The U.S. Military M274 Truck, Platform, Utility 1/2 Ton, 4X4 or “Carrier, Light Weapons, Infantry, 1/2 ton, 4×4” aka “Mule,” “Military Mule,” or “Mechanical Mule” is a 4-wheel drive, gas powered truck/tractor type vehicle that can carry up to 1/2 ton off-road. It was introduced in 1956 and used until the 1980s. It is today a popular military vehicle collectors’ items and is incredibly durable and useful.  The M274 Mule was introduced in 1956 to replace both the 1/4 ton trucks (“Jeeps”) and 3/4 ton trucks (Weapons Carrier Series and M37 series) in airborne and infantry battalions. They were used throughout the Vietnamese Conflict and other U.S. military operations until the 1980s as platforms for various weapons and for carrying men, supplies, and weaponry/ammunition. They offered absolutely no protection to the driver yet that was relatively unimportant as they were mainly used as cargo carriers and medium-range infantry support vehicles rather than close-combat anti-infantry vehicles. They were phased out from military usage in the 1980s with the introduction of the HMMWV series vehicles. The HMMWV was however unable to fulfill the role of the Mule and the 3/4 ton trucks they replaced so the M-Gator, a military variant of the popular John Deere Gator vehicle, was introduced.  This Mule is armed with the M20 75mm recoilless rifle.  The Mech’s M274 is the vehicle credited with starting the museum as it was the first vehicle saved and restored by Curator Jim King.