Norman Smith

Date: November 8, 1943
Format: letter

Norman Smith, a retired teacher in special education, spoke to multiple generations about his experiences in World War II. He and his wife, Donna (née Wilson), resided in Albion, Nebraska after many years in Alaska. Norman has two sons, Norman Jr. and Carlton, from his first marriage. Ranked Corporal during World War with the 101^st Airborne, 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, C Company, Norman saw combat action in Austria, France and Germany. He was among numerous liberators of the concentration camp at Landsburg, Germany and at the end of the war, his unit occupied the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus), a Nazi-constructed retreat built above the town of Berchtesgaden. Norman was very active in the Albion community and veterans’ activities with the C Company. Despite years of physical challenges with post-polio syndrome, in 2011 Norman proudly traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Holocaust Day of Remembrance held in the Capitol rotunda. This event, where Norman also met General David Patreaus, commemorated the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi camps, honoring war veterans. Hear Norman’s testimony in his own words.