Lafayette Pool: Texas Tanker

[@DanGoodShotHD]

When it comes to videos put out by The History Guy, I'm always... In The Mood.

[@ChaoticOrcPaladin]

Glenn Miller approves.

[@andrewvanveen1804]

Hell of a story. The top Allied tank ace with 18 tanks killed was Canadian. He was Sydney Valpy Radley-Walters. I had the honour of being his AdC when he visited my regiment. Hell of a guy...hell of a leader.

[@TheLoachman]

The first time that I heard his name was in Petawawa in 1974, my second summer as a Reserve Infanteer (4 RCR). After two weeks of passing the RCEME shops, wherein a Sherman was being painted gold, curiosity finally got the better of me and I asked "why"? "It's General Rad's retirement gift". On the battlefield tour on my CLFCSC (now AOC) in 1992, we followed the Canadian route from the beaches to Falaise. "Rad" was one of three Canadian and one German (12th SS Panzer Division Hitler Jugend) Veterans who accompanied us. Yes, very highly respected. The Life and Death of Sydney Valpy Radley-Walters kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3jUqIpmZcSgrqM The Black Baron: The Story Of Hitler's Most Dangerous Ace kzbin.info/www/bejne/np-QpWWAn62hr5I My first Company Sergeant-Major will turn 99 on the day after this coming Remembrance Day. He lied about his age to join, went ashore at Normandy, and fought through France, Belgium, and Holland. All of the Veterans that I have known, and those whose stories I have read or seen in films and videos such as these, have had a tremendous effect upon my life from an early age. Lafayette Pool and his crew have been added to my internal honour list. There are so many stories that deserve to be told.

[@simonvirus6417]

That's awesome Andrew, i loved the story of his unit fighting in Italy, outgunned they had been ambushed attacked from behind but he was defiant stating " we never retreated, we stayed, many died but we stayed and fought. Humble and stoic , RIP Mr. Walters. Ii bet he would be disgusted at TRUDEAUX and his cowardly lackeys today mate. From Australia

[@TheLoachman]

@@simonvirus6417 Except neither BGen Radley-Walters nor his regiment, the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, fought in Italy. They went ashore in Normandy and proceeded inland from there.

[@simonvirus6417]

@@TheLoachman he must have been lying or spinning story's. , coz im sure you know more than him

[@billybodacious2337]

Living in San Antonio I go to Ft. Sam Houston cemetery every now and then to see my dad, grandfather, and a couple of uncles who are all buried there. Looks like I'll add one more name to the list to show my love and appreciation I have for these heroes.

[@haroldvoss5886]

I love hearing stories about 3rd Armored Div,, I guess it's because I had a part in 3AD's last battles during Desert Storm before they were deactivated.. I was NOT a Tanker, I was Communications with 3AD 143rd Signal Battalion.. Thank you for bringing to light another great story from History

[@elfpimp1]

I'll tell youbwhat I told an army cook in Afghanistan who said his job wasn't important. YOU are a part of a greater machine, who's absence or malfunction can literally stop that great machine. Specifically to the cookie I said, If we don't eat, we can't work. If we can't work, the enemy will prevail.

[@tracytrawick322]

Although rarely discussed, when I was just a kid (now 64)Dad was the commander of the ARNG Signal Corp. There was more to the story than just the ARNG & a fun chance encounter with one of his convoys on I-30, his jeep leading the way for the endless variety of equipment required for the Signal Corp movement. He was quick to do a 180 onto the grass median & drive in the opposite direction to review and correct the spacing on his way to the end of the convoy. The "more to the story", at our local War Memorial, his USN UDT service is listed ahead of/before his USNG Signal Corp service. Mom, now 90, has a very limited memory of his service, other than raising 2 young sons by herself. Once road a train to Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith, AR to see him during training. I barely recall the trip, other than it being my first train ride. Ft. Chaffee was known for what would later be a song, "Copperhead Road".

[@haroldvoss5886]

@@tracytrawick322 👍 Thats really cool and sorta ironic in a way, I grew up in Sheridan, Grant County, and in the early 80's I joined the Ark Nat Guard, 212th Signal, C-Co, at Pine Bluff.. I did 3 years then went full time active duty for 12 years... Small damn world we live in isn't it??

[@elfpimp1]

I hope you guys don't think I'm wing cheesy but, my hat's off to all of ya. I enjoyed my 24 years in the navy, both as a fueler for 9 of those and as a K9 handler for the remainder. And I cherish the friends I made in the army, Air Force, Marines, Navy AND yes, the Coast Guard. Those who are still here and those I will see again in Valhalla..

[@suburban404]

@@tracytrawick322 Signal Corps

[@richwalter3107]

I was honored to have been in uniform and at his funeral when he was laid to rest in the national cemetery in San Antonio. His family told us during Desert Storm he stayed glued to his tv and cheered us on.

[@a2offsuit]

There is a WW2 miniatures game called Flames of War. The produced a special character/miniature named Lafayette Pool. I always wondered who that was. Thanks for this.

[@06colkurtz]

LOL Read a book He is well documented.

[@thomaswilloughby9901]

When Fort Knox was still the home of armor, Pool had a building named after him. It was the driver training building for M1 crewman. It was named "Pool Hall". Don't let it be said the Army didn't have a sense of humor. I had a go at the simulators in the mid 90s. Tanker for 27 years.

[@828enigma6]

Did they have any M4 tanks loaded in the simulators or just M1 ABRAMS? They'd have been interesting to compare the Then and Now of the two.

[@erics.786]

Thank you for your service sir. 07

[@thomaswilloughby9901]

@@828enigma6 Only M1s unfortunately.

[@johncox6321]

I was a Clinical Specialist with the hospital at Ft. Knox, Ireland Army Hospital, back in the 80's. I worked at team 4 clinic in the 4th Bn. Area and occasionally at team 1 over at Disney Barracks as a triage aidman. The people over in "Disneyland," were all tankers in training or tank officers in training. I've been to Poole Hall many times.

[@Mark13tol]

It's wonderful to hear about some of our forgotten heros that got us through World War 2. Pool sounds like one of those men that was dedicated to doing the best job he could with the equipment he was given, and went above and beyond many times over. A huge salute to W2 Pool and his crew. We can only hope that in the future if we need men like that, they come to the rescue of our military.

[@jayh1734]

Too much control by idiots and not enough critical thought by people with common sense. It's over

[@dukecraig2402]

I've known about Pool for some time, incredible the amount of German war material he destroyed and the number of German prisoners he took in just 81 days of action. Brad Pitt's character in Fury was based somewhat on Pool and even took on his nickname of War Daddy.

[@maxpayne2574]

There are still plenty of good people in the ranks.

[@maxpayne2574]

@@jayh1734 I think the people that fought in Afghanistan and Iraq might disagree with you. If you think America is over feel free to leave.

[@jayh1734]

@@maxpayne2574 then let's get to it. Where they at?

[@HeadR47]

Mr. Poole used to visit my unit at Ft. Hood. We were 3/32 armor assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. Since we were his old unit, he visited several times before Desert Storm.

[@richwalter3107]

Uhhh ok, who you ? I'm Walter, was in HHC

[@dat2ra]

I'm a Geologist and worked at Ft. Irwin Desert Warfare Training Center. We'd find WWII shell casings and even armor hulks from Patton's maneuvers. It's quite interesting to see photos or armor with familiar skylines. Thanks!

[@kcthecowboy]

My Uncle Erdy was at the desert in California. He was with Patton all the way through the war.

[@williamevans6959]

We need more of this kind of History taught in our schools today

[@TJ24050]

Found several old tank hulls around my battalion at Ft. Benning. I worked at the Bradley master gunner school like 15 miles east of main post.

[@claycountybrian5645]

Greetings from Missouri ! ty & ty for the M8 footage One of my great-uncles was the CO of Troop C, 43rd Squad., 3rd Cav, 3rd AD. They landed at Utah 9Aug, and he was wounded and captured near Gavisse, France on 20 Oct 44. Somehow ended up in Odessa after Oflag 64 was "liberated" by the Russians. Made it back and lived to be 100. His younger brother, Stanford , was an officer on a LST (don't remember which one) and will be 102 on 22 Sept. Thanks again ! 406 h PEACE

[@Perfusionist01]

You did a fine job on Pool. As a long-time student of US armor history I have read about Pool and you material seems spot-on! Thanks for remembering a truly great American.

[@waydealf1969]

I love your episodes !!! I was a tanker in (Bravo Co. 3-116cav) Army National Guard. My tank, call sign (Bravo 24)...was Top Gun in 1999, I received an Army Achievement Award, and, since we were a cavalry unit, I also received a Cavalry Hat with crossed swords and dingle berries. Good times !!!

[@jme36053]

This brings back memories of being a part of the ‘Pearhead Division (Second Brigade), of being assigned to a battalion (fourth) of the 40th Armor, and of being stationed at the National Training Center. Further, I recall reading of Pool’s exploits in the Army’s historical account of WWII. Touching a lot of buttons with this one.

[@dukecraig2402]

When were you there? I was in the 1st Infantry Div at Ft Riley Ks and we did 2 rotations at NTC almost back to back, one in Oct/Nov of 84 and just about the time we got all the sand out of everything including our ass cracks we turned around and went right back in either Jan/Feb or Feb/Mar of 85, that was an interesting one because we were out there at the same time as the 101st Air Assualt Div, it was quite a show watching their helicopters fly up and drop ropes and their troops ⁴rapell down them, and they were using Blackhawks which were relatively new at the time, we still had UH1's as of July of 86 when I got out. I was particularly impressed with their Cav Scouts, they were on motorcycle's and the way they inserted was very impressive, for those they used UH1's because they had skids, on the skids were mounts that the motorcycle's were on one on each side, the rider's would already be on them with them running and a guy inside the helicopter on each side holding onto the side of the bikes, the helicopter wouldn't even really land instead they'd come screaming in and skid along the ground and each one of the bikes would take off and then the helicopter would pull up never having stopped during the entire process, it was impressive and for a time made me want to re-enlist if I could get that job. They were very quiet bikes with special exhausts and I can remember being on perimeter guard at night and having them come close to our position and barely being able to hear them.

[@jme36053]

@Duke Craig. There from ’83 to ‘86. Spent much of the time in the LF area as the 1st tank company/team OC (Dragon 11). Better to be stationed there than to rotate through.

[@kevinsullivan3448]

I love how The History Guy seeks out the best of forgotten history and presents it in such a great matter. I was a Truck Driver in the 8/40th for a couple of years, assigned to an M1 battalion on the US/Mexican border. 8th/40th is gone now, but it was an honor to serve tangentially in the Spearhead.

[@dannyjones3840]

Their training in California reminded me of the time I was training in 29 Palms, and my lips got badly chapped, so I used some red cherry chapstick- only to have a few of my fellow SNCO's start calling me "hotlips" lol. That part of your story instantly brought me back to 2012 and gave me a good chuckle. Thanks Lance

[@whiterabbit-wo7hw]

🤤🤣🤣🤣👄👄👄

[@simonvirus6417]

No one tells a better, more enthralling story than THE HISTORY GUY. from Australia

[@danielyoder5928]

I helped build the NATC at Fort Irwin, California in the early 1980's. I was a member of HHC 14th Engineers out of Fort Ord, CA. I had never heard of this person while I was there. Thanks for the history lesson. Dan.

[@JamesWilliams-en3os]

Excellent history snippet. The 3rd Armored Division was a truly outstanding unit in WWII, and its commander, Gen. Maurice Rose, was one of the most outstanding leaders of the war.

[@jeffreym.keilen1095]

I was a 19Echo in the '80's and early "90's. I served on M551s and M60A3s. I totally dug the part when the 3rd did training in the Cali desert. That would have been Camp Irwin at the time. I was stationed at Ft.Irwin, aka The Planet in the eighties . Very cool to see that shot of the tanks at what looks like Bicycle Lake at the foot of Mt.Tiefort. Tanker tough,History Guy!🇺🇸

[@rickrichter9445]

At 2:53 The History Guy speaks the REAL NAME of the University in Kingsville-The Texas College of Arts and Industries. As a second generation graduate of Texas A&I this was a great and inspiring story for me. THANK YOU for such great videos!

[@lewismassingill7247]

You provide a wonderful service by documenting WWII history. I heard a story from U.S. Army Artillery Captain, George Jennings, that I consider worth remembering. I hope you can research the following story and find where this took place. On Thursday, December 19, 1991, Ken Grissom, Outdoor Editor for the Houston Post newspaper wrote an article entitled “Walk on the wild side”. I had put together a hunger hunt with friends in the Houston Canoe Club. Ken Grissom stayed the first day and night of the hunt. The next day he left to go back to the office and write a story about our adventure. Those of us who stayed: Douglas Plaisted, Jesse Meadows, George Jennings, and I, sat around the campfire the following night for several hours. We had not killed much to eat but George Jennings brought a large bottle of expensive Wild Turkey Burbon whiskey. We all had a shot of wild Turkey. We got to talking about 50 caliber guns. That turned to 50 caliber machine guns. That turned into talking about quad 50’s mounted on half tracks. George Jennings had been a Captain in an Army Artillery Unit. He said they had a half track mounted quad 50, but never used it. George Jennings said it was for antiaircraft protection and they never had any air attacks. He went on to say that they never saw the enemy. They just fired the artillery to the coordinates provided to them. He said their only problem was keeping the truck radiators from leaking. Air burst artillery would puncture holes in their radiators. When they parked the trucks, they would pull the front of the truck up to the largest tree they could find to protect the radiators. As the night wore on, and the Wild Turkey was consumed, he said; There was the one time we used the quad 50. We were moving up at night, at a walking pace. It was very dark. The fog was so thick that you could not see the truck in front of you. The very narrow dirt road was on a ledge on the side of a mountain with a steep drop off to a valley. About 2:00 am. the convoy stopped. We heard guns firing off in the distance. It was coming from the crossroads down in the valley. After a couple of hours, we did not hear any more explosions. All the trucks killed their engines. We just waited for the convoy to start moving again. The sun came up, but the fog was still so thick you could not see anything. As the sun got higher and the fog burned off, we could see on the other side of the valley, a mountain with a road similar to ours. There was also a stopped line of trucks on that road. They were German trucks. As the visibility improved, we heard noises like someone was throwing rocks and hitting the side of our trucks. The Germans were shooting at us. No one got hit but the number of shots increased. After a little bit they opened up on us with a machine gun. Our trucks were towing artillery, but the artillery was still all hooked up to the trucks. A couple of guys jumped into the half track and used the quad 50 to silence that machine gun. Every time another machine gun opened up, on the other road the quad 50 blew it away. They just would not stop shooting. The artillery was unhooked and put into action. The artillery started at both ends of the convoy and worked to the center. I really hated to do it. Some of the trucks were loaded with wounded soldiers. They just would not quit shooting until we wiped them out. When an artillery round hit a truck it flew apart. You knew when you hit a truck with wounded soldiers in it. Bodies flew through the air. We had to do it. They just would not stop shooting. I could see George Jennings was upset and remorseful about that incident. Without the Wild Turkey, that story would never have been heard. I think it is a story that should be remembered. I believe they were in Austria when this happened. I am not sure what year George died. He died quite a few years ago.

[@leodwinak]

My grandfather was in the 3rd armored Leo Guy Wakefield.

[@priest0701]

My grandfather was in 3rd Armored before D Day, on that day he was inn Darbies Rangers.

[@828enigma6]

When Pool was thrown from his tank and his leg irreparably damaged, it is said he realized how badly it was damaged, and was attempting to amputate it himself with his pocket knife and had to be forcible restrained. To say he was tough was a gross understatement. He was an exacting tank commander, but it paid off. His crew was well trained and lived up to his standards. Surely this was the reason for their high number if kills, and survival. Love to know why his MOH applications were denied.

[@rosepool6045]

He’s my awesome father-in-law. He turned it down because they would not give the CMH to his entire crew.

[@stuartriefe1740]

Good morning, fellow History buffs! Time for Lance to impart some great stuff that deserves to be remembered!

[@warrenmortensen3870]

My uncle, Raymond Erickson, was a member of the Spearhead division. Got his first Purple Heart after being injured in maneuvers in the Mojave Desert. Orders had come through to halt and they were unaware that their tank was parked on the U.P. Railroad tracks. A troop train came trough under blackout conditions and knock the tank onto its back killing the tank commander and injuring the rest of the crew. Ray spent several months in a full body cast and returned to the division. I believe he landed in Normandy on D-Day + 16. Received a shrapnel wound during fighting in the Bulge, return to England, patched up and was sent back but not to Spearhead. In about 1976 my cousin Debra asked him to chaperone her French class on a trip to France & Belgium. He said, "No thanks, I've been there once already."

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

The Mojave desert? Are you sure? I was unaware there were German/Japanese soldiers in the Mojave desert. Purple Heart is given to those wounded/killed as a result of enemy action.

[@MrLobstermeat]

@@jeffreymcfadden9403 That was not the only way to get a purple heart. Well not until 1942....so ya maybe.

[@warrenmortensen3870]

@@jeffreymcfadden9403 That's what he told me. He received 2 of them over the course of the War. Somewhere around here I have a newspaper clipping showing the U.P. locomotive and the overturned tank with a short article about the accident. We're in the process of packing up to move in the Spring so I doubt I could dig it up. I have both Purple Hearts in my possession and I'm only aware of him being wounded once in combat according to his discharge record.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@jeffreymcfadden9403 That's where the Army was training in anticipation of the war, especially with armor forces there, it was reactivated around 1980 as an Army training center and has been called the National Training Center (NTC) ever since, I was in the 1st Infantry Div at Ft Riley in the 80's and we'd get sent there on training exercises and we'd heard about Gen Patton training tank forces out there before the US entered the war.

[@stonewallrussians]

Purple Hearts are awarded for wounds caused by enemy forces. I’m sure that’s what he told you, but training accidents wouldn’t qualify. Maybe he was teasing you, couldn’t remember or just didn’t want to talk about it.

[@peteengard9966]

The early 80s with the 3rd AD our unofficial motto was. Where ever the spearhead goes, the shaft follows close behind.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

LOL

[@SymptomoftheTimes]

Did basic training at Sam Houston for the medical Corps before Iraq. Disappointed I didn’t get to visit his grave. What a great story and thanks to the team telling it

[@dedrakuhn6103]

What a great story and episode. We really appreciate the time, money, and extra ordinary effort each video takes. Thank you for the great job you have done to The History Guy THG.

[@RetiredSailor60]

The Greatest Generation from Texas to include Admiral Chester Nimitz, General Dwight Eisenhower, Audie Murphy, and Lafayette Pool. Thanks for your service and sacrifice for our country. S*A*L*U*T*E!!! from a retired Navy Sailor.

[@brettbaker5599]

Wasn't Eisenhower a Kansan?

[@RetiredSailor60]

@@brettbaker5599 Born in Dennison Texas

[@brettbaker5599]

@William Sanders Forgot that. Remembered he grew up in Kansas.

[@kevinbarry71]

Eisenhower was from Kansas

[@RetiredSailor60]

@@kevinbarry71 But born in Dennison Texas

[@howardoller443]

Thank you for this interesting video. i wonder if I am related to Pool's gunner, Corporal Willis "Ground Hog" Oller (8:15) of Morrisonville, Illinois. I lived in Illinois most of my life and grew up near very Morrisonville.

[@dgr8zod]

The film "Fury" is worth the watch. The actors actually spent a few weeks with an actual tank crew. Just lends to the accuracy.

[@leftistsarenotpeople]

To this very day I remained STUNNED at just how good of a job Shia Lebouf did with with the character Boyd 'Bible' Swann. Shia is a true, out of his mind, jackass but for at least this one time, if anyone should have ever earned an Oscar, he should have!

[@plunder1956]

I've known and been friends with a tank commander from the Western Desert and Italian campaign. I hold this special generation from WW2 in special regard. The courage they had was amazing.

[@johnathantucker4191]

Thanks THG! I appreciate all the work you put in to preserving history!

[@liberty-matrix]

My father literally drove the 3rd tank onto Omaha beach on d-day. He said that they were delayed by 3 hours from driving onto the beach cause they collectively refused to drive over the dead American soldiers that littered the beach. Yet whenever anyone acknowledged his efforts, he'd always say that the real hero's never made it home.

[@ianando9459]

The greatness of USA on display . From one of your 26Mil friends in Australia

[@elfpimp1]

Amen.

[@jandoodle6769]

@@ianando9459 you don’t speak for us al, megalomaniac.

[@sidserv1978]

My grandfather and my wife's grandfather both lost a leg on Omaha. Both managed to find land mines. No clue if they were in the same unit. My wife and I are from different sides of the US so it was just chance that both of our grandfather's lost legs on the same beach.

[@OMG_No_Way]

@@sidserv1978 I’m assuming they met later in life? The stories!

[@republic327]

Yet another great presentation. Very much needed. Thank You.

[@johnbernstein7887]

I laughed the line" The assets of Mae West" Well done!

[@jroch41]

Great story, History Guy. Thank you.

[@royanderson4173]

I just found the podcast on Spotify and I must say I'm loving it.

[@napster7825]

Great video THG, you mentioned images of soldiers storming the beaches and that reminded me of a documentary I watched many years ago about D-Day. One of the short stories was about why there is so little film of of the early beach landings. It had to do with an overly eager officer who collected the film from combat photographers and in his haste lost it overboard while taking it back aboard a ship. The kind of history that is very interesting.

[@Thehistoryguy1.....]

Text me on Nicegram ☝️☝️✍️✍️

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

Thank you for another great story.

[@pauld6967]

Good video and now you've added something to my 'To Do' list.

[@edbaldwin8736]

Marvelous history. Enjoy listening to your podcast, and to know it is true history that you share with us

[@Jimmy_Watt]

My grandfather was 3rd Armored Infantry, defending these tanks. Great video as always!

[@HarryBalzak]

Pool was part of the inspiration for "War Daddy" played by Brad Pitt in "Fury". It was an amalgamation of Audey Murphy and Lafeyette Pool.

[@RandyTerrell7174]

Fort Polk is pure hell in the summer and even worse riding around in a tank, i can remember the first time I saw someone pass out from the heat.

[@niksar6817]

Great story! I saw what was supposed to be Pool's IN THE MOOD M4 tank parked outside the war museum in Mons. Before that the tank was a gate guardian in the nearby US base and in my understanding was donated to the museum. Unfortunately, the tank was repainted - obviously by a GI who didn't know a thing about the history of the tank - in a very wrong color a modern US green which is a shame for such a historic vehicle! Keep up the good work!

[@larryz2492]

Nice piece on Sgt Pool. My father served with Pool in 3rd Battalion. Pool was "I" Company, my dad was "HQ" Company and offered mortar support for many of Pool's attacks. There is a good detailed account about Pool's life recently published call "Blood and Fury" By Stephen L. Moore.

[@lab1042]

I was a tanker in the 2nd Armored Division, so I'm kind of partial to its motto: Hell On Wheels. It doesn't exist anymore, sadly. Think it was replaced by the 4th AD.

[@ralphalvarez5465]

Hell On Wheels, that is a cool name for an armored division!

[@BIGBLOCK5022006]

@@ralphalvarez5465 The Army 1st Armored Division is nicknamed "Old Ironsides".

[@thedave513]

Tanks for this fascinating video.

[@garyolivier792]

Great episode as usual!! Thank you!!

[@otpyrcralphpierre1742]

Tanks a Lot for this video!

[@willyeverlearn7052]

As always, love the content. Your presentation is unparalleled.

[@abitofapickle6255]

I knew that you were going to do a video about Sherman tanks eventually. Especially since you had History Guy stickers with a M4a3 76.

[@Bayou_Russ]

Good to hear about a former Hoggie! (Texas A&I - TAMUK) 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@ralphalvarez5465]

God bless War Daddy (Warrant Officer 2 Lafayette Polk) and men like him who did what needed to be done to keep America free. American Badass!!

[@HM2SGT]

I’ve enjoyed the compilation videos, but new stuff is always best.

[@RossOneEyed]

As a former member of the 3AD, we were familiar with SSG Pool's story. I was in 1/32 Armor (same unit as Elvis Presley, but 14 years after him), 3/32 was also at Ray Barracks.

[@frankgulla2335]

Thanks for this great story about an American hero, truly.

[@peterhiggins5439]

While I was assigned to 3-32 Armor in the 1st Cav Division our unit located Lafayette Poole and invited him to the unit. He became the guest of honor and spoke at our Dining in as well as to gatherings of the leadership of the Battalion. He always spoke of what it took to be a great leader, and never spoke I’ll of the vanquished. He was quite impressed with our M-1 tanks, one of which was renamed “In the Mood” in honor of what he did, and meant to us. He was an exceptional Soldier, leader and an example to many.

[@v.e.7236]

OK, I'm thoroughly jealous you got to drive a tank . . . and didn't stop to invite me. I'm crushed! sniff

[@davelove4739]

You forgot to mention his exhibition boxing match with Joe Lewis. Lafayette G.Pool’s son Captain Jeryy Lynn Pool married my cousin Darlene. I grew up alongside their children hearing the stories of both men’s exploits.

[@w.m.woodward2833]

I was really hoping at the end to see The History Guy in a tank! Next to pirates, that would be the best 😁👍

[@ww32]

A correction about the M4, along with the slope on the front of the vehicle the armor value is almost equivalent to the German Tiger

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I did not mean to slight the M4, which I think has been unfairly maligned, but it is simply untrue that its effective frontal armor matched that of the Tiger, even accounting for slope. The effective frontal armor of an M4 was about 60 mm, while the Tiger had 100 mm. The "five tanks" myth is overstated, and the allied kill versus loss record in the ETO good for an army on attack. But the M4 was not, one on one, the same class as the Tiger. Even Pool realized that effectively combatting the PzKpfw V require maneuver.

[@Wolfshead009]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel That depends on where you are looking. Watching the Chieftain in Myths of American armor, he lists the Sherman at 3.6" effective vs. 4-1.4" effective on the Tiger. Still less, but very close.

[@unkawill7077]

I spent a year in Ft Polk back in 81. Armpit of Louisiana.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Lance knows that war stories bring in the viewership...and the subscribers...and the Patreon members.

[@petertimmins6657]

I spent almost three decades in the Army. I am by training and experience an Airborne Infantryman, in other words a Paratrooper. I spent my first 11+ years actually in Airborne units and on jump status. The one thing we constantly had drilled into our heads was the exploits of those giants who went before us. It was their legacy we always strove to uphold and be the worthy successors of. That was a HUGE motivator to us; to not besmirch our predecessors by being less than worthy of being the guardians of their memory and exploits. It was, and still is, a HUGE responsibility. Now that I am retired and no longer physically able to do those things I look back on my years as an active Paratrooper from the early 1980s until the mid 1990s and see that we did in fact uphold the traditions, standards and honor of those early giants. I pray that those young Troopers of today are still striving to be worthy of those giants…

[@mikewright1945]

As the last of these heroes leave us, I hope stories like this will help us remember the sacrifice and gallantry these men and women had. I remember as child an old man stopping and talking to my brothers and I as we played with our little army men. He told us he was machine gunner on a landing craft at Anzio and had been wounded. Even as a 10 year old I could hear something in his voice. Pride, horror, a sense of regret for leaving his buddies, and probably other things that those of us that have never been in combat can't understand. Whatever it was it left quite impression.

[@KatraMoo]

I attended my Primary Leadership Development Course at Camp Beauregard LA in the 80s. In February. It's the only time I've been to Louisiana.

[@TheGearhead222]

Great video, as always! Will you ever do an indepth video of VT-8 and Lt. Commander John C. Waldron at the BOM?-John in Texas

[@davidkimmel4216]

Thank You so much

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Amazing....Thank THG🎀🇺🇸

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thanks

[@BlueBaron3339]

I'm sure many of you have seen the 2014 WWII tanker film, Fury, which Lance refers to at the end. It presents a vivid portrait of a tank crew. Pretty gruesome though. But, yeah, Brad Pitt's character seems very much like the fellow honored in this video.

[@greggross8856]

The story of his son, Special Forces Capt. Jerry Lynn Pool, is forever linked to that of Army Capt. Michael Davis O'Donnell, whose story you've probably done already. If you have, please link to it here. If you haven't, you need to do it, for sure.

[@lizj5740]

Using the search field on THG's Videos page indicates that Lance has not yet addressed Capt. O'Donnell's history.

[@ChaoticOrcPaladin]

It's videos like this that make me glad to be a Texan.

[@boathousejoed9005]

Outstanding!

[@robbyblackwell7247]

I have been watching Mr. Geiger for most of a year now and I swear on all that is pure and holy that I have a false memory of him being a commentator on one of the 4 networks [ ABC, NBC ,CBS ,PBS ]of the day back in the late 70's ...early 80s

[@markfilippone3845]

Jolly good show Professor!

[@helipilotuh1]

If you ever get a chance, you should check out the Louisiana maneuvers museum at camp Beauregaurd in Pineville Louisiana.

[@drats1279]

From an ex-Army security guy who will not ride in an elevator, kudos to the tank crews. Nerves of steel and prolific warriors.

[@williamashbless7904]

You could give play by play commentary on watching grass grow and I would be compelled to watch until the very end. The Sherman was an incredible design and was still being used by Israel until the early 1970’s. The Sherman was a far better tank than either the Tiger or Panther. The Tiger was rare and likely never engaged American armored units(Tigers did encounter British armored units equipped with Sherman’s). The Panther was an excellent tank destroyer, but could not replace the Panzer IV in Panzer Divisions. While fearsome against allied armor it was seriously handicapped in urban/forested areas. Panther was also plagued with reliability and spare parts issues. Many Panthers were lost because their crews had to abandon a broken down vehicle.

[@ddark0077]

Hi m8 not completely correct the Germans called the Sherman tank the Tommy cooker as one hit it blew to bits. The second world war was a battle of economics. The cheapest Reich tank was two hundred and fifth thousand reichmarks. Where as using Henry fords production line methods the cost of a Sherman was ten thousand dollars meaning the allies could field 25 tanks for the cost of the cheapest German tank.

[@donaldkellar459]

@@ddark0077 The M4's reputation for burning came from North Africa. These were early models, with exposed ammunition stowage; which easily ignited when hit. Later variants used "wet-stowage" shell racks, with a crude but effective fire-suppression system. Nicholas Moran (the Chieftain) debunks many of the myths of the M4* *The Commonwealth users called it the Sherman. In the US Army, It was the M4.

[@TheGearhead222]

@@ddark0077 Another SHerman nickname was the "Ronson", as it "lit every time" once hit. My fathers oldest brother was a Sherman tank commander in the Canadian Army's invasion of Sicily. He died of Malaria and wounds and is buried there-John in Texas

[@williamashbless7904]

@@ddark0077 Nicholas Moran believes the term ‘Tommy cooker’ came out of the desert campaigns and referred to tanks becoming uncomfortably hot in the desert sun. Your figure of 250,000 Reich marks is specific to the Pzr VI(Tiger). Pzr IV and V’s were comparable in cost to Shermans. All tanks suffered from ammunition fires. The rate of Sherman losses to fire was comparable to all other tanks. When wet ammo storage was introduced, fires went down dramatically. The Sherman had many features that made for a superior tank. It’s drive train is legendary for durability and ease of maintenance. It had a gun stabilizer, auxiliary turret drive, a bulldozer ‘snap on’ kit, wading kits, swimming kits, and a turret ring that allowed up to 90 mm cannon. You can make a case for it being the best Medium tank of the war.

[@lizj5740]

@@williamashbless7904 An M4 with a "snap-on" bulldozer kit is shown in this video. I thought it was some sort of jury-rigged contraption, but you've educated me. Thanks.

[@seanbay6622]

What a hero!!!!

[@Dave-gg8gm]

Pool pasted away right after the Third Armored Division finished their last battle earlier that year...I was in 3rd AD before and during Desert Storm....unfortunately this was the first time I heard this story.

[@Articulate99]

Always interesting, thank you.

[@davidllewis4075]

Heard in long-ago Sociology class: "In any group of people the natural leader will arise."

[@scottydog1313]

The game, World of Tanks, has an epic medal called a Pool's Medal, that honors him. You have to destroy 10 tanks out of the 15 on the enemy team, in a regular match, with a tank tier V or higher. It's one of the most difficult medals to get in the game.

[@davearbogast2882]

Well done on another honorable advertiser - Drive a Tank!!

[@gregbillman42]

Sir, may i suggest you look at a coworker's uncle. Vito Rocco “Rocky” Bertoldo was a hero I believe needs to be remembered.

[@martinp1544]

WOW! Amazing guy!

[@jamesmoss3424]

That tank play a big roll in WW2.😀👍

[@the_marvelous_one]

Glad to see my great great great grandpa is getting some recognition

[@terryherrera5252]

My Dad served in the Navy ! His 3Brothers n 2 Brothers in laws ! ALL at Sam Houston Veterans Cemetery!!!!!! Few miles from ANOTHER WW2 Soldier’s Hospital named after him -Audie Murphy!! I have taken my Children there n they weren’t too amused ! Me I cry every time!! These were MANY MANY BRAVE MEN !! RIP !! GOD BLESS them ALL !! Some of my Aunt’s are buried w/them !! San Antonio,TeXaS !!!

[@jameswyatt2739]

So I have to ask. This better than being a pirate! I mean driving a tank! Great job as usual. Many thanks.

[@ekrieves]

I love your're work , Please do a segment on the fire on Forrestal

[@jbart1411]

A true hero Thanks

[@HM2SGT]

10:25 Something is burning fiercely! Destroyed enemy armour?🤔

[@Johnny-w15]

Hard as nails this guy