Actor Kurtwood Smith's Father WWII

[patches]

Kurtwood Smith, were sure most are familiar with him, in a ton of stuff over the years in Movies and TV, Dead Poets Society movie, Star Trek VI movie etc etc.  like playing Colonel Hiram Berdan the founder of the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters in TV miniseries  North and South etc etc. The 70s Show TV comedy etc etc 

 

Well wasn't aware at all on this, but his Father, George A. Smith was a AC Pilot in WWII, a Transport Pilot and was KIA in Operation Varsity, as a Major, and was Posthumously Awarded the Distinguished  Service Cross., he was C.O. of the 49th Troop Carrier Squadron.

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=49443

 

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/32836

[patches]

He's still rests in Holland, Kurtwood apparently visits often, or fairly often. He was downed over Germany, but as we know, no American was buried permanently on German soil.

[OIF-Retread]

MAJ Smith was the CO of the 49th, had been in the Army Air Force for 4 years, and was posthumously awarded the DSC for valor. According to one account, despite being hit by flak and having an engine on fire, he kept his course so that the paratroopers and his flight crew were able to bail out. The plane went out of control and crashed before he and his co-pilot could get out.

 

He was only 22 years old at the time of his death. Like Frederic March says in 'The Bridges of Toko Ri': "Where do we get such men?"