COOL DUDES I ADMIRE: LAFAYETTE G. POOL

ssg lafayette g. pool, 1949

SSG Lafayette G. Pool was an American tank commander who was also known as the US tank of aces in wwii.

in 1944, he found himself fighting in france and belgium. during his 81 days in combat there, he and the crew of his m4 sherman “in the mood” destroyed 12 tanks & 258 armored vehicles. they killed 1,000 enemy soldiers and captured 250 prisoners of war. pool served in the 3rd armored division, and was known for his aggressive but modest leadership.

pool refused a commission to become an officer because opted to fight on the line with his men. during the duration of the war, he managed to fight alongside the same crew. despite 3 of his tanks being destroyed on 3 separate occasion, he kept naming the replacement tanks “in the mood”. Pool received the silver star, the distinguished service cross, and a purple heart after losing his leg. post war, he returned to him home in texas where he lived until his death in 1991. Pool had a son, capt. jerry l. pool who fought with mac v sog during the vietnam war. him and 6 other men were killed during a hot extraction in cambodia in 1970.

His remains were finally recovered in 1995 & identified in 2001— he’s buried in arlington national cemetery.