U.S. At War: Report on a Hero

The mountain road out of the Alsatian village of Climbach was crawling with German supply trucks. Climbach had to be taken; a task force of infantrymen, tanks and tank destroyers of the 103rd Division set out to do the job. In a scout car, jouncing along at the head of the little column, was Lieut. Charles Thomas, a Negro company commander in the Negro 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

Thomas' car was on the crest of a hill when the Germans opened up on them. Thomas was wounded, but he grabbed the car's .50-caliber machine gun and raked the woods and the buildings...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!