George Kenneth Rubel was born on September 19, 1901. He was married to Hilda Baker Rubel. He was a seasoned U.S. Army officer from Phoenix, Arizona, who served in North Africa during World War II and later commanded the 740th Tank Battalion (“Daredevils”), assuming leadership of the unit on November 12, 1943, during its training phase in Arizona. He emphasized rigorous training, weapons proficiency, and aggressive battlefield tactics, helping the battalion achieve one of the highest training scores in the U.S. armored forces.

During World War II, the 740th Tank Battalion, under the leadership of Lt. Col. George K. Rubel, deployed to Europe after landing in France following D-Day and took part in major operations, including the Battle of the Bulge. The battalion played a key role in halting German advances, particularly against elite armored units such as those led by Joachim Peiper. It earned a strong reputation for combat effectiveness, destroying 69 enemy tanks, including 17 Tiger and Tiger II tanks. The unit also destroyed or captured hundreds of artillery pieces and combat vehicles. In addition, it damaged around 200 aircraft, many of which were caught on the ground when the battalion overran an airfield at Hagenow.

After the war, Rubel also helped preserve the battalion’s history. He authored “Daredevil Tankers: The Story of the 740th Tank Battalion” in 1945, documenting the unit’s formation, training, and combat operations in Europe. He died on October 20, 1984, and is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, warfarehistorynetwork.com