caption branch death_date birth_place unit awards battles birth_date rank image article_title name
lafayette g. pool in 1949 united states army 30 may 1991 odem , texas 3rd armored division distinguished heart fourragère légion d'honneur service cross legion of merit silver star purple world war ii korean war 23 july 1919 chief warrant officer 2 lafayette g. pool , 1949.jpg lafayette g. pool
 lafayette g. pool
lafayette g. pool

lafayette g. pool -lrb- july 23 , 1919 -- may 30 , 1991 -rrb- was an american tank-crew and tank-platoon commander in world war ii and is widely recognized as the us tank ace of aces , credited with over 1,000 kills , 250 german prisoners of war taken , 12 confirmed tank kills and 258 total armoured vehicle and self-propelled gun kills .
all of which took place in a combat career that covered only 81 days in action from 27 june to 15 september 1944 with three different shermans .
he received many medals , including the distinguished service cross , the legion of merit , the silver star , the purple heart , the fourragère , and the légion d'honneur .
