Herbert King Lamkins received his induction summons on September 26, 1942; the day the first of his four sons was born. He joined the 10th Armored Division at Ft. Benning, Georgia in the Spring of 1943 after completing basic training. He was on the second American troop ship to dock at Cherbourg in September, 1944 after the Allies cleared the harbor. Lamkins served with Patton's Third Army throughout the drive to Germany and Hitler's surrender: battles included Metz, the Ardennes, Bastogne, Saar-Moselle Triangle and Trier. The Tiger Division had driven into Austria when the war ended. Thereafter he performed occupation duty until the 10th Armored Division was deactivated on October 15, 1945 in New Jersey.