Bastogne Honors the Crew of its Tank

Bastogne Honors

the Crew of its Tank

In 1948, a Sherman M-4 tank was erected in McAuliffe Square in Bastogne, Belgium to honor the men of the 37th Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division, who broke the siege of Bastogne on December 26, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. In 1994, both flanks of the tank were painted with the insigna of the 4th Armored Division to mark the 50th Anniversary of the “Bulge”.

In later years, it was discovered that the tank actually belonged to “B” Company of the 41st Tank Battalion of the 11th Armored Division, and that it had taken part in the Division’s fight for Renuamont on December 30, 1944. The tank was therefore repainted with the 11th Armored Division insigna on its left flank – to honor the men of the “Thunderbolt” Division – and the 4th Armored Division insigna on its right flank – to honor the men of the “Breakthrough” Division.

In 1999, the Circle of History of Bastogne published a book about the tank entitled, The Sherman at McAuliffe Square in Bastogne: The True Story. Written by Jacques Degive, Robert Fergloute and Roger Marquet in both French and English, the book gives a history of the tank from the “Bulge” to the present, and recounts the lives of the tank’s five crew members – Wallace Alexander, Ivan Goldstein, Dage Herbert, Cecil Peterman and Andrew Urda.

On May 30, 2000, the City of Bastogne and the Circle of History of Bastogne held a ceremony in McAuliffe Square to honor these five men. Guy Lutgen (the Mayor of Bastogne) and Roger Marquet unveiled a plaque in front of the tank which tells the story of the tank in French and English, and which lists the names of the tank’s five crew members. In attendance at the ceremony were Ivan Goldstein and his wife; Andrew Urda’s widow, daughter, son and daughter-in-law; and 19 members of the 11th Armored Division Association. The ceremony concluded with speeches and a floral tribute to the “Thunderbolts”.

The tank at Bastogne will always stand as a symbol of American victory in the “Bulge” – and of Belgian appreciation for that victory.

Mrs. Greg Urda, Mr. Greg Urda, Ms. Alene Urda, Mrs. Andrew Urda, Mrs. Ivan Goldstein and Mr. Ivan Goldstein with the 11th Armored Division Tank in McAuliffe Square, Bastogne, Belgium. May 30, 2000.

Patrick J. Kearney (Vice President, 11th Armored Division Association) with the 11th Armored Division Tank in McAuliffe Square, Bastogne, Belgium. May 30, 2000.

Plaque Honoring the Crew of the 11th Armored Division Tank in McAuliffe Square, Bastogne, Belgium. May 30, 2000.

Camille Gennaoui and Joseph Aldorisio (an 11th Armored Division Veteran) with the 11th Armored Division Tank in McAuliffe Square, Bastogne, Belgium. May 30, 2000.

Patrick J. KEARNEY

"A" Company

55th Armored Infantry

Battalion

11th Armored Division

Campaigns

Battle of the Bulge,

Belgium