Tribute to Robert E. Smith
Robert E. Smith served as a map maker for the D-Day invasion of France under SHAEF Headquarters. He landed on Omaha beach in the afternoon of June 6th and was almost immediately hit by a sniper's bullet in the heel of his boot. The sniper's round came from a French woman shooting from a neighboring church steeple. A tank round to the steeple killed the woman, which U.S. forces left in place for a few days as a reminder to GI's that not all French people were happy to be liberated.
Prior to Mr. Smith's service as a map maker, he was a vehicle mechanic. After the war, Mr. Smith went on to become a full colonel and commanded the Wichita Junior ROTC detachment, after which he retired from the Army. He was also an architect and designed several recognizable buildings in Wichita, Kansas, including having a hand in the design of Century II in downtown Wichita.
This Tribute is under construction.
Submitted by Allen Cooley (friend)
Updated 12/15/08