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I stopped by Salinas while I was out in California this past week to check out a Half-Track and M5A1 Stuart.

I'd note that both are well secured... Have to wonder if this has something to do with the crime rates in Salinas...

Unfortunately the Boronda Adobe History Center was closed when I drove through Salinas on Sunday So this is as close as I could get to the Half-Track...



Here's the M5A1 Stuart at Garden of Memories Cemetery.









Both monuments commemorate C Company, 194th Tank Battalion (CA ARNG) - that fought on the Philippines in 1941/1942.



www.militarymuseum.org/Bataan.html

Neil

I'd note that both are well secured.

Probably to protect them from graffiti spraying punks too.

Joe D

- Joe_D

I'd note that both are well secured.

Probably to protect them from graffiti spraying punks too.

Joe D

Yeah, there's apparently a lot of gang activity in Salinas...

Neil

That's what I was going to say, Joe. Damn shame!

I'm far from an expert, but that half track appears to be an M2 rather than the M3 listed in the AFV Register. Can anyone else confirm this?

Alf

Alf,
I think you're right - the rear "ledge" for the fenders, rather than a straight rear is the giveway I believe...

Neil

An interesting story goes with the M5A1 Stuart tank they display. I was told this story by “Ben” Saccone, back in the 1980's when I visited the memorial and when I met him. (the Stuart M5A1 had no cage around it, then).

The story goes like this,
He was 1st. Sgt. E. “Ben” Saccone, at the time things started happening when the Japanese invaded. First thing the “Japs” did when they captured his group was kill all soldiers, except non-coms or those who were officers, right in front of him. That’s all he would say about the Death March and his internment. After the war, when the US was giving out tanks for memorials, he asked for the model of tank his group used to fight and die with,,,, the M3A1 Stuart Light Tank. The ARMY sent him this M5A1 Stuart Light Tank, (that you see there today) instead. (Note: Even in the 1980’s you could still see his 1st. Sgt and later his Chief Warrant Officer attitude come out when he talked about this SCREW UP) That M5A1 Stuart was fresh from the depot, so with a little work it was running. He was so pissed off, that they sent him the wrong tank model for the memorial; he took off in the M5A1, and went out joy riding thru town. The only major damage he admitted to, was to the cement curb(s) in the town’s center. (He was very proud; that the city never fixed them)

He mentioned to me, that one of his last request of things to do, would be to drive a Stuart M3A1 again.

By the time I knew of a M3A1 in running condition,,,,, he was gone.

A bio of this Light Tank Group,,,, the 194th can be found at this link.

www.west-point.org/fam...nas194.htm

It's these kind of stories that need to be saved with a monuments history.

To those that knew "Ben", they would say that it figures that he would do such a thing.

To those that didn't know "Ben", they would say I'm making it up to tarnish the man.

I will be going by the town of Salinas, on the way to a Camp Roberts function in May. If time allows, I will drop in and see the center and pass on this story.

it is a M2 it has the rear ledge, and if you zoom in, you can make out the door on the side right behind passenger door.