GREENVILLE – The new Greenville American Legion Post 140 M-60 Tank, which was in the works for four years, is getting a permanent home in Greenville. The new addition to Post 140 will serve as a permanent static display honoring military service and history.
Mideast Machinery Movers, Inc., a Rigging/Machinery Moving Contractor, and Jcrane, Inc. teamed up to help Greenville American Legion Post 140 transport an M-60 tank to the organization’s home located on Ohio Street in Greenville, OH.
“Post 140 was originally looking something not too massive, like a Huey helicopter or something, and it took them quite some time to find something,” said Bill Slade, President of Mideast Machinery Movers, “and then a few months ago Ken Wombold came and said we finally found something and are you still willing to help us out, and we said absolutely.”
“Ken told me it’s a tank, weighs 94,000 pounds and that’s a little different than a helicopter but I told him as long as it’s not out in California we’ll go pick it up, we’ll deliver it,” Slade added, “but that’s a little different than going and picking up something that weighs 10,000 pounds vs 94,000 pounds – it’s a little bit different animal.”
“Ken came a few months ago and said we finally found something, and are you still willing to help us out and he told Slade. ” Well, it’s a tank, it weighs 94 thousand pounds,” he said.
Permits had to be secured from both Indiana and Ohio to transport the large Tank to Greenville, as well as the City of Greenville.
Greenville Safety Service Director Ryan Delk helped with the local permitting process and waived the permitting fees.
“I talked to Ryan Delk and the city, and he said they would waive the fees for the city permit because I didn’t want to cross that Ohio Street bridge without having all our ducks in a row, because the gross was about 140,000 pounds, and I didn’t want to buy them a new bridge,” said Slade. “Once you get the permits, you’re good.”
Jcrane, Inc. donated a large portion of the equipment’s cost, essentially covering the company’s employee labor for the move.
The two companies worked together to complete the move from a National Guard Post in Marion, Indiana, saving Post 140 thousands of dollars in moving and setup expenses.
“At J-Crane, we want to be able to live, work, and serve in the community we live in,” said Jcrane President, Jack Stull. “Whatever in the county, we like to be involved in what we can.”
“We like to be involved in the community as well,” said Slade. “All the businesses around here have supported us for years, and we’re happy to give back.”
“It’s not very often here in this community where we can help the Veteran Community at the same time,” said Stull. “This was an unusual opportunity.”
“It was a neat little job to do, and the guys enjoyed it too,” Slade said. “It’s something different.”
The M60 tank itself weighed 94,000 pounds, making a total gross weight with truck and tank of 140,000 pounds
After four years of planning, the long-awaited Vietnam-era M60 tank arrived at Greenville American Legion Post 140 with a large convoy of semis, a heavy crane, and security vehicles. The Greenville Police Department met the convoy and escorted the tank to its new home.
