US Army unveils its new 'M10 Booker' infantry assault vehicle that's named after 2 hero soldiers

• The US Army has unveiled its new "M10 Booker" infantry assault vehicle.
• It's named after two hero soldiers, staff sergeant Stevon A. Booker and private Robert D. Booker

The US Army unveiled a new infantry assault vehicle — the "M10 Booker" — earlier this month.

Its name honors two soldiers with "heroic legacies" who died 60 years apart but who served the US "selflessly during times of great conflict," the US Army said in a statement.

The army's newest infantry assault vehicle was announced at a celebration of the Army's 248th birthday at the National Museum of the US Army at Fort Belvoir, according to Army Public Affairs.

It honors the Medal of Honor recipient Private Robert D. Booker, who died during World War II, as well as Distinguished Service Cross recipient Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker, who died from his injuries in Iraq.

"The M10 Booker Combat Vehicle is named in their honor because it will accomplish what they both did — enabling squads to continue pushing forward through heavy machine-gun fire while protecting our most important weapon system: our soldiers," US Army Chief of Staff James McConville said.

Nebraska native Robert D. Booker joined the Army in 1942 during World War II. He was in the 34th Infantry Division, which supported the Allied North African campaign in Tunisia.

In 1943, Booked crossed about 200 yards of an open field near Fondouk, Tunisia, in the face of enemy fire. Despite being shot and injured, he destroyed an enemy's machine gun, per Army Public Affairs, which adds that he remained calm and encouraging to his fellow soldiers during his final moments.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart in 1944.

Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker joined the Army in 1987 and served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Booker, from Pennsylvania, was in a unit that led an attack in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 5, 2003. The armored assault eventually led to the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime, according to Army Public Affairs.

Under heavy fire during the raid, Booker's machine gun malfunctioned, but he "disregarded his personal safety and took up an exposed prone position on the top of his tank" until he was fatally wounded, per Army Public Affairs.

The M10 Booker, built by General Dynamics, will allow "light maneuver forces to overmatch adversaries," the Army said.

It is manned by four soldiers and has a "heavy 105-millimeter direct-fire cannon," according to The Defense Post.

It also has an enhanced thermal viewer, a diesel engine, and a lightweight body and turret, it reported.