SSG Lafayette G. Pool was an American tank commander who is recognized as the US Tank ace of aces during WWII.
While fighting in France and Belgium in 1944, in a span of only 81 days in combat, he and the crew of his M4 Sherman “In the Mood” are credited with destroying 12 tanks, 258 armored vehicles, killing over 1,000 enemy soldiers and capturing 250 prisoners.
He served with the 3rd Armored Div. and was notably a very aggressive but fair leader. Pool refused a commission to be an officer simply because he wanted to be at the front with his men. He fought alongside the same crew for the duration of the war, despite his tank being destroyed 3 separate times. He always named the replacing tanks “In the Mood”.
Pool received many awards to include the Silver Star, Purple Heart after losing his leg, and the Distinguished Service Cross.
After the war, Pool returned to Texas were he lived until his death in 1991.
His son, Capt. Jerry L. Pool was a team leader with MAC V SOG during the Vietnam War. He and 6 others were killed during a hot extraction in Cambodia in 1970. His remains were finally recovered and identified in 2001. #ww2 #tanker #m4sherman #harduck #stayzero #zerofoxtrot