Veterans Memorial Park

Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) – The UH-1, or Huey, is one of the most recognized aircraft of the Vietnam era. This chopper had a wide variety of uses ranging from medical evacuation to troop transport to gunship. The UH-1 which is displayed went into service in September 1967. It is used by all four branches of the American military.

M60A3 TTS Medium Tank – The first M60 tanks were issued to U.S. Army units during the fall of 1960 as a replacement for the M48 Patton tank. The M60A3 was introduced in 1978 and was the first production line tank to be outfitted with the tank thermal sights (TTS). The TTS provided the tank crew with the ability to pick out an enemy vehicle in the dark. This tank was also equipped with a meteorological sensor device that fed data directly into ballistics battle movements. The M60A3 remained the main battle tank of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps until it was replaced in the mid 1980s by the M1A1 Abrams Tank.

French 75 Millimeter Feldhase — This 1916 gun was used by the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I as part of a horse drawn caisson. During the war, American forces were loaned guns, planes, and other equipment from the French arsenal. This gun was moved to Veterans Memorial Park in 1993 when Capitol Park was renovated.

Gun from the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa — The U.S.S. Tuscaloosa was equipped with eight such guns, located in single turrets, four on either side of the ship. Developed in the 1920’s, its purpose was for both antiaircraft and surface fire. The gun weighed 4,720 lbs. and was served by a crew of eight men. It was capable of firing a 54 lb. shell out to a range of 14,500 yards.

Vought A-7E Corsair II (Manufactured by LTV Corporation) — LTV Corporation was contacted in March 1964 to manufacture the Corsair II, and the first A-7A flew on September 27, 1965. VA-147 was commissioned as the first tactical squadron in February 1967 and made the first carrier landings aboard the U.S.S. Ranger in June 1967. This same squadron saw action for the first time over Vietnam in December 1967. The A-7E first flew in November 1968 and entered service in Vietnam in May 1970. The U.S. Navy procured a total of 535 A-7E’s, with production ending in 1983. At peak utilization in the mid 1980’s, 22 Navy squadrons used the A-7E and the Corsair II did not retire from the Navy’s front-line units until well into the 90’s.

U.S.S. Tuscaloosa (CA 37) — From the beginning of U.S. involvement in WWII through 1944 the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa operated in the European theater participating in convoy protection, the invasion of North Africa, the first carrier strikes in Norway, and the Invasion of Normandy and South France. In 1945 she operated in the Pacific theater and participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The U.S.S. Tuscaloosa fought in four of the most crucial battles of the war, for these and other battles she was awarded seven battle stars. The U.S.S. Tuscaloosa was decommissioned in 1946. The original mast from the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa is on display in the center of the Veterans Memorial Park.

Willys Jeep — In 1940, the U.S. Army put out a call to automobile manufacturers to produce a fast, lightweight, all terrain vehicle. The answer came in the form of the Willys MB. The jeep was instrumental in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. This jeep is decorated in the colors of the U.S. Air Force, the Department of the Air Force was established on September 17, 1947, shortly after taking office, the first Secretary of the USAF, W. Stuart Symington said “In this day when a powerful counterattack is America’s only real answer to aggression, there can be no question that we need the world’s first Air Force. It is only through the global, flashing mobility of the Air Force that we can hold our counterattack poised. The destiny of the U.S. rests in the continued development of our Air Force.” The jeep was placed in the park in the fall of 2003.

Honor Roll of Veterans — Dedicated to all who honorably served this country. 2002

Tuscaloosa County Veterans Memorial

Dedicated to all men and women wounded in all our wars. My stone is red for the blood they shed the medal I bear is my country’s way to show they care if I could be seen by all mankind maybe peace will come in my lifetime (Erected by Dept. of Alabama Military Order of the Purple Heart).