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Since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the United States
has been involved in many peacekeeping and contingency operations.
The Army has used this time to develop the mission, use, and
training of airborne and special operations soldiers. With
successful operations in places from Grenada and Panama to
the war in the Persian Gulf, U.S. airborne and special operations
soldiers have continued to spearhead the nation's fighting
power.
The M551 Sheridan armored reconnaissance vehicle was heavy
enough to be considered a tank by many, but light enough to
be dropped into combat by parachute. Veteran of many airborne
operations, a Sheridan is on display in the museum, with a
member of "America's Guard of Honor", the 82d Airborne
Division, ready for combat along side.
Overhead is an AH-6 "Little Bird". This small but
deadly helicopter represents the use of special operations
airpower. From the early airplanes that dropped paratroopers
and towed gliders to the blistering modern gun-ships like the
AC-130H Specter, aircraft have always been an intrinsic part
of airborne and special operations.
A diorama at the museum depicts a Special Forces hide-site during
the Persian Gulf War. The front of the site is nearly invisible
against the backdrop of the desert. The rear of the site has
been cut away to show the soldiers carefully watching the movements
of an Iraqi convoy. These "silent professionals" will
then relay what they are seeing through secure radio methods,
providing a "real-time" view of enemy movement.
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