Harold Dean Smith
Captain, U.S. Army

Harold Dean Smith was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss, TX, on 2 February 1941. After Basic Training, he participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers during the period 9 August - 3 October, 1941. Smith then attended the Armor Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox, KY, where, upon completion in January 1942, he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Armor. Second Lieutenant Smith was assigned to the 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, U.S. Army, and landed in North Africa on 8 November 1942 as part of Operation Torch.

In August 1944, now-Captain Smith was serving as Commanding Officer, Reconnaissance Company, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, U.S. Army.

On 6 August, CPT Smith’s unit was in action against German forces near St. Sever Calvados, Normandy, France. CPT Smith, due to the tactical situation, left his company and moved forward on foot to reconnoiter the strong German positions. As he approached a crossroad held by the Germans, CPT Smith was met by heavy enemy fire and the friendly infantry that had been attacking these positions suffered severe casualties. CPT Smith proposed to carry a number of the wounded infantrymen to a position of comparative safety and remained in this work of assisting the wounded after all the friendly troops had withdrawn. A short time later, CPT Smith returned to his company, calmly resumed command, and began to execute a new mission assigned to his company. CPT Smith’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 13 September 1944, CPT Smith's unit was near the Albert Canal and the Maas (Meuse) River at Hasselt, Belgium. CPT Smith was leading a reconnaissance patrol toward the bank of the Albert Canal in order to observe an artillery mission on the Germans across the Canal. CPT Smith was killed when he was struck by a sniper round near his heart.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and Silver Star
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Cavalry) Harold Dean Smith (ASN: 0-452646), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, Reconnaissance Company, 67th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 August 1944. Captain Smith, due to the tactical situation at hand, left his company and went forward on foot to reconnoiter strong enemy positions. Approaching a crossroad strongly held by the enemy, he was met by heavy enemy fire. Friendly infantry which had been attacking these positions had suffered severe casualties. He proposed to carry a number of the wounded infantrymen to comparative safety and remained in this work of assisting the wounded after all friendly troops had withdrawn. A short time later, he returned to his company, and calmly resumed command, proceeding with the execution of a mission newly assigned to his company.

Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 23 (February 23, 1945)

Burial

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56285644/harold-d-smith