Curtis P. Smith comes from Eastern Tennessee, after enlisting he was sent to medical training and ended up in a stationary hospital unit Stateside. He wanted to see some service overseas so volunteered for the paratroopers. He joined the 506th PIR in North Carolina. During the war he served in France, Holland, Belgium and later went through Germany and Austria. To view the house in Zell an Zee where Curtis was billeted click here
After the war he was looking for work in his home county but could not find much. So, he went to the airport and talked to a airline about packing parachutes for the passengers. Needless to say they had no work for him so he continued farming. He moved his family to California in the 50′s and has been living in the same house for over 50 years now.
On the eve of D-Day he said although he was a medic he wanted some protection, so he went to the armoury, all they had was a .30 cal carbine with a bent barrel but he took it anyway. Another story was about his landing in Normandy He was up to his waist in water on hitting the ground. He came across some other troopers making their way to higher land. They all decided to walk along an elevated road, he stayed in the water. Very shortly they were all killed by machine gun fire which was directed down the road. Curtis was awarded the Bronze star (Pictured at ceremony below)
