Bordford in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith
National D-Day Memorial
Photographed By Brandon D Cross
1. Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith Marker
5 October 1895 - 89 August 1961
Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force
Enlisting in the Indiana National Guard at age sixteen, "Beetle" Smith earned a reserve commission at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He served with the 4th Infantry Division in France and finished World War I as a Regular Army first lieutenant. His service leading up to World War Il included assignments in intelligence and budgeting as well as completion of Infantry School, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. On becoming Chief of Staff of the Army, General George Marshall made him Secretary of the General Staff (1941), then Secretary of the Combined Chiefs of Staff (1942).
Reassigned to the European Theater of Operations to act as the Chief of Staff's eyes and ears, he became the inevitable choice for SHAEF Chief of Staff, a post he assumed early in 1944 and held through V-E Day. Brusque, profane, and unencumbered by old-school loyalties, he excelled as the Supreme Commander's hatchet man; indeed, General Eisenhower characterized him as "the greatest general manager of the war," but he was not well loved. He left the army to be U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1946- 49) but returned to command First Army and receive
this page online
Erected by National D-Day Memorial and Bobbie G. Johnson.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the U.S. National D-Day Memorial series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 5, 1895.
Location. 37° 19.862′ N, 79° 32.145′ W. Marker is in Bordford, Virginia, in Bedford County. Memorial can be reached from Overlord Circle, 0.4 miles west of Burks Hill Road. The Marker is located on the grounds of the National D-Day Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford VA 24523, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Trafford Leigh Leigh-Mallory (a few steps from this marker); Richard S. Reynolds Sr. Garden (a few steps from this marker); Lend-Lease (Public Law 77-11) (a few steps from this marker); Bernard Law “Monty” Montgomery (a few steps from this marker); Third Infantry Division (British)
Photographed By Brandon D Cross
2. Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith Marker
Also see . . .
1. Walter Bedell Smith, General United States American Diplomat. (Submitted on January 31, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. National D-Day Memorial. (Submitted on January 31, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed By Wikipedia Commons
3. Walter Bedell Smith
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 61 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 31, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
