Source: David McCullough. Truman (1992)
When America entered World War I, Truman was 33 years old (two years past the maximum age according to the Selective Service Act), and had he wanted to sit out the Great War, nobody in Jackson County, Missouri would have said a thing. While Truman had been an officer in the Missouri National Guard, he had been out of uniform for six years, and his eyes were always an issue. Truman was the sole supporter of his mother and sister, and as a farmer, Truman was actually supposed to stay and produce crops to fulfill his patriotic duty. Truman could have stayed home in Independence, MO for any of several reasons, but he enlisted as soon as he could after Congress declared war on Germany in April 1917.
Truman re-joined the Missouri National Guard, organized an artillery battery, and was soon elected 1st Lieutenant. When his unit was absorbed into the United States Army, Truman had to take his first regular Army physical. Truman passed the eye examination by memorizing the chart; he was basically blind in this left eye, with uncorrected vision of 20/400.
Truman re-joined the Missouri National Guard, organized an artillery battery, and was soon elected 1st Lieutenant. When his unit was absorbed into the United States Army, Truman had to take his first regular Army physical. Truman passed the eye examination by memorizing the chart; he was basically blind in this left eye, with uncorrected vision of 20/400.
During September 1917 Truman was on his way to Lawton, Oklahoma, which was near Fort Sill. While in training, he proved to himself and the other soldiers that he was officer material. One of Truman's fellow officers was James Pendergast, a nephew of the most powerful "Boss" in the U.S., Tom Pendergast in Kansas City MO. Truman was the main reason why James was cleared of charges involving 3 of his men dying in an accidental explosion. On 29 March 1918, the U.S.S. George Washington (a confiscated German luxury liner) left for Europe with over 7000 soldiers on board, including Truman.
On 13 April 1918, the George Washington arrived at Brest, France. While the Great War was raging at the front, Truman basically enjoyed himself, surrounded by luxuries that were new to him. Truman was assigned to an artillery school near General John Pershing's HQ in Lorraine (a region in France that borders Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany), where Truman experienced even more luxury. Soon enough, military reality set in with Truman going through rigorous college-level classwork, going from class-to-class for over 12 hours a day. Truman's classroom/field training centered on the French 75mm field gun; although the gun recoiled, the aim kept true. The French 75mm could fire 30/40 shots a minute at a range of 5 miles; the fire from a battery of four was absolutely murderous. No other field piece in World War I could match the French 75mm; to the Germans, it was the "Devil Gun".
On 13 April 1918, the George Washington arrived at Brest, France. While the Great War was raging at the front, Truman basically enjoyed himself, surrounded by luxuries that were new to him. Truman was assigned to an artillery school near General John Pershing's HQ in Lorraine (a region in France that borders Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany), where Truman experienced even more luxury. Soon enough, military reality set in with Truman going through rigorous college-level classwork, going from class-to-class for over 12 hours a day. Truman's classroom/field training centered on the French 75mm field gun; although the gun recoiled, the aim kept true. The French 75mm could fire 30/40 shots a minute at a range of 5 miles; the fire from a battery of four was absolutely murderous. No other field piece in World War I could match the French 75mm; to the Germans, it was the "Devil Gun".
Truman's training ordeal was over after five weeks, and he was glad that he had "slipped through", as he put it. Truman was sent to rejoin his old regiment, and when he arrived, he was told that he had been promoted to captain. Truman was assigned to teach the men how to fire the 75mm in classroom and field sessions. Truman received another promotion, and he was in charge of 4 guns and nearly 200 men, but Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery in the
American Expeditionary Force was filled with men that, to put it mildly, resisted authority.
Truman was terrified when he first presented himself in front of his men, but he didn't tolerate any discipline problems, and Truman made it clear right away that he was in charge, saying that they had to get used to him, not the other way around. While Truman made it clear that he wouldn't put up with any shenanigans, he improved the food and took the time to get to know his men, which helped his command immensely.
American Expeditionary Force was filled with men that, to put it mildly, resisted authority.
Truman was terrified when he first presented himself in front of his men, but he didn't tolerate any discipline problems, and Truman made it clear right away that he was in charge, saying that they had to get used to him, not the other way around. While Truman made it clear that he wouldn't put up with any shenanigans, he improved the food and took the time to get to know his men, which helped his command immensely.
Truman's first order when positioned to engage the Germans was to fire poison gas at German batteries about four miles away. The order to fire was given on 29 August 1918 at 8 pm, and Truman's Battery D fired 500 rounds. The order to move so they were not in the line of return fire was delayed because the 1st Sergeant in charge of the horses didn't show up on time. Truman's horse slipped soon after the Germans started to return fire, and he was trapped under his horse for a time. After Truman was pulled free, the same 1st Sergeant screamed that everybody should run for it, and many of Truman's men ran, but it remains unclear how many fled in panic.
Truman didn't budge, and he screamed at his mean using profanity, something they hadn't heard from him. A livid and terrified Captain Truman succeeded in getting his men and the situation under control. Battery D had lost four horses and the 75mm guns were in mud up to their axles and were impossible to move with manpower alone. Truman decided that the guns could be saved later, and he took his men to a far safer location, where they slept.
Truman didn't budge, and he screamed at his mean using profanity, something they hadn't heard from him. A livid and terrified Captain Truman succeeded in getting his men and the situation under control. Battery D had lost four horses and the 75mm guns were in mud up to their axles and were impossible to move with manpower alone. Truman decided that the guns could be saved later, and he took his men to a far safer location, where they slept.
Truman was worried that he had been a disgrace as an officer, but his immediate superior told him that green troops behaved that way their first time in action, and to not worry. Truman made sure that the 1st Sergeant that was late with the horses and started the panic was no longer part of his battery. On 3 September 1918, Battery D was on the move again, and after marching two days they were on a train moving north to become part of the great American offensive near the
Ardennes. On 16 September 1918, Truman was ordered to take his men to the Ardennes to be part of the 24 mile long line of US soldiers whose goal was to deny the Germans access to the railhead at Sedan; it would be known as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which was by far the largest American military attack in US History up to that point (The overall strategy for Meuse-Argonne was organized by an officer on Pershing's staff, George C. Marshall, who would become an indispensable member of President Truman's Cabinet).
Once in position, Truman spent the next two-plus days getting ready for "H-Hour", which occurred at 5:30 am on 26 September 1918, with each battery firing 1000 rounds an hour (or about 6 rounds per gun per minute), and each gun would need to be idle 10 minutes every hour in order for the barrel to cool. After the initial salvos, the idea was to advance and keep firing while being sure to not hit any of their own men in the process, as if moving the guns forward on that terrain under fire wasn't already hellishly difficult enough.
Ardennes. On 16 September 1918, Truman was ordered to take his men to the Ardennes to be part of the 24 mile long line of US soldiers whose goal was to deny the Germans access to the railhead at Sedan; it would be known as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which was by far the largest American military attack in US History up to that point (The overall strategy for Meuse-Argonne was organized by an officer on Pershing's staff, George C. Marshall, who would become an indispensable member of President Truman's Cabinet).
Once in position, Truman spent the next two-plus days getting ready for "H-Hour", which occurred at 5:30 am on 26 September 1918, with each battery firing 1000 rounds an hour (or about 6 rounds per gun per minute), and each gun would need to be idle 10 minutes every hour in order for the barrel to cool. After the initial salvos, the idea was to advance and keep firing while being sure to not hit any of their own men in the process, as if moving the guns forward on that terrain under fire wasn't already hellishly difficult enough.
Truman advanced ahead of his battery, getting-and-sending data for his men to use when firing their guns on German positions; in short, Truman truly shared the danger with his men and led by example. The battery pulled back for a rest, and Truman's men viewed their commander with even greater respect; Truman couldn't help but to feel proud. There was one more major artillery battle for Battery D that began on 1 November 1918 near Verdun. On 11 November 1918, Battery D was firing on German lines when Truman received information that a ceasefire would take effect at 11 am; Truman ordered the last round fired at 10:45 am.
Afterwards, Truman went back to "Super Happy Fun Time" in Nice, and then in Paris, in effect on leave. When Truman returned to his command, the wait to head home became endless, but it was during that time that General Pershing arrived and shook Truman's hand, telling him that he did a good job, and to get his men safely out.
Truman was already thinking about running for political office in Missouri by using his outstanding war record, but mostly he just wanted to get back home and to marry the love of his life, Bess Wallace. But Truman, like most of the other American soldiers, were stuck in France while President Woodrow Wilson was in negotiations at Versailles. Finally, on 9 April 1919, Truman sailed for New York City with over 1000 men of the 129th Field Artillery on the former German passenger ship, Zeppelin.
Afterwards, Truman went back to "Super Happy Fun Time" in Nice, and then in Paris, in effect on leave. When Truman returned to his command, the wait to head home became endless, but it was during that time that General Pershing arrived and shook Truman's hand, telling him that he did a good job, and to get his men safely out.
Truman was already thinking about running for political office in Missouri by using his outstanding war record, but mostly he just wanted to get back home and to marry the love of his life, Bess Wallace. But Truman, like most of the other American soldiers, were stuck in France while President Woodrow Wilson was in negotiations at Versailles. Finally, on 9 April 1919, Truman sailed for New York City with over 1000 men of the 129th Field Artillery on the former German passenger ship, Zeppelin.