Boyd Swan

**Boyd "Bible" Swan** (June 11, 1918- April 25, 1945) was a United States Army T/5 who served as a M4 Sherman tank gunner in the US 2nd Armored Division during World War II.

## Biography

Boyd Swan was born in Des Moines, Iowa but was raise in the American South to a devout Protestant family, he got married an unknown woman and had two children. Before the war, he was a preacher's kid, so he wanted to become next preacher to his family but was drafted into service. He was nicknamed "Bible" while serving in the United States Army, Swan served under Sergeant Don Collier in the tank *Fury* as replacement gunner after their gunner was killed outside of the tank in an ambush. During World War II, Swan fought in Operation Torch in North Africa in November 1942 before going on to fight in France, Belgium, and Germany. Swan was the only crewmember to be nice Pfc. Norman Ellison and comfort him and gives him fresh coffee after forcing to execute German P.O.W by Collier. Swan said no crew stayed together like they have because of Collier and told Ellison that he did alright and points out that he spotted that 75. when nobody else could. After the Battle of Kirchohsen, Collier and Ellison meet a German woman, Irma, and her 18 year-old cousin Emma. Ellison presumably sleeps with Emma, then joins Collier and Emma's cousin for breakfast, during which time Norman discovers that he has horrific, severe burn scars on his back. The rest of the crew barge in and cause tensions while at the table, (all of whom but Bible were looting the town and enjoying the spoils of war) but Collier stops them from harming the two women. Boorish soldier Grady Travis continues to be rude, taking Emma's eggs and licking them before putting them back on her plate. So Collier kindly switches plates with her and eats the eggs Travis licked instead. Shortly afterwards, a German bombardment hits the town, killing Emma and some of the American forces. This, coupled with observing the retreating Germans burning their own towns and the cruelty they show to those who do not fight for the Wehrmacht, hardens Ellison.

A platoon of four tanks, led by Collier, gets a mission to hold a vital crossroads from advancing Germans, protecting a clear way to supply trains and a camp full of army doctors and cooks. If the Germans were to reach the camp, all those people would likely be killed and the whole unit may be in jeopardy. After encountering and engaging a heavily-armored German Tiger I tank, only Fury remains, the other three vehicles being outgunned and annihilated by the Tiger. In April 25, 1945, The Sherman was immobilized after hitting a landmine; shortly afterwards, a battalion of three hundred Waffen-SS infantry approaches (However due to the final days of war, Adolf Hitler forced older men possibly World War I veterans, women, and even children). Collier refuses to leave, and the rest of the crew, initially reluctant, everybody including Swan decide to stay and take a last stand at the Battle of Hagenohsen, and a disoriented Swan was shot in the head by a Waffen-SS sniper while poking his head out of the tank's hatch to give grenades to Collier in the turret. As the Crew of the *"Fury"* nevertheless inflict heavy losses on the Germans using both the tank's and the crews' weapons, but gradually, one by one, Travis and Tank driver Corporal Trini Garcia are killed, Swan was shot in the head by a Waffen-SS sniper while poking his head out of the tank's hatch to give grenades to Collier in the turret.

## Gallery

Swan having a conversation with his crew.Swan operating the main gun of the M4 Sherman tank.Swan corpse next to Ellison and the dead body of Collier.