 While there, he was appointed Commander of Divisional Combat command A, a combined brigade size unit of tanks, armored infantry, armored field artillery battalions and engineer units.He commanded his combat command during intensive period of training and then during the Tennessee maneuvers from November 1943 until January 1944.Smith succeeded general Prichard in command of the division in September 1944 and embarked for European Theater by mid-October 1944.