Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Armor)

    Batallion:

    68th Tank Battalion

    Division:

    6th Armored Division

    Action Date:

    November 14– 15, 1944

    Headquarters, THIRD U.S. Army, General Orders No. 115 (December 22, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Armor) Daniel Elwood Smith, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer of Company C, 68th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division, in action against enemy forces during the advance against Landdorf, France, on 14 – 15 November 1944. While serving as his Battalion’s Operations Officer, Captain Smith was assigned the mission of taking over a tank force advance guard in a French town near the German border, the previous commander having been wounded and evacuated. Upon reaching the town, Captain Smith quickly organized his force to meet a probably enemy counterattack. He moved among his troops, disposing them in defensive positions, without regard to continuous and heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. The Germans counterattacked at dusk. As one group of enemy infantry approached a defensive road block, Captain Smith killed two with pistol fire and his men killed the others. He then climbed on top of a tank and directed effective artillery fire which broke up the attack. There was another counterattack shortly after midnight and a considerable force of Germans filtered into the town in the darkness. Heavy, close fighting developed and continued for four hours and Captain Smith was constantly engaged with the enemy. On one occasion he encountered a German soldier bout to throw a grenade into one of the defending tank destroyers. Captain Smith attacked him, although he was out of ammunition, and another soldier shot the German. Later Captain Smith detected an enemy machine gunner menacing the town’s defenses, advanced against him, silenced the gun with a grenade, shot a nearby German soldier and killed with the butt of his pistol a third who leaped upon him. Captain Smith and an enlisted man were wounded at dawn while attempting to rescue another soldier who lay exposed to intense enemy fire. Despite his own wound, he coolly evacuated the wounded enlisted man and continued to direct the defense of the town during the day and night of 15 November. Captain Smith repeatedly demonstrated outstanding heroism, fearless determination and supreme devotion to duty. His extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.