General Motors’ $1 Million Gift Sponsors Historic Macro Artifact Cobra The General Motors Foundation’s recent $1 million pledge toward the con- King struction of the National Museum of the In 2009, Army historians United States Army continues the com- from U.S. Army Europe and cura- pany’s longstanding history of support- tors from the Patton Museum of ing the U.S. Army and its Soldiers. Cavalry and Armor at Fort Knox, “General Motors (GM) has been an When notified of GM’s contri- Kentucky, confirmed that an M4 important participant in the history of bution, MG John P. Herrling (USA- Sherman tank on display at Rose this country,” said David S. Lewis, the Ret.), Campaign Executive Director Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, was Capital Campaign’s Director of Corpo- noted that “no other manufacturer Cobra King, from Company C, 37th rate Programs. “This act of generosity delivered as much material to the Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Divi- and corporate citizenship is evidence of Allied forces during World War II sion. Nicknamed Cobra King by its GM’s continuing role in reinforcing the as did General Motors.” first crew, this tank helped liberate strength of our nation.” According to Herrling, Detroit- France and was the first tank to reach Made in honor of Kent Kresa, a for- based GM converted 100% of its American lines around the besieged mer member of the automotive manu- production to the Allied war effort town of Bastogne, Belgium, on De- facturer’s board of directors, GM’s gift in response to President Franklin D. cember 26, 1944 during the Battle of will sponsor the exhibit of a history- Roosevelt’s call to the nation’s man- the Bulge. The Cobra King, an up- making World War II M4 Sherman tank. ufacturing and industrial communi- armored version of the M4 designated The tank, nicknamed Cobra King, ties to support the Allied war effort as the M4A3E2 Assault Tank, was was assembled at GM’s Fisher Tank in late 1940. GM was among the identified using serial and registration Arsenal and enjoys historic provenance first companies to respond, deliv- numbers. Cobra King is being restored as the first American tank to break into ering more than $12 billion worth by the Patton Museum at Fort Knox in the besieged town of Bastogne on De- of materiel ranging from airplanes preparation for display at the National cember 26, 1944, during the Battle of to tanks, marine diesel engines, Museum of the United States Army to the Bulge. trucks, machine guns, and shells. be built at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Cobra King will be a major attrac- “GM was an integral part of tion in the Museum’s Saving Democra- what Roosevelt called ‘the great cy: Global War Gallery, where the story arsenal of democracy’ whenev- of the Army’s role in global conflict and er he referred to Detroit’s role how the retooling of American industry in wartime support, and we are changed the course of the war and de- proud that the company’s alli- feated the enemies of democracy. ance with the war effort will be “General Motors is honored to help featured in this important histor- the National Museum of the United ical exhibit,” Herrling said. States Army to continue to tell the story GM’s gift places them in of the brave and heroic sacrifice of so the Five-Star Circle of Dis- many who fought to preserve freedom tinction reserved for donors during the world’s darkest hour,” said of $1,000,000 - $4,999,999. Bob Ferguson, GM Foundation Chair- More information on the The ‘Cobra King’ crew—1st Lt. Charles Boggess, man and GM Vice President for Global new General Motors can be Cpl. Milton Dickerman and Pvts. James G. Mur- Public Policy. found at www.gm.com. phy, Hubert S. Smith and Harold Hafner—pose for a celebratory photo in the vicinity of Bastogne, Belgium, shortly after the tankers led the armor and infantry column that liberated the town in December 1944. PAGE 3