Foreword The April-June 1998 issue of the C.R.I.B.A. Bulletin included the article, "The Capture of Poteau" (translated in French). The account of the action referred, briefly, to the mortal wounding of Staff Sergeant Truman Luther Van Tine. More often than not reference to a combatant, is limited to name and rank in mentioning the related incident. A reader, I am sure, ponders, more often than not-just who was this soldier. Where was he born? What was his age? Was he married and a father? In his account the historian does not provide such information simply because, in most instances, he does not possess it. In the case of Van Tine it has proved, belatedly, to be different.

* * * * * * * * In the latter part of December 1997, a Christmas card was received from Jerry Nelson, the gunner who served in Truman Van Tine's Sherman. Included in Nelson's greeting was the comment, "After fifty-three years, I called the Van Tines. They knew someday they would hear about their brother and dad. And you were a big part of it". What follows is the result of that comment by Nelson

* * * * * * * * The seven of twelve children, Truman Luther Van Tine, was born on September 6, 1919 to Cora Pearl (White) Van Tine and Truman Lord. He was a typical boyhood which, according to his sister, Josie, included laying pennies, nails, and washers on railroad tracks "to flatten them in all kinds of shapes" as train wheels passed over them. With a slight frame, dark hair and hazel colored eyes, Truman was inclined to frighten his sisters with dead snakes if the opportunity presented itself. Raised as a Presbyterian, he attended Record School near his home in Biggsville, Henderson County, Illinois. Upon graduation from the eighth grade it was necessary for him to go "to work as did all the boys and girls too". It was the depths of the Great Depression and "times were hard and money scarce". During this period as a farm laborer, Truman was stricken with rheumatic fever, which resulted in a weakened heart. This defect was not detected during his physical examination on June 16, 1941, prior to induction into the United States Army. His cardiovascular system was marked "normal". Standing five feet six and one-half inches, weighing one hundred and twenty-six pounds with perfect vision and hearing, Van Tine was classified as "mentally and physically qualified for the active military service of the United States". Interspersed with training at Camp Polk, Louisiana and Camp Coxcomb, California, Van Tine married his sweet heart, Betty Arita Shaner, on July 18, 1942. Now part of the 7 Armored Division, which by this time was quartered at Fort Benning, Georgia, Truman was advised of the birth of his daughter, Jacqueline Diane, on August 11, 1943. Just prior to his embarkation for Europe he saw Betty, little Jackie and his mother for the last time in Chicago. Arriving in Greenock, Scotland on June 15, 1944, the 7 Armored Division spent time at Tidworth Barracks in Wilshire, England before its full deployment in Normandy on August 14. Van Tine, as part of C Company, 40 Tank Battalion-CCA, which was commanded by Colonel Dwight Rosebaum, drove west. From August 14 until September 25, 7th Armored was in action at Chartres, Melun, Château-Thierry, Verdun and Metz. During the Metz operation, a young replacement, Jerry Nelson, from Two Rivers, Wisconsin joined 40 Tank Battalion and was assigned to C Company. Just after turning the age of twenty Nelson became the gunner in Van Tine's tank. Truman quickly became his "older brother". After reaching Belgium the division was shifted north to Holland where it was involved in bitter fighting throughout October. Between the 27th and 29th of that month 7 Armored was engaged in defensive operations in the Meijel area. Here, Van Tine as part of Captain Roy Nelson's Task Force bolstered an American element at a bridge spanning the Bois Le Duc. At the bridge, Captain Nelson's Company C, 40 Tank Battalion and elements of the 38 Armored Infantry Battalion, as well as 814 Tank Destroyer Battalion, blunted the German thrust. Ordered back to Germany in early November, 7 Armored continued its combat operations. 40th Tank Battalion was engaged in support of 84 Infantry Division as Lindern fell on November 29. By the beginning of December, 7 Armored had been placed in reserve for the VIII Corps and positioned in the vicinity of Heerlen, Holland and Ubach, Germany. Going into quarters near Ubach, 40 Tank Battalion used this period for rest and refitting. Van Tine now found time to write to "Butch" a nickname he had given to his wife, Betty. Letters dated December, 9 and 10 reveal his homesickness and concern for baby "Jackie" as well as plans for the future. He complains about the cold but revels in the fact that he has a bed and "will hate to leave it and start sleeping outside when that time comes". He writes that he attends church services, helps decorate a Christmas tree and describes how his gunner (Jerry Nelson), "a swell kid only 20" cuts off the head of a goose that his crew will have for dinner. There is poignance as he repeatedly tells Betty of his love for her but only once refers to the war. "Part of one of our windows fell out". Big guns are about half-a-mile from here and they sure have a jar." He signs his letters, "Daddy". During the next six days Van Tine's Company C continued to refit, repair or replace equipment. Then, at 0530 December 16, 1944 the German Ardennes Offensive opened. At 1400 of that date Truman began a letter to his parents and "kid sisters", Josie and Helene. Peevish at the outset, he complains about the lack of correspondence. Having written this he goes on to describe life in bivouac, attendance at a USO show, receipt of a Christmas fruit cake and requests a photo of his sisters. Van Tine closes, "in the mean time work hard, save money and be careful". Sometime after ending his letter, a mail call yielded letters from his parents and Betty. Truman then added a post script to his letter, apologizing to his mother and father for his annoyance at what he had perceived as tardiness in writing to him. (Their letter had been mailed November 16.) At 1730 December 16, responding to the German attack in the Ardennes, 9th Army advised the Commanding General, 7 Armored Division, "Alert your division for immediate movement to Monarch", (the code name for VIII Corps). At 2100 December 16, Truman wrote to his beloved Betty. Although he did not comment about the reason for his activity, the "I've been busy up until a few minutes ago", was obviously a reference to the chain reaction to the order of 9th Army. His joy at receiving Betty's letters and the photo of his daughter is evident. He tells his wife that the baby was beautiful. "I don't know who she looks like. Probably like you did when you were a baby. As for the picture, he writes, "I will keep it as I can carry it in my pocket". Telling Betty that he has to get up early in the morning, he closes, "I love you sweetheart, always and forever." He signs the letter, "Love and kisses, Daddy". It is the last letter Van Tine will ever write. Two days later, on December 18, 1944, Truman Luther Van Tine was fatally wounded during the attack on the village of Poteau. Exposing himself in order to fire the .50 caliber machine gun atop the Sherman's turret, he was struck in the head while attempting to suppress enemy fire that threatened his crew and tank. On January 10, 1945, Betty Van Tine was advised via telegram, "Your husband Staff Sergeant Truman L. Van Tine…….died eighteen December in Belgium as a result of wounds received in action…..". On July 26, 1945 and April 2, 1946, Truman Van Tine was awarded, respectively, the Silver Star and the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm. New update. More information on Truman Van Tine death at Poteau:   http://www.criba.be/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=363&Itemid=4   Henri Chapelle Cemetery Today, Staff Sergeant Van Tine rests in peace along with some 7.988 comrades in the American Military Cemetery at Henri Chapelle, Belgium. On The South wall of the Cemetery chapel is the following inscription: O Lord Until The Shadows Lengthen And Our Work Is Done Then In This Mercy Grant Us A Safe Haven And A Holy Rest And Peace at The Least   Bibliography Photographs, letters, documents and reminiscences concerning Truman Van Tine were generously provided by his sisters, Josie and Helen and especially his by daughter Jacqueline Schwigen, whom he knew but briefly and son-in-law, Raymond, whom he knew not at all.