Makos said he worked on Spearhead for six years, having learned about Smoyer years earlier from his Lycoming College roommate, Pete Semanoff. Smoyer and DeRiggi took part in the most famous tank duel in Army history, all filmed and put on the newsreels back home. And the recognition is not just for Clarence - but also for his tank loader, a Scranton native named John DeRiggi (deceased.) Now that’s all about to change, Makos said. Makos said Smoyer has received treatment for decades at the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Hospital with no one knowing just who he is and what he did in the war. In fact, “Devotion” is being developed by the team behind the recent films “12 Strong,” “Sicario” and “Only the Brave.” He recently appeared on Netflix’s “Medal of Honor” series, Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, CBS Sunday Morning, and both of his earlier books - “Devotion” and “A Higher Call” - are in development in Hollywood to become feature films. Makos is an international author, whose stock is on the rise. Air Force in World War II in the Pacific Theater. His grandfather, Michael Makos, served in the U.S. Makos, 38 of Colorado, has roots in Plymouth - his grandparents, his father and uncles all lived there on Cherry Street. It was in this tank - “Eagle 7” - that Smoyer earned the reputation as “the best gunner in the world,” when he won the most famous tank duel in Army history - the fight for Cologne, the “Fortress City” of Germany. Smoyer, just 21 at the time, was the gunner on a top secret, experimental American tank during the war - the T26E3 Pershing - only one of 20 sent over for testing in battle during February 1945. Smoyer, of Allentown, will achieve this well-deserved notoriety when Makos’ latest book - “Spearhead” - is released Tuesday.
Meet Clarence Smoyer, who author Adam Makos calls “the humble 95-year-old WWII veteran walking the halls of the VA who is about to be thrust into the national spotlight and become America’s newest World War II hero.” WILKES-BARRE - It’s been said of any Veterans Administration Hospital, heroes walk the halls.Īnd those heroes live in our neighborhoods - often in obscurity and seldom recognized for their heroic service to their country. Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
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