Clarence Smoyer, a World War II veteran and Lehighton native, looks at an honorary high school diploma he received from Lehighton Area School District on Monday night. Smoyer, who turned 96 on Tuesday,Smoyer left school in the 10th grade to support his family and later served in the U.S. Army.He was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division, one of America’s two heavy armored divisions, later known as “The Spearhead Division.” Smoyer served as a loader and gunner on a Sherman tank. One of his most notable moments in his military career was during the battle for Cologne, Germany. He fought a duel with a German Panther tank at the city’s cathedral.JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS

Clarence Smoyer, a World War II veteran and Lehighton native, is presented with an honorary high school diploma on Monday night. Wayne Wentz, a Vietnam veteran and Lehighton Area School District director, presented the diploma to Smoyer during the Lehighton Area School Board meeting, amid a standing ovation. Smoyer, who left school in 10th grade to support his family, turned 96 on Tuesday. He was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division, one of America’s two heavy armored divisions, later known as “The Spearhead Division.” Smoyer served as a loader and gunner on a Sherman tank. One of his most notable moments in his military career was during the battle for Cologne, Germany. He fought a duel with a German Panther tank at the city’s cathedral. Smoyer is the subject of a book, “Spearhead” by Adam Makos. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS