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TANK PULL CONTEST AIDS WOUNDED VETS

Town News - 7/13/2017

CLIFTON - A 43,000-pound M42 Duster loaded on a 37,000-pound flatbed was pulled out of retirement by 600 volunteers flexing muscles to move the antiaircraft gun relic 10 feet.

The teams of 20 lined up for the New Jersey Knights of Columbus Eighth Annual Army Tank Pull competition on Sunday in Clifton to raise money for wounded veterans. The M42 was borrowed from the Paramus Veterans Home for the mission.

"The M42 is the last of its kind, was primarily designed as an antiaircraft weapon during the Korean War," said John Hughes, the event's chairman. "It moves at around 40 mph, but the turret got too slow for jets. For infantry use, the M42 was fantastic, with double-barrel loads of 40mm shells. It was resurrected by the Israeli army for various uses, and it's great for taking down drones."

Today, the M42 is used as an ambassador of past military weaponry, and its participation in fundraisers is a big attraction. "The tank represents our military's resiliency," Hughes said of the Tank Pull. "The rope to pull it is a symbol of a caring community."

To participate, each team had to raise $1,500 for wounded and local veterans. Categories included fastest pull, lowest weight pull (solo pulls or small teams), clubs/organizations, and corporate. The fastest pull averages seven to 12 seconds, while the individuals who pull alone or in smaller groups get up to two minutes to move the tank. The individual competitions also factor in the weight of the participants. Last year, a 94-pound Clifton teenager won in a solo pull.

On this hot June day, the teams came in well fed and hydrated, psyching up one another with chants and high-fives. Many wore gloves to improve grip. A few discussed strategy. Jay Vekaria, 21, of Dumont performed a solo pull in 39.15 seconds. "I gave it my all, just pulling as hard as I could," Vekaria said.

Others pulled slowly and steadily, crouching and digging sneakers into the grooved double yellow rumble stripped lines for leverage. "I stayed low and used my legs the best I could, because I can't pull that tank with my arms alone," said Anthony Pomo, 30, of Saddle Brook. "I can't believe I got it done." Pomo also pulled on PSE&G's team.

Solo pullers came from all walks of life. Driver Nick Mladenovic, 19, weighed 200 pounds and pulled the tank solo in 25.97 seconds. Lou Cardone, a police officer from Paramus who weighs 195 pounds, got it done in 25.88 seconds. Chemical engineer Sevanne Halajian, 30, of Hoboken took 57.2 seconds, and she weighs 131 pounds. She also pulled with her team, Infineum. "My strategy was take it slow and steady," Halajian said. "Quick pulls don't work. My arms still feel like Jell-O."

Over the years, eight $16,000 custom all-terrain wheelchairs have been donated with money raised from the Tank Pull. Helping veterans keep their independence is at the core of this event, Hughes said.

Decorated Vietnam War veteran Roy Sherman, 68, received an all-terrain chair last year. Sherman, a Marine, was 7 miles southwest of Danang on Feb. 23, 1969, when he was hit. "Our unit had 31 men who had gone in to save four Marines who were pinned by enemy fire," Sherman said. "Lester Weber saved seven of us. I was able to save two. We were ambushed by a sniper battalion that was dinging us off. We ended up with 16 wounded, 11 dead. I got hit in the knee, arm and face."

Sherman received an Extreme X8 chair that travels up to 14 mph on a full battery charge. Previously he used a scooter. The four-cylinder Extreme allows him to get around a lot faster and go farther, he said.

Last year, the Knights raised $145,000 and reached the $1 million mark in the event's seventh year. Participants include Cub Scouts, local community and civic groups, police benevolent associations and corporate groups.

Email: nicholaides@northjersey.com