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When Clarence Smoyer takes the gunner’s seat of a Sherman tank, he discovers a natural talent for shooting—but soon learns the deadly truth of armored combat: The lead tank always gets hit.
After losing friends at the West Wall and the Battle of the Bulge, Clarence and his crew receive the powerful new Pershing “super tank” and a daunting assignment: spearhead every attack. Their path leads to Cologne, where Clarence faces a German Panther in a legendary tank duel captured on film and crosses paths with Panzer IV crewman Gustav Schaefer.
What happens next will haunt both men for decades—and ultimately draw Clarence back to Germany to face his former enemy one last time.
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TWO ENEMIES. ONE DESTINy.
Enjoy this short production featuring the tank duel film, along with film of Clarence, Gustav, and their 2013 reunion. Please note this video contains spoilers.
SPEARHEAD ART GALLERY
"Spearhead" by Gareth Hector shows Bob Earley, Clarence Smoyer, and "Eagle 7" in Cologne. Available hand-signed by Clarence, click the art to learn more.
"Counterpunch" by Nicolas Trudgian shows the M4A1 of Clarence Smoyer on December 23, 1944 in the Ardennes. Available hand-signed by Clarence, click the art to learn more.
"Tip of the Spear" by Gareth Hector shows "Eagle 7" advancing past the Panther in Cologne. Available hand-signed by Clarence, click the art to learn more.
"Unstoppable" by Gareth Hector shows Easy Company, 32nd AR, 3rd Armored Division as they charge through Germany in April 1945. Available hand-signed by Clarence, click the art to learn more.
SPEARHEAD TRAILER
This "Spearhead" trailer contains the Jim Bates film of Clarence in combat on the streets of Cologne, March 1945.
Byron AT PADERBORN
"Spearhead" hero Buck Marsh sits down with Adam to share the story of his friend Byron Mitchell and his encounter with a Tiger tank commander in Paderborn. Please note this video contains spoilers.