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World War II veteran honored on 72nd anniversary of D-Day

Franklin Square resident receives prestigious medal from French chevalier

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General Thomas Owens, center, congratulates Captain Harold Smith, left, with Colonel Maureen Murphy applauding him.
General Thomas Owens, center, congratulates Captain Harold Smith, left, with Colonel Maureen Murphy applauding him.
Nakeem Grant/Herald

June 6th marked the 72nd anniversary of D-Day, the Allied forces invasion of Normandy, France during World War II. U.S. Army Air Forces Captain Harold W. Smith received the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and the Jubilee of Liberty Medal at the Garden Care Center in Franklin Square, NY for his services during D-Day helping to liberate France from Germany.

Captain Smith, 98, was a navigator for the 448th Bomb Group for the U.S. Army Air Forces, a branch of the military that was created at the start of the war and disbanded in 1947. Smith flew 30 missions with this crew, leading them in bombing strikes on places such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Fredrichshaven, and Munich. He and his crew were commonly the lead aircraft during most of their combat missions and on June 6, 1944, they led the bombing at Normandy, inhibiting German troops from aiding their fellow soldiers on the battlefield. Colonel de la Réserve Citoyenne Frédéric Vigneron explained that men like Captain Smith are worthy of this honor.

“It didn’t matter where you came from, it didn’t matter where your background was, it didn’t matter how lowly of a station you started with in life,” Vigneron said. “If you have the strength of character, the courage, the initiative to make something out of yourself and to fight your country, you would be recognized.”

Captain Smith expressed a great deal of gratitude towards Vigneron for receiving this award.

“This is such a great honor to receive this from France,” Harold Smith said. “They have been so necessary for the United States to be independent. They helped us so much and I am very grateful that they would honor me in this way.”

Colonel Maureen G. Murphy, Air Director of Staff for the New York National Guard opened Captain Smith’s ceremony. She noted that this was just two of many medals that Smith has acquired over the years for his duties as a navigator.

“His military records and declarations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the three Oak Leaf Clusters, the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, and the Victory Medal for World War II,” Murphy said.

Harold Smith and his son, Bruce had found out about the potential to receive this honor when they stumbled upon an old magazine that listed the requirements needed to earn it.

“We became aware of this only towards the end of last year,” Smith said. “He was reading one of his veteran magazines from the Eighth Air Force and he pointed out to me, ‘Oh look here, it says something about how some people may be able to get the French Legion of Honor.’”

Bruce later explained that he was able to contact the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and he submitted his father’s documentation that was stored in his collection of belongings. Once it became official, he stated that he was proud of his father and surprised to see the support that he received from the U.S. Air Force.

“At this point in his life to be receiving an honor like that, I can’t express it,” Bruce said. “I’m stunned at how all the military people from the Air Force came here. He has always been and still remains the best father that anyone can expect to have.”

Brigadier General Thomas Owens, Assistant Adjutant General for Air for the New York National Guard bestowed Captain Smith with the Jubilee of Liberty Medal. This medal is awarded to U.S. veterans in remembrance of the 50th anniversary for D-Day on June 6th, 1994. Owens felt privileged to be a part of this ceremony.

“Our World War II vets are extraordinary especially with the caliber of Captain Smith,” Owens said. “They’re national treasures. It’s really and truly a very high honor just to be in his presence here. I think it’s great that the recognition and honor did come and that the rest of us are just able to be a part of it.”

Owens stated that we should all know the history of the people that put their lives on the line to protect the U.S.

“It’s important that we remember our history so we look for events like this to recognize and continue that legacy which is important,” Owens said. “As a pilot myself in the Air Force, I just can’t imagine what they all went through. The jets that I have flown have sophisticated electronic systems and all kinds of protection. They didn’t have that and so I think it’s important to convey that to the next generation. The generations that came before us sacrificed a great debt so that we can have what we have today.”

Bruce also attested to the dangers that people like his father went through during WWII.

“He was in the air war during the most treacherous time,” Smith said. “Something like only 20% of the crews would complete their combat tour. The Eighth Air Force had more fatalities than the entire U.S. Marine Core in World War II.”

On a day where battles raged between countries, Captain Smith and his allies were eager to fight for their country.

“Everybody was happy,” Smith said. “We knew that something was happening, something big. We suspected it was the invasion. In fact, the day before D-Day, we all thought that something would happen.”

He also stated that people who weren’t members of the combat team wanted to join in on the fight as well.

“Everybody wanted to fly that day,” Smith said. “Even the pastor, the priest, the cooks and the chefs. And some of them did.”

Captain Smith flew his last combat mission about a week later on June 12, 1944. He left the military in 1947, settled down and got married in the same year, and worked as a banker for the United National Bank in Queens, NY. He retired from banking in 1976 and lived in Elmont, NY until moving to Franklin Square in 1986. He stated that he doesn’t remember very much about all of his years in the military, but he shared one moment that really stood out to him.

“I think the main thing that when the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor, the country drew together so closely that we were like one person,” Smith said. “We were all going in the same direction. Everybody pulled for everybody else and we knew that we had to win. There was no alternative and that’s the great thing about us.”