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Members of the Fort Knox SCRA give historic Fort Knox landmark a new coat of paint

By Patrick HodgesOctober 25, 2024

Fort Knox SCRA Tank Painting
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25. (Photo Credit: Patrick Hodges, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox SCRA Tank Painting
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox SCRA Tank Painting
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25. (Photo Credit: Patrick Hodges, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox SCRA Tank Painting
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25. (Photo Credit: Patrick Hodges, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25.

According to the group’s website, it is a “private, nonprofit organization that provides an opportunity for all active, reserve, and national guard, officers, warrant officers, enlisted members and civilians, as well as any former members of the Signal Corps to aid in preserving for posterity the proud heritage of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Regiment, and Signal units throughout the world.”

Octavia Blackwell, president of the Fort Knox SCRA, said the group decided to take on the project in part as a way to announce the organization’s return after being inactive after several years.

“It was a way to say the chapter is here, it’s back and it’s active,” said Blackwell. “Adopting one of the tanks was one of the most visible ways to do that.”

The organization’s vice president, Luke Morris, said he saw the project as an opportunity to give back to the community and help preserve the history of the installation.

“Even though the Armor Center moved to Fort Moore, there is armor history here,” said Morris. “As part of an organization that wants to give back and be part of the community, we wanted to lend a hand, and we did so by adopting this tank and pledging to take care of it. It’s something that everyone sees daily.”

Fort Knox SCRA Tank Painting
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25. (Photo Credit: Patrick Hodges, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox SCRA Tank Painting
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: Patrick Hodges, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox SCRA Tank Painting
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Fort Knox Gold Vault Signal Corps Regimental Association painted one of the historic M48 Patton tanks, located along Chaffee Avenue on post, on Oct. 25. (Photo Credit: Patrick Hodges, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

The tank, along with the other M48 located across the street, once flanked the post’s former main gate. This same tank was also featured prominently in the movie Stripes as part of the fictitious Fort Arnold entrance.

According to First Division Museum’s website, the M48 was developed during the Cold War to replace the M47 as the U.S. Army’s main battle tank. Variations of the tank were in service up until the 1980s.

Visit Fort Knox News at www.army.mil/knox for all of Central Kentucky's latest military news and information.