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Posted on 07/27/2004 11:35:48 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.
Where the Freeper Foxhole introduces a different veteran each Wednesday. The "ordinary" Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine who participated in the events in our Country's history. We hope to present events as seen through their eyes. To give you a glimpse into the life of those who sacrificed for all of us - Our Veterans.
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32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division This story is about a tank commander who destroyed 258 enemy vehicles, but he never was awarded the Knights Cross. He was never presented to Hitler, he never wore a fancy black uniform with death heads and S.S. runes, and he never commanded a Panther or Tiger. The reason? He was an American GI and he set the above record in a Sherman tank! Contrary to popular belief other countries besides Germany were capable of producing tank aces too.  Staff Sergeant Lafayette G. Pool was typical of some of the fine tankers produced by the U.S. Army during World War II. Pool was born on July 23, 1919, on a farm in Odem, Texas. He graduated from high school in Taft, Texas in 1938. Pool tried to enlist in the Navy. He was turned down due to an eye injury, although his twin brother was accepted. he then enrolled in an all boys Catholic Academy where he graduated as class valedictorian. Afterwards, he enrolled in Texas, A and I College, as an engineering major. He quit to enlist in the Army on June 13, 1941. He took basic training at San Antonio, Texas, and then was sent to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, to the newly forming Third Armor Division. Pool joined the Third Battalion, 32nd Armored Regt, when the division was reorganized in January of 1942. He took time out from training to get married to Evelyn Wright in December of 1942.  Here's a shot of my M4A1(76) as crewed by Lafayette Pool in Late Summer of 1944. - Scott Dimmick Pool had been a boxer in college and he joined the division's golden gloves team. He became regional champ in his weight class and was to go to the national meet in Chicago, Illinois in the spring of 1942. He turned down the opportunity because the division had gotten a shipment of new M-4 Sherman Tanks and Pool wanted to start training with his men on the M-4 immediately. Pool was a tall, lanky 6'3" Texan, who drove his men and himself and trained them rigorously. He always wanted things done right and would not tolerate slipshod methods, whether in maintenance, gunnery, or driving. He demanded the best out of his men and he got it.  The 3rd Bn, 32nd Armor moved to the Desert Training Center near Victorville, California, followed by final training at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Before sailing to England in September, 1943, Pool was promoted to Staff Sergeant in Company I. He was also given the opportunity to go to OCS, but he turned it down as he was later to turn down a battlefield commission stating "I just want to have one of the best tank crews in the division."  His crew consisted of driver, Wilbert "Baby" Richards, one of the best drivers in the ETO according to Pool; Bert "Schoolboy" Close who was just seventeen years old and was his bow gunner. Given the choice of prison on a manslaughter rap or the Army, Del "Jailbird" Boggs elected to be Pool's loader. Willis "Groundhog" Oller was the gunner. Pool said of Oller "He could shoot the eyebrows off a gnat at 1500 yards." He was very quick and alert. One time near Origny in France it was getting dark when the order came down to halt and coil up for the night. Pool opened his mouth to say "Driver, Halt," but found himself looking down the barrel of a German 88mm in the gloom ahead. He said "Gunner, Fire!" and Oller, without hesitation, holed the enemy gun before its crew could recognize the Sherman Tank. While in England Pool did some more boxing. In Liverpool in early 1944 he boxed against Joe Louis. It was ment to be an exhibition bout, but Pool got a little too enthusiastic and rapped Louis a few good ones. Louis then put his arm around Pool and said "White man, I'm going to teach you a big lesson." He then proceeded to give Pool a good going over, although there was no knockout.  Tank from the 32nd Armored Regiment. Note the "hedgerow cutter" Pool is what we would call today a "hard charger." He was also inclined to have things his own way. He believed that the quickest way home was to smash the German Army to pieces, and he believed that he was the guy with the crew and the tank that could do it. He made friends easily and also made enemies. He had a quick temper and was not above ignoring orders when they didn't suit him. Pool landed at Normandy in June, 1944. His battalion fought its first engagement on June 29, 1944 near Villierfossard, northeast of St. Lo. The loss of Pool's first tank "In The Mood," (all succeeding tanks were called "In The Mood!") was to a Panzerfaust at the village of Les Forges not far from the beach-head. Pool's crew survived and got a new Sherman, and pushed on undauntedly against the Panzers.  Falaise Gap on August 7, 1944, was the big battle and Pool was, as usual, right up front. As the 3d Armored Division was near to closing the ring with the British forces around the Germans, Lt. Col. Walter B. Richardson, commanding task force Y of CCA, 32nd Armored heard Pool say over the radio "Ain't got the heart to kill um," meaning the Germans. The rattle of machinegun fire came over thr radio followed by Pool's Texas drawl "Watch those bastards run, - give it to 'em Close."
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Well I have met a bunch of them and seen the movie. I thought it was pretty accurate. Somewhere I have a picture of me sitting in, at the time "COL" Abrams lap in Germany in about 1951. My family were good friends of the Loveladys of Task Force Lovelady. I had a very long letter from Mrs Lovelady after I notified her my mother had died about nine years ago. I have met many of the people who were in the 6th Armored Div with my father.
These were all good dedicated people who helped beat the Germans. Even the Germans had a lot to say good about the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Armored Divisions. I also remember the local reaction of people around Bastone and other places we visited where the 6th had been during the war when they saw that patch on my father's right shoulder.
Indeed you have Master.
LOL. What day is it anyway??? Sam is messing with our minds!
I happened upon SSgt Pool by accident, I can't even remember what I was looking for when I came upon his story. I'm just glad I did and knew immediately it was a story for Sam to cover. I'm glad we all got to know him here at the Foxhole. I love this place. ;-)
Hear it now
Read all about it!
LOL. Very good!
Howdy P.E.!! Getting ready to rain again.
If you get a copy of the original photo, you can see Barney Frank, tucked in, right behind Kerry.
Great story! Howdy to a great gang here. These are all real treasures really appreciate the efforts and dedication of the crew here.
Good afternoon, it's a cool pleasant day here in Memphis, we had to run the electric heater when we went camping Mon & Tue....it's gobal cooling ya know.
Drive the liberals crazy!
Feel free to copy and paste my "post"
John Kerry's Vietnam Veterans Against the War Past
We know John Kerry spent 4 months in Vietnam
What about his 2 + years in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War?
We know he took time to film his exploits in Vietnam
and he'll debut these at the Convention.
Let's see the films he took while with the
Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
Teresa Heinz used her Democratic Convention national debut to praise anti-war protesters as America's "true patriots,"
but couldn't find anything good to say about U.S. troops fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Kerry's OWN
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
http://www.vvaw.org
NOT a "right wing wacko site"
"Our military response to the attacks has caused more civilian deaths
in Afghanistan than the hijackers caused in our country."
http://www.vvaw.org/commentary/?id=8
(Is this how Kerry would deal with another 9/11
This is not the Iraq war, it's in response to 9/11?)
Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on John Kerry
http://www.vvaw.org/commentary/?id=400
John Kerry and War Crimes in Vietnam
(He was in command of a Swift Boat
and ordered his men to do these things.)
http://www.vvaw.org/commentary/?id=399
How come he doesn't mention
his service to his country
AFTER he came back
from his war crimes against civilians in Viet Nam?
(Kerry Confesses to his War Crimes
Listen to this 1971 audio clip)
http://www.streamload.com/jmstein77/Kerry2.mp3
Who wants a self confessed war criminal like Kerry?
Not Me!
PS From Vietnam Veterans Against the War website
VVAW Statement on ROBERT KERREY
(NOT to be confused with John Kerry)
A 9/11 Democrat commission member
AND self confessed war criminal
against civilians in Viet Nam
http://www.vvaw.org/commentary/?id=5
:-)
LOL! I wouldn't bet that "sperm boy" inspires fear in anyone.
ROTFLMAO!
LOL! Good Job!
EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
Thanks eastbound.
Afternoon GailA. You take a heater camping?
Yep, Kerry's political stance is to the left of Ted Kennedy and behind Barney Frank.
Thanks Eastbound. Good to see you "fall in" the Foxhole.
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