[Kyt]

Advertiser News - How do you lose a tank? - Legion post searches for missing WWII tank - Straus Newspapers

SUSSEX - In 1946, the U.S. Department of Defense donated an Army tank to the American Legion Post in Sussex Borough to pay tribute to the region’s World War II veterans. Now, after more than 60 years, Uncle Sam wants its 15-ton tank back — and no one seems to know where it is.

In late June, the Department of Defense sent a letter to American Legion Post 213 Commander Herman Terpstra requesting that the group return an M3A1 light tank that was donated to the post in March 1946. The letter states that the Legion post is required to send back either a color photograph of the tank or evidence of its current whereabouts or bear responsibility for the cost of the vehicle, according to Douglas Cherkas, past Commander of the post. He’s now commander for the whole of Sussex County.

“To me, that’s ridiculous,” said Cherkas. “This tank was donated to us and no one can remember what happened to it.”

Since the letter was received by the American Legion Post, Cherkas has been busy doing research to find out what happened to the so-called “Stuart” or “Honey” tank. He was able to locate a story about the tank in the May 23, 1946 issue of The Sussex Independent, a local newspaper at the time. The story stated that the tank was being sent by the U.S. Army to the American Legion Post by train. Because the local American Legion Post was renting a facility at the time, the tank was instead placed in front of Sussex Borough Hall, where it sat for an undetermined period of time.

Cherkas appeared before the Sussex Borough Council on July 15 requesting access to the town’s public records. After Mayor Christian Parrott approved his request, Cherkas scoured the council’s meeting minutes from 1946 through 1949, hoping to find some mention of the tank. But he couldn’t find any, he said.

Cherkas has continued to explore all leads. One rumor had the tank sold for scrap. Other sources say it was transferred to Paterson. “I went to Clifton to see a tank that they have, but it’s not the same one,” said Cherkas.

And so the search for the missing tank continues. Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of the tank can contact the American Legion Post 213 at 973-875-3551.

Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of the tank can contact the American Legion Post 213 at 973-875-3551.