Penrose in Fremont County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

"The Green Dragon"

Armored Personnel carrier M113

Photographed by Thomas Smith, August 29, 2021

1. "The Green Dragon" Marker

Inscription. First fielded by the U. S. Army in the Vietnam War in April 1962, the APC M113 was widely used. Nicknamed "The Green Dragon" by the enemy Viet Cong, it originally was designed to provide troop transportation. It found higher use in breaking through triple - canopy jungle to attack and overrun enemy bunkers and compounds, which had been invisible for years deep inside Vietnam's heavy jungle. This design was to transport 11 troops with a crew for two, a driver and a commander. The vehicle's design allowed it two carry a large payload cross - country and to be transported by fixed and rotary - wing aircraft. Original production M113s can swim without deploying flotation curtains, propelled in the water by their tracks. In Late 1968 the armament was standardized to include two M60 machine guns mounted on each side. Soon the armament varied considerably. The Army used the vehicle to conduct search and destroy missions, and road and firebase security. While its crew sometimes deployed as a dismounted infantry unit. When the track unleashed firepower on the enemy, all hell broke loose. Some of the varying uses of the track are pictured here. Over the years many variations have been created, ranging from infantry carriers to nuclear missile carriers. The M113 became one of the most prolific vehicles of the second half of the 20th century, and it continues to serve armies around the world into the 21st century.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam.

Location. 38° 26.03′ N, 105° 6.229′ W. Marker is in Penrose, Colorado, in Fremont County. It is on Decker Drive 0.2 miles east of Airport Drive, on the left when traveling south. In Col Leo Sidney Boston Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Penrose CO 81240,

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United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley

and in Pikes Peak Region.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Arkansas River Valley (approx. 0.4 miles away); Corrections Capital (approx. 0.4 miles away); Arkansas Valley Country (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Royal Gorge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lt. Zebulon Pike's Southwestern Expedition (approx. 2.9 miles away); John Charles Fremont (approx. 2.9 miles away); Oldest Oil Field In The West (approx. 3 miles away); Florence High School (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Penrose.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, August 29, 2021

2. "The Green Dragon" Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 620 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 17, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.