Ira Maynard Smith

Ira enlisted on June 10, 1943 in Ft. Leavenworth,KS as a Private in the U.S. Army. He served in the 13th Armored Division (known as the Black Cats). He was in C Company 46 Tank. He fought in the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket and in the drive through Bavaria. They captured more than 20,000 prisoners and an additional 19,000 in Bavaria. They freed 14,000 Allied POW's. He served under General George Patton. His company also captured Hitler's birthplace of Braunau am Inn in Austria and the command post was set up in the house where Hitler was born. Ira held 2 battle stars.