Dramatic Photos

Tank crewman KIA

Cassowary Colorizations

US soldier Julian Patrick of Kentucky, a member of the 3rd US Armored Division, killed in action inside his tank on March 6, 1945. The inside of a M4 Sherman tank was famously dangerous. Quoting Henry J. Earl: “The hit was low on the side. The interior of the tank was lit by a ball of fire caused by the terrific friction of the penetration. A white hot eighteen-pound projectile entered the empty ammunition rack under the floor. The earlier modes of the M-4 “Sherman” medium tank did not store ammunition under the turret floor. The steel walls of the compartment prevented the molten metal from striking the interior of the hulland ricocheting throughout the tank. This saved the crew.” Sadly, in this occasion, none steel wall protected nor saved this soldier.