Nearly 75 years later, a local American war hero finally got what has been long overdue.

Ninety-six-year-old Clarence Smoyer was awarded the Bronze Star on Wednesday in recognition for his heroic achievement in a combat zone.

In a standoff between his Eagle 7 tank and a German Panther tank on a street in Cologne, Germany, in 1945, Smoyer destroyed the tank with three shells, leaving it on fire and incapacitated.

A surprise for Smoyer

Smoyer’s story has been chronicled in a best-selling book titled “Spearhead,” by Adam Makos, who was the master of ceremonies Wednesday at the World War II Memorial where the medal ceremony took place.

Makos began by apologizing to Smoyer for tricking him into coming to Washington, D.C., making him think he was attending a book signing at the Pentagon.

Adding to Smoyer’s surprise was the presence of family members of each of his now deceased crew who were also receiving the medals, other distinguished members of the Army who were present in Cologne on March 6 and Frank Buck from Gettysburg, who brought a full-sized replica of an Eagle 7 to Washington to honor Smoyer and his crew.

Deserving the attention

Makos spoke about the popularity that Smoyer, originally from Lehighton who now lives in Allentown with his daughter, Cindy, is enjoying because of his many book tours, and now more acclaim will come after the medal ceremony.

“Clarence, the gentle giant, who destroyed five German tanks in all, called his crew his family locked in a sardine can,” Makos said. “He would tell himself, ‘Don’t miss, don’t miss’ when he fired at the enemy.” Smoyer’s “family” were Homer Davis from Kentucky; William McVey from Michigan; John DeRiggi from Levittown, Pennsylvania; and Bob Earley from Minnesota.

“He still calls himself the same old guy after 75 years have passed, but with all this recent attention, he’s getting model tanks sent to him by schoolchildren and given boxes of fudge, his favorite candy.

“He doesn’t have to pay for parking tickets, and maybe the best of everything are the kisses he’s getting from plenty of women.”

Recalling the day of heroes

On the sixth day of March in 1945, Smoyer and his crew operated the experimental Eagle 7 equipped with a 90 mm gun.

Makos told the audience that Smoyer volunteered to take charge of eliminating any Nazi resistance that still remained after the war had been declared over.

“Clarence simply said, ‘We belong out front,’ ” said Makos, who then detailed the events of that afternoon.

“Army cameraman Jim Bates, who won a Bronze Star for his film footage of that afternoon, captured the standoff of tanks. They stood muzzle to muzzle, 70 yards apart. Clarence fired first, a direct hit on the Panther engine bay. He fired two more shells until the tank burned.”

Unknown to Smoyer and his men, all the Germans escaped the flaming tank, and 67 years later he would meet the German gunner on a return trip to Cologne.

Why did getting the Star take so long?

The question that needs an answer is why it took nearly 75 years for Clarence Smoyer to receive the Bronze Star.

Makos explained what had happened.

“His tank commander who was killed in action and the cameraman were awarded medals, but not Clarence for his obvious heroism.

“He went for a walk one day and he encountered a group of German children who had begged him for some bubble gum. While he was searching his pocket for the gum he didn’t have, he was seen with the children by the American military police who reported his actions to his commander.

“The Army had a rule that under no circumstances should an American soldier fraternize with German civilians, and that included children.

“His Bronze Star went up in smoke,” Makos said.

He then added, “And now it’s taken two years to process his application to receive this award because there is a very long waiting list.”

A dignitary and two special guests

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania attended the ceremony and added his remarks.

“The account of what happened that day is breathtaking,” he said. “They had to be terrified, but they didn’t waver from their mission. Future generations need to know about Clarence Smoyer and his crew.”

Presenting the medals were Pennsylvanians Maj. Matthew Hoover and Maj. Pete Semanoff, a neighbor who grew up down the street from where Smoyer had lived in Lehighton.

Makos closed the ceremony with both public and personal notes about Smoyer.

“We witnessed history here today. Clarence Smoyer is a humble and quiet man who doesn’t think he’s a hero. He’s just happy to play with his cats, watch his Eagles play on TV, and show off pictures of his wife, Melba, who passed away several years ago.”

What’s next?

There is an incredible side story to this front story that involves Smoyer, the German armored commander and a young woman who was accidentally killed that day when the vehicle she was a passenger in was gunned down in a crossfire between the tanks.

Smoyer’s complete story is going to be adapted for film by Oscar-nominated screenwriters of “The Fighter” and “Patriots Day.”

A well-deserved award for the “Gentle Giant” from Lehighton, a hero from the Greatest Generation of heroes whose bravery helped preserve freedom for all Americans.