killed in action inside his tank on March 6, 1945 during the tank duel at the Cathedral of Cologne.

killed in action inside his tank on March 6, 1945 during the tank duel at the Cathedral of Cologne.

 

killed in action inside his tank on March 6, 1945 during the tank duel at the Cathedral of Cologne.

US soldier and tank driver Julian Patrick of Kentucky, a member of the 3rd US Armored Division, killed in action inside his tank on March 6, 1945 during the tank duel at the Cathedral of Cologne.

US soldier and tank driver Julian Patrick of Kentucky, a member of the 3rd US Armored Division, killed in action inside his tank on March 6, 1945 during the very well-known tank duel at the Cathedral of Cologne. 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. Pfc. Julian H. Patrick was born in Magoffin County, KY, on April 29, 1921. He was the youngest of 4 brothers serving in WWII. The three other brothers survived the war. Julian was first buried in Belgium, his body returned in 1947 to the USA and interred in the family cemetery in Salyersville, KY.