Visitors at the Veterans Memorial Park in Collegedale will soon notice the large M48 Army tank is sporting a new look. The tank’s new paint job was recently completed by Henry Achey from Harrison, Tennessee.
Mr. Achey served in the Army from December 1982 until December 1988. He was a member of the A Troop, the first of 278 Armored Cavalry Regiments (ACR). Mr. Achey’s unit won three distinguished Draper Awards. The Draper award is awarded to the best tank company or cavalry troop in every division or regiment.
During his time in the service, Mr. Achey served as a gunner, developing skills in gunnery tactics in what he believes could be the very same tank that is now in Collegedale.
“Chills went down my back the first time I saw the M48-A5 at the Veterans Memorial Park,” saidMr. Achey. “There are certain aspects about that tank that are so familiar and I feel 95% positive that this is the same tank I drove while in the service.”
Mr. Achey joined the American Legion Post 257 last year and soon began doing research on the M48-A5 tank at Collegedale. The tank needed a fresh coat of paint and Mr. Achey wanted to repaint it back to its original camouflage colors. The American Legion Post 257 supplied the paint and Mr. Achey volunteered his time and effort to repaint the tank.
The newly painted Army tank will be revealed at the Veterans Day Celebration at the Veterans Memorial Park on Friday, Nov. 10. Guests attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. In the event of bad weather, the celebration will be moved to the Collegedale Commons on Swinyar Drive. For more information, contact Comdr. Dennis E. Smith 423 505-5335 or desmith155@yahoo.com.