Ewell Lee Smith, Jr.
First Lieutenant, U. S. Army
Distinguished Service Cross
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, Ninth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 26 (1944)
CITATION:
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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Ewell Lee Smith, Jr., United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer of an Infantry Company of the 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 20 July 1944, in France.
In an attack on le Bois de la Roche, France, an entire company was stopped by a heavy artillery barrage. It was imperative that the left flank assault platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Smith, drive on regardless of casualties, or the entire company would suffer heavily. Withstanding this artillery shelling and constantly exposing himself to merciless machine gun and small arms fire, Lieutenant Smith moved among his men, encouraging them and urging them on. Despite heavy casualties, the platoon advanced upon the enemy, driving forward with inspired aggressiveness. During this drive, Lieutenant Smith was seriously wounded. Heedless of his own personal safety and disregarding his wound, he continued to display coolheaded, courageous leadership as he placed his remaining men in position. As the result of this daring drive by Lieutenant Smith and his platoon, the company was able to push on to their objective and only after reinforcements arrived would he permit himself to be evacuated to safety. Second Lieutenant Smith's intrepid actions, 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, the 2d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.