East Meadow Resident Represents Veterans at Tank Dedication

Crowds gathered out on the tarmac in front of the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale on Thursday, eagerly waiting for a very exciting moment.

In honor of Veterans Day, a rare operational Sherman M4 tank, owned by the Kadish Museum of American Armor, was dedicated and unveiled to the public.

Daniel Templeton, from the New York Military Vehicle Club, stated, "We are here to honor Veterans Day and to help dedicate this Sherman tank, which helped to keep America free."

Veterans from throughout Long Island joined State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Rep. Peter King and Sen. Charles Fuschillo, R-Merrick, among others, in welcoming this prized tank to Long Island.

"Those Americans who fought in these tanks were at a disadvantage because while these fighting vehicles were state-of-the-art, on the eve of America's entry into World War II they were under-armored and under-gunned when they began to see combat," said Sen. Fuschillo. "It was valor of their crews that gave them the winning edge in battle after battle. It is their courage that we salute today."

Hy Horowitz, an East Meadow Resident and former driver/gunner on a Sherman M4, and Guenter Bier, from Hicksville, each recalled their unique memories of the infamous tank during the war.

Guenter Bier was living in a small German town during the war, waiting to be liberated by the Allies. As the Americans and their Sherman tanks rolled through Guenter's town, he remembered, "I rushed upstairs and lifted the prepared white flag, consisting of a broomstick and a bed sheet. However, care was needed because we had a Nazi party neighbor who threatened to shoot anyone with this type of flag. Now we were safe."

Guenter was able to push the flag out of the window as the American troops drove by in their tanks. Mr. Bier recounted how he could distinctly distinguish the sound of a German Panzer tank and a Sherman. That day, he knew the Sherman tanks were coming down the road to liberate his town from the oppression they had been facing for so long.

During World War II this particular Sherman tank was one of about 40,000 that were produced and fought all throughout Europe and Northern Africa. Many of the American servicemen still talk about how the Sherman was no match for the German Panzer. They say that the hard work and dedication of the soldiers is what enabled the Allied Powers to win the war.

Hy Horowitz represented all of the soldiers that endured life in the Sherman M4. His detailed account reminded the audience and attendees what he and his comrades had to go through to win the war.

"There are not many of the WWII tankers around anymore. I spent a year and a half in a tanker that traveled throughout Belgium, France, Germany and Poland," stated Horowitz. "We landed on Normandy and fought all of the way through those countries, restoring freedom to the thousands and thousands of people who had not had freedom in a very long time."

"Being in that tank was not a fun thing. We called it the sardine can," Horowitz said. He further explained how he and his comrades did everything in that tank together. They never left but that didn't bother Hy because he knew it was for the greater good of the war.

For the purpose of honoring American soldiers, past and present, who have defended freedom, the tank will be on display at the American Airpower Museum (1230 New Highway) in Farmingdale as part of their World War II collection. 

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