The last portions of Rhine Main still operated by U.S. Air Forces Europe were turned over to the Frankfurt Airport Authority in late 2005.  The current whereabouts of the both the Sherman and the 155mm "Long Tom" are unknown.  Most of the terminal operations were moved to Ramstein AFB and it may be that the Army Replacement Detachment [along with their static display vehicles] were moved there as well but this is only conjecture.  If you have any information on this issue please contact the webmaster at webmaster@eaglehorse.org

For many troopers who passed through Daley Barracks, an item usually remembered and sometimes photographed was the M4 Sherman tank on display in front of Squadron Headquarters. As the years passed, we have all gone our separate ways; the question is, where did that tank go?

Find that Tank

1991-1992 was a tumultuous period for the US Army in Germany as major force reductions were underway. The border mission, Cold War and Gulf War 1 had all passed and major force realignments were underway. Base closings were seemingly being announced every few months; the Eaglehorse departed for Wildflecken and the other tenant units at Daley Barracks began to clear from the old Kaserne.

	Daley Barracks in 1952, shortly after the 2/14 ACR arrives. The area by the flag pole is free of heritage vehicles. --John Bandy		By 1967 the Sherman tank has arrived and sports the 14th ACR unit patch. Note the paint scheme of the Mess Hall. --Gene Meder		A popular area for photos, the Sherman tank in 1976 with the entire Eaglehorse S2 shop turned out for MSG Grossinger's reenlistment. From left: SSG Mike Santos, CPT Jack Tartella, SP/4 Apgar, MSG Grossinger, SGT Fallis, MSG Sexton, SGT Nygren, SGT Richardson, SGT Cruz and SSG Johnson. --Helmut Grossinger

One of the many very busy agencies at work to support these changes was the US Army Center for Military History. Chartered to collect, record and safeguard the history of the US Army, as units stood down, this agency was responsible for the safekeeping of artifacts related to unit history. Deactivated units returned their unit flags, trophies and other memorabilia to the Center to be stored in the event of possible reactivation. The Center for Military History is also responsible for the heritage display vehicles and with so many US Barracks closing in Germany, collecting all the display tanks, APCs and cannon was a major undertaking. When possible, a display vehicle would be moved to one of the remaining barracks. If an otherwise suitable home could not be found, the Center maintains storage space at the major Army Depot at Germersheim.

There were three display pieces at Daley Barracks, the M4 Sherman tank, the M3A1 half-track personnel carrier and the long barrel, split trail 155mm cannon. The Sherman tank seems to have arrived some time in the 1960s. Our earliest photo of it is from 1967. The half-track was rescued from a range lot in 1977 and the cannon, a similar project from 1982. In the early 1990s, the Center for Military History formally inventoried all display pieces in Germany and assigned control numbers to organize an official inventory.

One of the many details involved in clearing Daley Barracks prior to return to local German control was to retrieve the heritage displays. Ms. Gabreilla Torrini from the Wurzburg Military Community recalls driving to Daley Barracks once it was in caretaker status to see if the heritage vehicles were needed by her military museum or otherwise could fit on post. She passed on the Daley displays. Likewise, Dan Peterson, responsible for the major Army museum at Baumholder knows the Daley fleet did not come into his control.

	Squadron HQ at right, Troop E and G barracks to left. --Sommerkamp		Looking out at the displays in the Spring, the tank can be seen at left through the trees, the HAWG partially visible near the Dining Facility doors with the cannon to the right. --Todd Stach		This picture was taken in conjunction with an opinion poll about troop reduction after the fall of the East/West German Border, for the local newspaper Saale Zeitung dated August 6, 1990.  The soldiers are: (above left to right) Spc Thaddeus German, PFC Kevin Butler (below left to right) Spc Christopher Short, SSG Mark Hanna and Spc Kevin Caster. --Saale Zeitung / Ruckel

Mr. Terry Dougherty at the Center for Military History has overall responsibility for inventory control of the heritage fleet and after a formal tasking was generated within his office, the fate of the tank, half-track and cannon, symbolic of the US cavalry and its days in Bad Kissingen was finally learned. Mr. Dougherty wrote:

"It was not until 1992 due to the draw downs and return of units to the U.S. that CMH conducted its first major inventory of property in USAREUR. In the past, it was the responsibility of the units to record their historical property and report it to CMH. The 11th ACR had a small museum at Fulda Gap and when the unit departed to Desert Storm, the museum was closed and the smaller objects transferred to the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, KY and sent later to the new museum at Ft. Irwin."

	The closing of Daley Barracks and future of the Kaserne led to much speculation. Foto is in support of story describing " care taker " status of Daley after US Army units depart. Note the concrete pad to right of flag pole that once held one of the display Sherman tanks is empty. As the Army departed and Daley went to caretaker status, even the display vehicles were removed. --Saale Zeitung / Ruckel		M4 that once was at Daley Barracks, now found at Rhine Main. --Randy Mitchell		Really could use some fresh paint and a little PM. --Randy Mitchell

"The tanks and vehicles in the collection were dispersed prior to the CMH inventory and unfortunately CMH was not notified of all of the disbursements. Subsequent inquiries have revealed that the M4 (Sherman tank) and 155mm gun were eventually sent to the 21st Replacement Company at Rhein Main AFB where they are on display. The M16 Half-track was transferred to Wildflecken Training Area and subsequently to the Combat Maneuver Training Center at Hohenfels."

	Stop by and visit if you pass through the neighborhood. --Randy Mitchell		Split trail 155mm that once was at Daley Barracks. Now moved to Rhine Main. --Randy Mitchell