Born April 22nd 1882, Washington D.C.
Died December 31st 1959 Wilmington, Delaware
Educated in the Washington public schools in Columbian (now George Washington) University. He became a salesman and arrived in Hawaii in November 1912 to manage an automotive parts and tire business. He worked for Schuman Carriage Company, Kahuku Plantation and as an independent manufacturers agent. He served with the U.S. Naval Reserve and later with the National Guard of Hawaii. During World War I he served as a Captain U.S. infantry from April 1917 to October 1920.
He was appointed adjutant general on Aug. 25, 1923 by Gov. Farrington. As such he supervised the federalization of the Guard in 1940 and organized the Territorial Guard in December of 1941. In the meantime in December 1940 he was appointed Territorial Select Service Director and he could not hold both positions he was relieved as Commander of the Territorial Guard. He was released as Selective Service Director in February 1944 and from active status in the Army on Aug. 2,1945. He assumed his office of Adjutant General, but apparently without the authorization of Gov. Stainback. No funds were available and the Guard had not been reactivated, but he claimed his right to his former position by federal law. In August 1946 the Territory finally paid him for one year service and he retired.
He moved to the mainland after his retirement and died in a veteransʻ hospital in Delaware.
Last updated October 1965
Upon recommendation of the Governor of Hawaii to the President of the United States, Colonel F. W. Makinney, USA, Ret’d had been recommended for the position as Adjutant General, Territory of Hawaii to relieve Colonel Perry M. Smoot upon expiration of his term on August 8, 1946. Colonel Smoot had held this post for the past twentyfour years. The appointment of Colonel Makinney waa approved by the President and so published in War Department Orders by Paragraph 7, Special Order 146, dated 2 July 1946.
– 1946-1947 Annual Report pp. 4
Hawaii’s AG Past to Present
Perry M. Smoot served Hawaii for 23 years as adjutant general, 1923–1946. Born in 1882 in Washington, D.C., Smoot came to Hawaii to manage an auto parts and tire business. Working for Schuman Carriage (when they still had carriages) and Kahuku Plantation, sometime before World War I he joined the Hawaii National Guard. He went on active duty in 1917 and served as an infantry captain.
Gov. Farrington appointed Smoot adjutant general on Aug. 25, 1923. Among other things, he supervised the federalization of the Hawaii National Guard in 1940 and organized the Territorial Guard in December 1941. He was appointed Territorial Selective Service Director and relieved of the command of the Territorial Guard.
In August 1945, Smoot was released from active duty and resumed his position as adjutant general. However, he did that apparently without the okay of Gov. Stainback. Smoot said he was entitled to his old job under federal law. In August 1946, the Territory paid him for one year’s services, and he retired. He died in a veterans’ hospital in Delaware in 1959.
– 1982 Summer Pūpūkahi pp. 3-4