Smoyer didn't just fire once on that German tank - he fired three times. They were muzzle to muzzle with this German tank, separated by 70 yards." And when they breached the intersection, Homer Davis saw it first. Clarence Smoyer had prepositioned the gun to the right and lowered it to where he thought that Panther tank would be when they turned the corner. "Bob Earley in the commander's position was talking on the microphone, urging them forward. "William McVey held a steady throttle," Makos said. Smoyer and the rest of the crew volunteered to face that Nazi tank at the cathedral. Their Pershing tank was one of only 20 in use in Europe at the time - and it had a 90 mm gun on board. "They made a plan, they volunteered," Makos said. Nearby, however, was Eagle 7, the Pershing tank crew with Smoyer and his men. That tank crew had come out to stay and to fight to the last round."
Going against that German tank, Makos said "was a suicide mission. Three others in that crew never escaped and died inside their tank.Ī German Panther tank was parked in front of the cathedral, Makos said, "daring anyone else to come forward." Kellner was carried to a shellhole, Makos said - where he bled to death.
He was bleeding." That tank's gunner also escaped and dove to the ground. His right leg, Makos said, "had been torn off at the knee.
He had been severely injured by the attack. Karl Kellner, just 26 years old and already a Silver Star medal recipient. One of those tanks was hit by German fire and some of the crew evacuated. "Once they took the cathedral, the battle would be won." Makos said the battle in Cologne was nearly over on that day, and two Sherman tanks were moving toward the Cologne Cathedral.
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