Page 31 - tmp
P. 31
April, 2018 The Antique Shoppe Page 31
History “Sometimes you’ll be set up and you and he’ll start smiling as he comes said, ‘I was on one of these in Korea’.”
Later the man sent Thomas
Continued from Page 26 you’ll see a guy making his way over to closer. One time a man stopped and photographs of him and his crew
The ordained rabbi gives his tanks serving during Korea.
Hebrew names like Golem, Balagar, “Those photos hang on my wall
Bracha and Bupkas and named one now and are one of my most prized
Buddy after a friend. His M4A1 possessions,” Thomas said.
Sherman, “Golem,” means “unfinished Thomas’s wife, Judy, who is a retired
man.” But Rabbi Thomas laughs and U.S. Air Force medic, shares that same
says the Yiddish meaning of Golem is spirit of care for the veterans.
large, slow and stupid. Balagar means “You never know how (our event) is
“chaos, Bracha: blessing and Bupkes: going to grab someone,” she said. “All
nothing or “nada.” the memories come flooding back, I
Tank loader Ed Sears of Auburndale, guess. Once a WWII vet was fixing to
Fla. has worked with Thomas’s group cry. I just reached out and put my arms
for three years and says he loves it. around him and hugged him.”
“Where else can you drive a tank?” SHOW: ON GUARD--Nine-year-old Stryker Bradley of Keystone Hts, The next First Florida Chapter
says the retired Air Force Tech Sgt. FL guards a crossing at the entrance to the field. He came with his father, MVPA event will be held in October
Spectator Robert Bodnar of Deland Jeremy, a MVPA member who showed his five ton M931A2 cargo truck. RT- (with the date to be announced) at
joined his son, Michael, to watch German soldiers SURRENDER to the Americans Market of Marion in Belleview, Fla.
after a five-tank assault during the half-hour.
the battle where the tanks overtook The group will return for its winter
German soldiers. rally the last weekend of February
“It’s amazing seeing the tanks and it next year at Renninger’s. For more
beats doing chores,” Bodnar said. information please see the chapter’s
The gregarious Thomas delights in website: www.flmvpa.org or visit their
the battles and has just as much fun Facebook page.
talking with spectators and passing For more information about
out his handmade artillery shells like WW2Armor, visit their website: http://
candy from the top of his tank to the ww2armor.org.
children after the shows.
Dave Thomas, (no relation to Col. Sikes is a freelance photojournalist
Thomas), who often brings his 1943 L-WW2Armor founder "Rabbi Rob" Thomas. From his M4A1 Sherman tank Thomas who lives in Mount Dora, FL
M15A1 half-track built by Autocar, says commanded a five-tank assault on German troups. R-First Florida Chapter MVPA
that he also enjoys seeing people’s President Dave Thomas, right, and MVPA member Russell Deese, of Cairo, Ga. Deese
reactions to the vehicles. conducted the auction in which vendors donated items to benefit the chapter.
1
2 6
