Ruben Rivers: Oklahoma’s Own American Hero

As combating raged in Europe throughout World Warfare II, members of the 761st tank battalion, comprised primarily of all-black teams of troopers, first needed to combat stereotypes.

The army was segregated and a few leaders had reservations about utilizing African American troopers in fight.

“It was thought-about sort of an experiment on the time, sort of just like the Tuskegee Airmen,” historian and writer Artwork Burton mentioned.

After coaching longer than another tank battalion, two years in contrast to some months for white troopers, the Black Panthers lastly bought an opportunity to combat the Nazis and show naysayers mistaken.

“Some folks believed African People did not have the intelligence to be good tankers,” Burton mentioned.

Artwork Burton has studied African American historical past extensively. He mentioned army leaders, skeptical of the Black Panthers means to combat, did not wish to ship them, however Common George Patton wanted them.

After arriving in Normandy in October of 1944, the Black Panthers would undergo 183 straight days of fight, liberating 30 cities on their means towards Germany.

The primary African American tankers to see fight took half in campaigns by means of six nations.

“They had been able to combat, they had been able to combat the Germans and after they despatched them over they proved their mettle,” Burton mentioned.

One of many males who proved his mettle is Workers Sergeant Ruben Rivers from Tecumseh, Oklahoma.

“I feel Ruben Rivers is a real American hero of World Warfare II and I feel Oklahomans may be happy with what he did, his service to his nation,” Burton mentioned.

Because the 761st pushed by means of Jap France towards Germany, Rivers’ tank hit a mine, shrapnel slashed his leg to the bone. Rivers refused to evacuate.

Information On 6 interviewed David Williams, Rivers’ commanding officer in 1996.

“So I attempted to provide him morphine,” Williams recalled. “Ray tried to provide him morphine. And he pushed our palms away. He mentioned, ‘Captain, that is gonna be dangerous. You gonna want me. Couple of days will not make any distinction.’”

As a substitute, Rivers took command of one other tank, and superior along with his firm to maintain combating. The subsequent day, as his fellow Black Panthers pulled again to take cowl underneath heavy hearth from a German anti-tank unit, Rivers lined their withdrawal.

“He had no worry,” Burton mentioned. “He was able to die for what he was attempting to do.”

Rivers was killed when his tank took a direct hit from two excessive powered artillery shells. He is buried on the American Cemetery in Lorrain, France.

Due to his heroic actions in France, Rivers’ Captain nominated him for the Medal of Honor, however it might take practically 50 years for it to be awarded.

In 1997, President Invoice Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to Rivers and different African American troopers from World Warfare II missed for the award.

The president mentioned Rivers’ combating spirit and daring management had been an inspiration to his unit.

Burton mentioned Rivers ought to be an inspiration to all Oklahomans.

“They need to keep in mind him every time they keep in mind the veterans of Oklahoma that Ruben Rivers was proper there on the prime of the heap by way of being courageous, and combating for his nation,” Burton mentioned.