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Neil_Baumgardner

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"In 2009, Army historians from U.S. Army Europe and curators from the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor at Fort Knox, Kentucky, confirmed that an M4 Sherman tank on display at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, was the Cobra King, the tank from Company C, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division. Nicknamed Cobra King by its first crew, this tank helped liberate France and was the first tank to reach American lines around the besieged town of Bastogne, Belgium, on December 26, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. The Cobra King, an up-armored version of the M4 designated as the M4A3E2 Assault Tank, was identified using serial and registration numbers. The Cobra King is being restored by the Patton Museum at Fort Knox in preparation for display at the National Museum of the United States Army to be built at Fort Belvoir, Virginia."

Dontos

A typical case of 'the cart before the horse'.

Gotta have a facility before you can make any promises to display,.....anything.

Currently Cobra King is still in RMP undergoing final assembly prior to transportation to FT BENNING. Hopefully someone will be found at Ft Benning to finish the work we began.

BTW: CK is the final vehicle (Ft Benning Bound) currently in RMP, everything else is gone.

Regards
Don

Neil_Baumgardner

Don, right now I have a suspicion that the National Museum of the US Army will be open before the Armor, Ordnance or ADA museums reopen. As it stands now at least the NMUSA has funding in the FY12 budget request, whereas the rest have to wait until FY13 unless funding is somehow added by Congress for FY11 or 12 along the way... All due to the FY11 appropriations fiasco.

Dontos

Personally, I don't think any Taxpayer money should be spent on the Army's Museums.......

The 'powers that be' ruined what they had and the 'supporting' foundations let it happen. They've wasted WAY too much taxpayer funding. They don't deserve another penny.

Perhaps an expansion of the Smithsonian to include Army History. At least there, the artifacts will be properly cared for and available to be seen by the public.

A wee bit upset....
Don

Neil_Baumgardner

Don,
There once was an effort to create a National Armed Forces Museum under the Smithsonian. It was started under Eisenhower, but died in the 1970s and 1980s due to lack of support within the Smithsonian and from Congress as well...

Dontos

The 'History held hostage' to funding issues is more pronounced with the Budget Crisis.

Perhaps its time to relook that effort.

Just a thought
Regards
Don

Neil_Baumgardner

Just discovered more on this on the NMUSA website:

www.armyhistory.org/ah...xCompID=81

GM's $1 Million Gift Sponsors Historic Macro Artifact (5/16/2011)

The General Motors Foundation’s recent $1 million pledge toward the construction of the National Museum of the United States Army continues the company’s longstanding history of supporting the U.S. Army and its Soldiers.

“General Motors (GM) has been an important participant in the history of this country,” said David S. Lewis, the Capital Campaign’s Director of Corporate Programs. “This act of generosity and corporate citizenship is evidence of GM’s continuing role in reinforcing the strength of our nation.”

Made in honor of Kent Kresa, a former member of the automotive manufacturer’s board of directors, GM’s gift will sponsor the exhibit of a history-making World War II M4 Sherman tank.

The tank, nicknamed Cobra King, was assembled at GM’s Fisher Tank Arsenal and enjoys historic provenance as the first American tank to break into the besieged town of Bastogne on December 26, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge.

Cobra King will be a major attraction in the Museum’s Saving Democracy: Global War Gallery, where the story of the Army’s role in global conflict and how the retooling of American industry changed the course of the war and defeated the enemies of democracy.

“General Motors is honored to help the National Museum of the United States Army to continue to tell the story of the brave and heroic sacrifice of so many who fought to preserve freedom during the world’s darkest hour,” said Bob Ferguson, GM Foundation Chairman and GM Vice President for Global Public Policy.

When notified of GM’s contribution, MG John P. Herrling (USA-Ret.), Campaign Executive Director noted that “no other manufacturer delivered as much material to the Allied forces during World War II as did General Motors.”

According to Herrling, Detroit-based GM converted 100% of its production to the Allied war effort in response to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call to the nation’s manufacturing and industrial communities to support the Allied war effort in late 1940. GM was among the first companies to respond, delivering more than $12 billion worth of materiel ranging from airplanes to tanks, marine diesel engines, trucks, machine guns, and shells.

“GM was an integral part of what Roosevelt called ‘the great arsenal of democracy’ whenever he referred to Detroit’s role in wartime support, and we are proud that the company’s alliance with the war effort will be featured in this important historical exhibit,” Herrling said.

GM’s gift places them in the Five-Star Circle of Distinction reserved for donors of $1,000,000 - $4,999,999.

About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/r...community.

About The Army Historical Foundation
The Army Historical Foundation establishes, assists, and promotes programs and projects which preserve the history of the American Soldier and promote public understanding of and appreciation for the contributions by all components of the U.S. Army and its members. The Foundation serves as the Army’s official fundraising entity for the Capital Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army. The Museum will be constructed at Fort Belvoir, Va., to honor the service and sacrifice of all American Soldiers who have served since the Army’s inception in 1775. For more information on the Foundation, the National Museum of the United States Army, and the Army Commemorative Coins, visit www.armyhistory.org.

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