The Tanks Are Coming

Near St. Lo, France, in 1944, the soldiers of the 3rd Armored Division set out on their mission to pierce the Siegfried line. Lt. Rawson's platoon of five tanks, the best in Capt. Horner's Company C, ride at the head, leading off with the tank California Jane , commanded by Master Sgt. Joe Davis. Although the mission begins successfully, a German Panzer ambushes them, and in the battle, Joe is seriously injured and his driver killed. That evening a replacement for Joe arrives, cocky staff sergeant Francis Aloysius "Sully" Sullivan, who immediately alienates both superiors and subordinates with his tactlessness. Claiming to need a driver with whom he is familiar, Sully gets Horner's reluctant permission to assign the intemperate Sgt. Tucker to be his driver, passing over the platoon's assistant driver, Danny Kolowicz. Before reporting to Rawson as Horner orders, Sully abruptly introduces himself to the men and begins a heartless lecture meant to kick them into shape. He taunts the German-born gunner, Heinrich "Heinie" Weinburger, but is interrupted by Rawson, who dresses him down for disobeying protocol, calling him "a glory-chasing showoff who will get his men killed." Unmoved by the rebuke, Sully claims that ninety-eight percent of deaths are the result of mistakes, which he never makes. The next day, as Horner keeps a distrustful eye on Sully, the company continues its push through France, with Sully in the lead. The men reach Belgium after traveling ninety miles a day, with little rest or praise from the exacting Sully. Germans attack them with a superior tank while they are fording a river, but the men are victorious under Sully's leadership. However, Rawson reprimands Sully for ignoring his orders for information during the battle until Col. Matthews rides up and praises Sully for thinking on his feet. After witnessing the near invincibility of the German tank's armor and cannon, a sensitive mechanic's assistant, George "Ike" Eisenhower, runs away after the battle and shows up at the general's camp wanting to discuss the American tanks' shortcomings. The amiable general of the 3rd Armored Division, who shares Ike's frustration, intimates that a newer tank is expected soon and promises to send the first one he gets to Ike. Satisfied that his concerns were heard, Ike returns to his platoon, where no one believes his story. During the night, the men capture a German general, Von Kolber, who has in his possession the Germans' strategic plans, which Heinie is able to translate. To keep the Germans in the dark about his capture, Sully personally escorts Von Kolber to the general, who, after seeing the papers, reroutes every available man and vehicle to intercept the Germans and thwart their impending attack. When Sully returns to his men, they have scattered to the nearby village, frustrated with his unrelenting harshness. Ordered by Rawson to round them up, Sully rescues Tucker from a bottle of whiskey, finds Heinie on a mysterious personal mission and interrupts Kolowicz and radio man Jerry "Marconi" Whitehouse as they spend time with Belgium village girls. Of the men, Kolowicz is the most resentful and fights Sully, but he makes little impression on the sergeant, who sends them back to their duties. As ordered, Rawson's platoon races to set up a roadblock, and Marconi is assigned to an observation post to report the location of the Germans' approach. However, when the Germans slip through the tankers' cannon fire, Marconi suggests that they shoot closer to his location, risking his own demise from friendly fire. During the shooting, Sully saves Kolowicz, then rescues Marconi, and coincidentally captures several Germans. Impressed by Sully's selflessness and their own growth as combat soldiers under his training, the men find their resentment turning to respect. Later, they are surprised to learn that Sully has recommended Marconi for a medal and then a second surprise arrives in the form of a new tank, which is sent to Ike by the general, as promised. The tankers drive on to liberate several Belgian cities until they reach the "dragon's teeth," where German artillery awaits them. Sully takes the new tank and, while under fire, heroically drives over the line. With the help of Rawson and the other men, the opposing tanks and machine gun artillery are shot down, and the Germans are forced to retreat. Although Sully is now showing signs of warmth and humor, he is suspicious when Heinie goes off alone. Following him to a village, Sully discovers that Heinie has been searching, successfully, for his grandparents. He and Heinie then return to camp with a dog Sully has befriended. As Sully and his men celebrate with a bottle of whiskey, Rawson and Horner show up with news that they have recommended Sully for a promotion. Sully turns it down after considering that the promotion would mean reassignment. Hiding his feelings for the men with his customary bluster, he orders them to load the tank for their next move, but the men no longer resent his gruffness, knowing that Sully takes care of them in his own way.