WW II vet memorialized in Germantown Published May 25, 2018 By Jim Varhegyi 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GERMANTOWN, Ohio – A lifetime resident of the city, and a World War II veteran was memorialized April 16, when South Walnut Street was renamed the honorary Herschel L. Smith Street. Smith lived on South Walnut Street for most of his life. The decision to rename the street was based on the many accomplishments of Smith’s life, explained Germantown Mayor Steven Boeder. ”Men like Herschel Smith are ones that should be held in high regard throughout all time. He served the community, he served the youth, and was a fine asset to the city of Germantown,” Boeder said. Smith grew up playing sports and was an accomplished football, basketball, and baseball player. After graduating from Germantown High School in 1937 he went on to play basketball for the University of Cincinnati. Smith joined the U.S. Army Air Corps reaching the rank of captain. He became an accomplished pilot and was eventually flying B-24 Liberators for the 492nd Bomber Group, 859th Squadron during WWII. After 18 combat missions his plane was shot down over Germany where he and his surviving crew members were captured and held for eleven months in a Nazi prisoner of war camp. During his time in uniform Smith earned a Silver Star for valor among other distinguished medals. After returning home from the war Smith served his city by founding several youth sports leagues. He stayed active in the community until his death in July 2010. This is a special event for our council. We like to recognize our citizens as often as we can, said Boeder before reading the proclamation. “Without the citizens like Herschel being a part of our community we would certainly be lacking in many ways. He has contributed to the city and the life of many people, and as I read through his biography several times I came away with the feeling that he was a complete individual. It seemed that everything that came to him he made the best of it. He wasn’t a politician in the normal sense of the word, but he was held in very high regard with the people of Germantown,” said Boeder. “I feel privileged and honored to be here to participate in this event. I feel it is a small token, but in the hearts of many it is a major accomplishment,” added Boeder. What would Grandpa think about this? asked Smith’s grandson Aaron during the ceremony. “He was not an attention seeker, and he was never sanctimonious about his accomplishments. You wouldn’t know that he had the experiences that he had. I think what he would say about all of this is ‘All of this for Herschel Smith,’ said in the third person. And then he would say ‘I hear that guy is a terrible poker player,’” he added. “He was one of the funniest, most humble and versatile people I ever met…there aren’t many people in our country these days who conscripted their freedoms for a righteous cause as large as fighting off world domination by a genocidal maniac like Hitler. And, I can only imagine what eleven months in hell would do to somebody’s outlook on life, other than to hold an appreciation for everything that comes with freedom. He seemed like a liberated man,” said Smith.