It was a heavyweight that the enemy simply could not understand. First Lt. Gene S. Lucas put it in words: (QUOTE) "The VC call them 'Fire Dragons' because they don't know what to make of them." If the VCs have ever clashed before, they will generally stay away.
This hulking, nightmarish tank was originally just a mobile anti-aircraft artillery piece, but in the depths of Vietnam it became a force of nature. In January 1968, the United States 26th Marine Regiment withstood an onslaught from three divisions of the North Vietnamese Army for 77 days.
With two Dusters anchoring each end of the airstrip and a company of entrenched Marines sandwiched between them, this configuration became absolutely essential to base defense. Their incessant volleys and tracer bullets spewing in searing barrages faded into a burst of flame and resembled a dragon unleashing hellfire on the waves of attackers.
Now these fire-breathing machines were all that stood between the US Marines holding the line and a vast enemy horde poised to engulf the entire base…
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