USS America's Birthday - 1984

Whether it be sheer luck or divine providence, one of our association members discovered the rough draft of the birthday speech delivered by ADM Smith (Then CAPT Smith,  the current AMERICA CO) believed to be sometime in January 1984. We've contacted ADM Smith and based on his recollection, this is believed to be a genuine draft of his speech. 

We've included the transcript of his speech below. A PDF of the actual speech draft can be found at the bottom of the page. Thank you ADM Smith for allowing us to share your speech and CVA's Walt Waite for your keen eye in it's discovery!

" Happy Birthday AMERICA...

       What a great day – and what a great lady you are.

       You know – we share a lot of experiences ...

       I’ve been on active duty just a couple of years longer than you. I guess we sort of grew up together.

      In fact, I first saw you in your infancy: I sat right over there, somewhat in awe, as the man who is responsible for my joining you in our Navy and has retired. What an impressive ceremony- you all gussied up in your finery. Later, when you

were just a few years older I cruised with you to the Med and then to the Tonkin Gulf off Vietnam. There was plenty of excitement there, I’ll tell you. Wasn’t it great- seeing those POW’s flying out. Lots of tears of joy were shed there.

      You know young lady – we’ve seen a lot together haven’t we. Some good – some not.

      We’ve heard those now historical words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon.

      We were stunned when Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King fell to a gunman’s bullet. Now, we wonder when and how it will all end when Anwar Sadat and Indira Ghandi were struck down.

      We’ve seen five presidents – Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and now President Reagan, all of whom have counted on you and will count on you to continue telling your story.

      Our hearts sank when the hostages were taken in Iran, but swelled with pride in our countrymen when they came home with dignity.

      We saw a dark period in our history when our countrymen began revolting against the “establishment”. They defamed our flag, burned their draft cards and professed to have all the answers. But common sense and responsible men prevailed and we’re back now to where pride, professionalism and patriotism mean something.

      We saw Vietnam end, Czechoslovakia and Afghanistan go, Yom Kippur and Grenada. We witnessed the Camp David accords and Beriut and terrorism.

      Famous people paraded through history, Joe Namath, Henry Kissinger, Burt Reynolds, Lady Di, Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Arnold Palmer and the Bear, Mary Lou Retton and Margaret Thatcher and so many others.

      We’ve watched proudly as our Navy and country began recognizing and judging men and women for what they can do, what they can contribute rather than basing that judgement on their race, color or creed.

      We’ve shared tears, as we’ve remembered those who once walked your decks but will not pass this way again –                                      

             Chris Mason
             Jim Hall
             Steve Musselman
             Jim Sullivan
             Mike DeBartolomeo
             Larry Golden
             and more…..

      We saw Watergate shake the foundations of our country – but as always we saw our country overcome adversity, regain her strength and resume her position of world leadership.

      We’ve marveled at medical advances, heart transplants and now even artificial hearts. Wonder if we’ll ever see a cure for the common cold.

      You’ve seen, dear lady, 15 Commanding Officers – two of whom have joined us this morning to celebrate your 20^th birthday.                                                 

              RADM Heyworth
              CAPT Meyer

      They are joined by Admiral Page Smith, Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet when you came on the line.

      And with them are so many special guests – Plank-owners we call them. They’re the folks who breathed life into you, warmed your cold deck plates and infused you with a personality all your own. They gave your life meaning and helped you tell your own story.

     Yes, young lady – we’ve seen a lot. And through it all, you really haven’t aged a bit. You’ve still got it all.

      Kings and Queens, Heads of State, Princes and Princesses have toured your decks. Thousands of others from all countries and walks of life have too. And they all exclaim and marvel over your beauty, grace and power.

      I expect you still swell with pride when you recall that exciting day 20 years ago. What a thrill it must have been as your first crew sprang to their station, setting the first watch to the strands of Anchors Aweigh. That was a proud day for them too – and what must have been the thoughts of your first Captain.                                                               

      No doubt he’d tell us that he had the very best crew that could ever be assembled –

      Well, I’m not in the habit of disputing my seniors – but I’d sure offer my opinion that the men who man you today are every bit as good –

      They’re proud men – men who work hard – who have never let either one of us down. They’re eager, full of enthusiasm and spirit. They know that war is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things. Far worse is the man who holds nothing sacred, nothing so dear that he would fight and sacrifice for them. For he is a pitiful soul who is made and kept free by the men who continue to breath life into you. 

      Proud and patriotic blood courses through their veins. They remind me of the men Theodore Roosevelt must have been thinking of when he wrote 

      “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points how strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”  THEODORE ROOSEVELT

      And I’m so proud of every one of them.

      Well, AMERICA, you have told your story all right and what a story it’s been, and the years ahead will record that you continued to do so because of the very unique men who make you what you are.

      Happy Birthday, Dear Lady – and many more happy returns of the day – and God Bless AMERICA!!!!!

      Will you please stand and join me in singing America the Beautiful..."         

    ** To view the full draft of the speech, click here to download the PDF.