NITRO, W.Va. (WCHS) — In the mid-1980s, Nitro acquired an historic M1917 tank from a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Alexandria, Virginia. The city made a donation to that post for the right to display the vehicle. It was funded by the Nitro Benefits Association.

The tank became of symbol of the city's roots as a wartime explosives manufacturer, but in 2005, the president of Nitro's Historical Commission died and Jack Moody's heirs swiftly took the tank, under the guise it was being refurbished.

However, the vehicle was then sold to Indiana's Ropkey Armor Museum where it stayed for years. That facility closed and now, the M1917 resides at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in DuBois, Wyoming.

“This particular M1917 cost a little more than one-point-two million dollars.,” Dan Starks, founder of the National Museum of Military Vehicles, said in a video about the tank. “It's the most expensive vehicle here in the museum. The most expensive vehicle in my entire collection. So, it's just special, really rare, special.”

Efforts to reach Starks or any representatives of the National Museum of Military Vehicles have not been successful.

In 2017, with the tank still missing, newly-elected Gov. Jim Justice joined the effort to get the tank back to the Mountain State.

He sent a letter to the U.S. Army asking for help, closing his correspondence with, "I would greatly appreciate any assistance you could offer in securing this World War I tank for a true World War I city: Nitro, West Virginia."

“What it really boils right down to it and everything that letter basically was saying in 2017, a hundred years ago there was this incredible war machine and absolutely it was ours, it's part of us in West Virginia,” Justice said. “The state that contributes more individuals, absolutely that step up and have defended our nation over and over and over. Absolutely, we need our tank back. I mean, that's all there is to it.”

Justice wasn't the only politician in 2017 fighting for the return of the tank. Nitro Mayor David Casebolt also contacted the military, writing in part, "This tank would be the focal point of our museum, serve as a monument to honor those who served our country in the building of "Explosives Plant C," and help celebrate our centennial and future tourism for our city."

However, Casebolt has apparently changed his mind. The mayor has declined our interview requests to talk about the tank, but has told me the city no longer wants it, a decision he says is supported by a majority of Nitro's Historical Commission members.

Casebolt now said there's no place to store nor exhibit it properly, despite the memorial museum which sits on the same block as city hall.

Justice, on the other hand, disagrees, believing that the tank is important to the people of Nitro.

“We deserve to have our tank back. I mean, it's ours,” he said.

While Justice said that the tank should return to West Virginia, he understands Casebolt’s position that it will ultimately become another cost to the city.

“I totally understand though, from the city of Nitro, that it takes dollars and the city's probably trying to manage the city and do everything they can,” Justice continued. “Lots of times you've got one dollar, and you've got three dollars’ worth of stuff that you got to tend to. I get it. I understand, but from my standpoint, for me to be involved there's got to be folks that really, really want to see it happen because when you look back you've got to see people charging up the hill with you.”

While some city leaders say they no longer want the M1917 tank, the Nitro Historical Commission's vice president continues his Don Quixote-type crusade, tilting at armored windmills in an effort to return a piece of history to where he says it rightfully belongs.

“We've shown our proof as to how we feel we own it. The other side, per se, has never done that,” Nathan Willis, vice-president of the Nitro Historical Commission, said. “They've, it's kind of like they've never been asked the question by the appropriate person and I think that needs to be done. They should have to provide proof as how they feel they own a tank that is owned by the federal government.”

When contacted by Eyewitness News, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command said that they are checking their records for possible proof of ownership for the tank and if it is found, could prove that the tank’s home is in the City of Nitro.