Preserving history.
Team in Loveland builds Sherman tank from parts.
LOVELAND» Russ Morgan has taken his fascination with the history of World War II further than most, quietly building a collection of military equipment that would wow any enthusiast.
The longtime Loveland businessman oftentimes buys parts from around the world and then spends months or years putting the pieces together to create an authentic, functioning military vehicle.
Such as a tank.
In his barn, Morgan and his team of dedicated volunteers have been working for three years to build, from parts, a 1943 Sherman tank. The process is nearing completion, and on Friday, his friends fired up the 1,100-cubic-inch Ford engine and took the roaring, clanking machine for a spin around the barnyard.
The tanks (he also owns a Stuart), Weasels, jeeps, Army motorcycle, armored car and many more vehicles are just part of his collection. He’s particularly proud of the working World War II-era radios that a couple of retired Hewlett-Packard engineers have helped him rebuild.
It’s all a result of his lifelong passion of keeping the memory of the “greatest generation” alive even long after he’s gone.
“We have been working for three years now, and our saying is, ‘This tank will outlive all of our lives.’ ”
They’ve had to do their own research and essentially write an instruction manual on how to build a tank. The work has been akin to putting together a jigsaw puzzle without the cover box photo to refer to.
The first vehicle he bought was a Studebaker snow cat called a “Weasel” in 1978.
“It is still one of my favorites because it was used by the 10th Mountain Division that trained at Camp Hale in Leadville,” Morgan said.
His collection of WWII Weasels is possibly the largest in the world, and the parts he has gathered help preserve the history of Weasels around the globe.
Ultimately, preserving history is what the lifelong passion is about.
“Each year, the number of brave men and women who fought to liberate the world from fascism are dying, and the memories of WWII are fading,” Morgan said. “By preserving history, it can hopefully be a lasting lesson to not allow history to repeat itself. It is my passion and mission to strive to ensure this era of history will never be forgotten.”