Papillion Legion Post 32 drops 93,000-pound tank in its front yard
Ever so slowly, the huge crane lowered its 93,000-pound prize onto a prominent parking spot near the corner of Lincoln and Washington Streets in Papillion on Friday morning.
Many of the hundred-odd spectators applauded when it finally touched the ground.
Now American Legion Post 32 has an honest-to-goodness military combat tank. The Cold War-era M60A3 was trucked in Thursday from Burwell, Nebraska, where it had been on display at a veterans post for more than 20 years.
"People were pretty excited about it," said Ted Pafford, the post's commander. "It'll be a conversation piece."
It already is. Jennifer Reynold-Hazell wrapped up her eighth grade algebra class at nearby Papillion Middle School early and escorted about 20 students over to watch.
"It'll be something for the kids to look at every day," Reynold-Hazell said.
One of her students, Kenny Gray, offered that the tank was "pretty cool."
"This is history," added Micah Tarman, 14, one of his classmates.
Pafford said he has been working for about three years to get some sort of a military vehicle to display in front of the legion post, which is near a major intersection and next to Papillion City Park.
While the building has a prominent sign, Pafford said he wanted something out front that would let people know about its military ties.
"When they drive by, it's going to be obvious," he said.
To obtain a military surplus vehicle, a group must show it can maintain and display the vehicle and show it can pay the costs associated with moving it. Post 32 was able to do that.
But when Pafford learned a few weeks ago that the tank was available, a group of volunteers jumped in to help. The Army Reserve 443rd Transportation Company, based in the Elkhorn area, used its soldiers and heavy trucks to haul the tank from Burwell, which is about 60 miles northwest of Grand Island. The trip took about five hours.
Patriot Crane and Rigging offered one of its cranes to place the tank, and workers from Doug Kelley Concrete Construction, Platte River Concrete Co. and Sustainable Mechanical pitched in, as well. Pafford said their help saved Post 32 about $40,000.
He said he is still researching the history of this particular tank, which was in Mead before being moved to Burwell. The Army began using M60-series tanks in 1960.
The M60A3 began production in 1978 and was used during the 1983 invasion of Grenada, and by the Marines in the first Gulf War. During the 1990s, they were replaced by the M1A1 Abrams tank. The last M60A3 was retired in 1997.
Pafford said volunteers from the past will begin painting and restoring the tank next spring. They also plan to put up a plaque and dedicate it next year.
He hopes the tank will add a "wow" factor that will bring new and younger veterans into the post.
"Tanks are cool, no matter what," Pafford said.
; twitter.com/Steve Liewer
