Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri. He was a shy child who read a lot, especially history and military books. As a young man, Truman joined the National Guard （國民警衛(wèi)隊(duì)）. When World War I broke out, he served as a commander （指揮官） of a field artillery unit （野戰(zhàn)炮兵部隊(duì)） in France.

When Truman returned home after the war, he married, opened a men’s clothing store in Kansas City, and became involved in local politics. The store failed, but Truman’s political career took off. People voted for him because they thought he was honest, hardworking, smart and respectable. After holding several state positions, Truman was elected to the United States Senate （參議院）.

In January 1945, Truman became Vice President of the United States. Franklin Roosevelt became President for the fourth time. Three months later, the world was stunned （震驚） when Roosevelt suddenly died. Truman then became the 33rd United States President. It was an anxious time for him to take over the job since the country was involved in World War II.

As Commander in Chief （總司令）, Truman had hard decisions to make. One of them was to approve （批準(zhǔn)） dropping the atomic bomb （原子彈） on Japan. The bomb killed 100,000 people. It did end the war, though, an act that officials said probably saved a million other lives.

Truman served a second term as President, then retired to his home in Independence, Missouri. He spent his remaining years planning, building, and organizing the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence.

Truman was 88 years old when he died in 1972. He is buried in the spot he had chosen in the park near his office window at the library.