, retiring with the rank of senior chief photographer, E-8.

"I didn't take pretty pictures," he said.

Smith had lost touch with many of his former Pine River area classmates. The first high school reunion he was able to attend was his 30th, after he retired from the Navy.

"I missed all my class reunions," he said. "The Navy wouldn't cooperate."

He said the Navy was good to him, providing him with a considerable amount of training and a college education.

His decision to join the Navy resulted from the difficult time he had finding a job after high school. He remembered traveling to Duluth and not finding anyone willing to hire him.

"I thought I'd whipped the world with my high school diploma but I didn't impress anyone," he said. "I went in (the Navy) that fall. I was just frustrated. I couldn't find a job."

MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.