The WWII Airman Who Earned the Medal of Honor—And Was Punished the Same Week

The WWII Airman Who Earned the Medal of Honor—And Was Punished the Same Week

In the spring of 1943, the air war over occupied Europe placed heavy demands on American bomber crews. Missions against fortified targets along the French coast were especially dangerous, as German defenses combined anti-aircraft fire with aggressive fighter interception. Among the many airmen sent into this environment was Sergeant Maynard Harrison Smith, a man whose background and personality set him apart from most of his fellow crew members.…