Military tank collector Jacques Littlefield dies

It appears that he has died with the most toys and will be declared the winner.

Jacque was a great asset to the community, to the art of military vehicle restoration and to the world of music. His efforts to assist fellows at Stanford, Palo Alto and the general well being of the Bay Area are missed.

Did he ever get the Scud missile that US Customs determined was still in working order?

I drove the M4A3 and the M26. Was never any good at either and was glad of it. They violate my battlefield philosophy of never appearing important enough to merit a fire mission. I did appreciate the 5th Cav tanks that broke our encirclement at Chipyongni.

Is this collection open to the public? Should it be? It would make a fabulous museum.

Jacques Littlefield was a very generous man. He gave tours of his collection to any group interested. For example, he donated a tour for our elementary school auction this year, which was a big hit. He didn't run the tour itself that day, another military historian did, but when I wrote to thank him for the tour (this was in October), he apologized for not meeting with us personally.

Mr. Littlefield will be missed.

I believe the goal of his foundation is to move the collection at some time to a place that would be open to the public, but I don't know the specific plans about that.

Hangar One might be a nice location.

HE WAS A GOOD MAN I WAS FRIENDS WITH HIS KIDS AND VISITED THE HOUSE OFTEN. RIP TO THE MAN. MY HEART GOES TO THE LITTLEFIELDS THEY ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE.

I think he also had (or acquired) a permit to drive one of the tanks for several 4th of July parades in Redwood City. That must have been exciting.

Mr. Littlefield also had a small chapel with organ in his home. He allowed the Peninsula Women's Chorus to take retreat on his property once, using the chapel for the extended rehearsal of that retreat day.

Greenacres 1
I had the opportunity to see this fabulous collection and to meet Mr. Littlefield on the tour a few years ago. A kind and gentle man to my observation. I have photos of him and the collection.
Very sad.

Men who spend so much time and money honoring war and its toys are, to me, a strange breed.
I would be more impressed if as a result of their horrific experiences they worked to end war.

To Better to end war,

Because of those that fight for our freedom, you are able to express yourself. Why do people visit the death camps in Germany- to remember and understand the past.
Mr. Littlefield was a great guy and his collection is one of the best in the world. I hope that the family finds a place where everyone can enjoy it for what it is- history of our past, like it or not.

I went on a tour of the many buildings and vehicles he had stored there, all restored to almost perfection.

He was actually doing his part to reduce war by taking all these WMD's and keeping them out of the hands of those who might use them.

Really tho, its just a collection and an impressive one.

As I said at the time I saw them, "I want to be on his side".

As you read from the original article, he was a man of many interests but it seems humanity was the most important.

Peaceniks like "Better to End War" generally seem to forgot the (accurate) old adage; "to forget history is to repeat history". Collections of historical significance can teach us a LOT about where we are and where we were....and how to separate the two with the distance of time.

Jacques Littlefield's Memorial Service Monday, March 2, 4 pm


The family very much would like anyone who was touched by Jacques' life and work to attend the service. Please feel free to share this information with your friends and anyone else who may be interested in attending.

The service will take place in Memorial Church, Stanford University. There will be a reception on campus following the service.

Dave Harrah, Jacques' friend since high school, will speak about Jacques' life up until Stanford. Jim Adams, emeritus professor of mechanical engineering, will speak about Jacques as a collector, scholar, and engineer. Jacques' five children will speak about Jacques as a father.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation (MVTF), P.O. Box 7390 Menlo Park CA 94026, email jmlmvtf@gmail.com, or one of the other organizations Jacques supported: The Patton Museum, Cate School, the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education, the California Academy of Sciences, the Hoover Institution or the Filoli Center.

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Liz Ditz
Outreach Director, Military Vehicle Technology Foundation (MVTF)

MVTF website:
Web Link

MVTF mailing address:
P.O. Box 7390
Menlo Park, CA 94026

MVTF email:
jmlmvtf@gmail.com

Another "good news" addition to these comments is that an aquaintence of mine was arriving from Australia , Oct. '09, to make a pilgrimage to The RESOLUTION in the hills near Pony Tracks (see 'flightofhteresolution.org)...and wanting to make his somber trip as pleasant as I could, amoungst other diversions, I contacted the foundation and was awarded a personal tour, led by well known Michael Green...my new friend Chips Tischler was truly taken aback with such personal treatment to such a prestige site...a tour that he & I will never ever forget !
Other good contact with the family was with Jacques' mother...she being a retail customer of mine for many years on the Peninsula. A grand Dame and mother of a son who is saluted and missed !