President Truman Before Dropping the Bomb

Cover Page

Written Project #1

Ashleigh R. Crone

HIST1302 @ 5:30

October 3rd, 2017

President Truman; A Wartime Leader

        Before Harry Truman was president he exchanged blows in World War I as a battery commander. While in command he single-handedly assisted to turn around his battery from a group of uncontrollable men who were deemed ineffective into what they called a “top-notch unit.”. Himself and his regiment were transported to France in March of 1918. The first action they encountered was in August of 1918 in the Vosges mountains. Then they saw more action in the months of September and October of the same year in the Argonnes campaign which was the last major engagement of the war. Harry Truman’s service during World War I proved to have a great impact on his life. Helped him learn how to lead a group of men successfully even under very hard and difficult circumstances. Doing so boosted his self-confidence and in return earned him the consideration of his men. Finally, all his service assisted him in gaining contacts with a community of people with political powers in the Kansas City area. All in all, his accomplishments in the war won him enormous recognition and power.

        President Harry Truman was a great wartime leader. As said before in many statements, he turned around his battery from barbarians to tip top shape soldiers. When his soldiers try to flee during an attack in the Vosges Mountains, he convinced them to stay and fight. Truman and his battery had many successes. Including September 27th, 1918 when him and his men defeated the German enemy battery by being patient and waiting for the write time to take fire. If it was not for Truman and his men the neighboring 28th Division soldiers would have come under fire from the Germans. During the Meuse-Argonne fight, Truman and his men supported George S. Patton’s tank brigade. While in France, Truman did not lose and men in Battery D and to show their appreciation his men presented him with a “loving cup” when they finally returned to the United States. The war helped Truman gain all those great qualities that made him into an even better leader.

        President Harry Truman’s significant role in World War I won him many affections with important political powers that helped pave the way for him becoming the President of the United States. It also won the affections of the people in the United States. When he returned to the United States he opened haberdashery with his wife. It ended up going bankrupt and he did not pay it all back until 1934 with the help of a political supporter. Before becoming president, he was elected in 1922 as a County Court Judge or Jackson County’s eastern district. In 1926, Truman was elected presiding judge and then re-elected again in 1930. He helped coordinate the Ten Year Plan. The Ten Year Plan helped transform the Kansas City Skyline, improved roads, and constructed a County Court Building. Truman was elected in 1933 as Missouri’s director for the Federal Re-Employment program. Many political opportunities arose from Harry Truman’s World War I efforts.