Harold G. SMITH

Map of St James American Cemetery

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain (Cavalry) Harold G. SMITH (ASN: 0-400865), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Combat Command "B", 6th Armored Division, in action in France on 7 August 1944.

Learning of an enemy observation post, he organized and led a small group of officers and enlisted men to capture and destroy the post. His action enabled his command, which had been shelled by enemy artillery, to advance but cost him his life. His devotion to duty and courage reflect great credit on himself and the military service.

General Orders: Headquarters, 6th Armored Division, General Orders No. 23 (August 20, 1944)

Memorial Lormeau. 75 names on a monument

The memorial pays tribute to Lormeau 75 Americans killed during the fighting for the liberation of Plabennec and Plouvien 8 and 9 August 1944.

Located in the countryside, on the road between Plabennec Gouesnou, Lormeau the memorial was initiated by the local veterans and opened in 2009 and is dedicated to the American liberators.

Author of several books on the subject, Louis Bothorel, plouviennois a writer, did a great job which allowed to find the names of 75 fallen GI's during those bloody days.

Headquarters:Albert C. BURRAGE*, Edward R. MILLAR*, Harold G. SMITH 
50th AIB:Raymond DURKEN*, Max LEBIDA*
44^th AIB:Mikael BALOCK*, John A. BANTON, William J. BLANCK*, Jay D. BLODGETT*, William E. BURCK, Clifford J. BYE*, Joseph F. CAPELLO, Earnest R. CARSON*, Almond CHANDLER*, Philip CHILDS*, Frank H. CROWDER, Rufus E. DAVIS, William J. FERRY, Leslie D. FORRESTER, James W. GILBERT Jr.*, William E. GRAY*, Lowell A. GOEBEL*, James A. GRUBBS*, Adler H. HAMMER*, John HEILMAN*, Walter M. HOST*, Lawrence W. HUFFMON*, Raymond A. KEILLEY*, Jacob KLEMM, Franck D. KUKUC*, Joseph LAKATOS, Sidney LONDON*, Marion C. MAREK*, Frank J. Mc HALOL, Charley E. MORRIS, Donald C. MUTTALL*,William ORBAN, Darrel F. ROBERTS*, Walter H. STEVENS, Thomas R. SMITH*, James W. TANNER, Paul W. TYMCZYSZYN, John W. WATTS, William P. WHIRLEY, James L. WILSON*
9^th AIB:Earnest P. BELL, Oscar F. BLAIR*, John W. DALEY*, Wesley E. FERTCH, Donald S. NOHREN, Glenn E. RILAND, Frank J. SHOMAN, James A. THARP*
15^th TB:Martin J. P. BAKKE*, Georges W. COCKS*, Paul DENITTI*, Joseph WAGNER*
68^th TB:Stanley J. KOWALCIK
69^th TB:Jesse H. BROWN*, Robert A. CLARK, William J. MOORE, Ralph E. LAKE, John W. SHEI, Andy J. ZOFIE Jr.
128^th FA:Joseph H. BROGGER, Stanley A. BOOTH*
212^th FA:Russell H. CLEMENT, Clarence L. ADAMS
231^th FA:Willard MARLOW*, Rosario J. POTVIN*
25^th ENGR:Frank PECERA*, Louis J. PELLERIN*, Eric ZIEGELSTEIN*
86^th CAV RECON:Rene J. GREINIER, Robert M. PRICE*

* Buried in Brittany American Cemetery of St. James.

6^th ARMORED DIVISION - SUPER 6^th

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
15 Feb 1942	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  272
	Casualties/Victimes  4 670
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
28 Jul 1944 at Normandy
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. William H. H. Morris, Jr. (Feb 42 - May 43) Maj. Gen. Robert W. Grow (May 43 - Apr 45) Brig. Gen. George W. Read Jr. (Apr 45 - May 45) Maj. Gen. Robert W. Grow (Jun 45 - Jun 45) Brig. Gen. George W. Read, Jr. (Jul 45 - inactivation)	Campaigns/Campagnes Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44) Northern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44) Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45) Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45) Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
DIVISION CHRONICLE After continuing its training in England, the 6th Armored Division landed on Utah Beach in Normandy, 18 July 1944, and went on the offensive in the Cotentin Peninsula, driving through Avranches, and moving on to take part in the liberation of Brest and the clearing of the Brittany Peninsula. In mid-August the Division moved down to Lorient. The 6th then turned east and cut across France, reaching the Saar in November. It crossed the Nied River 11-12 November, against strong opposition, reaching the German border on 6 December, and established and maintained defensive positions in the vicinity of Saarbrucken. On 23 December the Division was ordered north of Metz to take part in the Battle of the Bulge, and took over a sector along the south bank of the Sauer River. The 6th was heavily engaged in the battle for Bastogne, finally driving the enemy back across the our River into Germany by late January. After a short period of rehabilitation, the Division resumed the offensive, penetrated the Siegfried Line, crossed the Prum, reached the Rhine River at Worms 21 March, and set up a counterreconnaissance screen along its west bank. The 6th crossed the Rhine at Oppenheim 25 March, drove on to Frankfurt, crossed the Main, captured BadNauheim, and continued to advance eastward, and surrounded and captured Muhlhausen 4-5 April 1945. After repulsing a light counterattack, it moved forward 60 miles to cross the Saale River and assisted in freeing Allied prisoners of war and the notorious German Concentration Camp at Buchenwald. The Division raced on, took Leipzig, crossed the Mulde River at Rochlitz 15 April 1945, and stopped, pending the arrival of the Russian Army. Defensive positions along the Mulde River were held until the end of hostilities in Europe.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Après avoir poursuivi son entraînement en Angleterre, la 6ème division blindée a atterri sur Utah Beach en Normandie, le 18 juillet 1944, et est passée à l'offensive dans la péninsule du Cotentin, traversant Avranches et participant à la libération de Brest et de la clairière. de la péninsule bretonne. À la mi-août, la division a déménagé à Lorient. Le 6ème a ensuite tourné vers l'est et traversé la France pour atteindre la Sarre en novembre. Elle a traversé la rivière Nied du 11 au 12 novembre, contre une forte opposition, atteignant la frontière allemande le 6 décembre, et a établi et maintenu des positions défensives à proximité de Sarrebruck. Le 23 décembre, la division reçoit l'ordre au nord de Metz de prendre part à la bataille des Ardennes et reprend un secteur le long de la rive sud de la rivière Sauer. Le 6 a été fortement engagé dans la bataille pour Bastogne, conduisant finalement l’ennemi à traverser la rivière vers l’Allemagne vers la fin janvier. Après une courte période de réhabilitation, la division reprend l’offensive, pénètre dans la ligne Siegfried, traverse le Prum, atteint le Rhin à Worms le 21 mars et installe un écran de contre-reconnaissance le long de sa rive ouest. Le 6 mars franchit le Rhin à Oppenheim le 25 mars, poursuivit sa route vers Francfort, traversa le Main, captura Bad Nauheim et continua d'avancer vers l'est et encercla et captura Muhlhausen les 4 et 5 avril 1945. Après avoir repoussé une contre-attaque légère, traverser la Saale et aider à libérer les prisonniers de guerre alliés et le tristement célèbre camp de concentration allemand de Buchenwald. La division a couru, a pris Leipzig, a traversé la rivière Mulde à Rochlitz le 15 avril 1945 et s'est arrêtée, en attendant l'arrivée de l'armée russe. Des positions défensives le long de la rivière Mulde ont été maintenues jusqu'à la fin des hostilités en Europe.