Marine Mechanics Repair Life-saving Vehicles in Afghanistan
(June 11, 2010) |
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Lance Cpl. Andrew C. Adams, 26, from Fort Worth,
Texas, motor transport mechanic with Maintenance
Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward),
1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), repairs a
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle at the
Intermediate Maintenance Activities lot at Camp
Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 21. MRAPs can cost
up to $1 million, and the mechanics are able to
fix a vehicle damaged by an IED within a few
weeks, depending on damage sustained, saving
time and money for the Marine Corps. |
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – In the blazing Afghanistan
heat, Marine mechanics can be found turning wrenches, fixing
the vehicles that help keep Marines alive.
Marines with Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Regiment
15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), keep
tactical vehicles up and running at the Intermediate
Maintenance Activities lot and repair those that are damaged
during operations in Afghanistan.
"We repair vehicles that got blown up when they're out on
[combat logistics patrols] and we send them back out to the
units once they're fixed," said Sgt. Daniel L. Lawton,
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle floor
chief with Maintenance Company, CLR-15 (FWD), 1st MLG (FWD).
Once a vehicle is damaged and brought to the IMA lot, it
must go through an inspection process, explained Sgt. Jin
Liu, quality control non-commissioned officer for the IMA
lot, Maintenance Company, CLR-15 (FWD), 1st MLG (FWD). This
is where the vehicle gets an initial inspection when it
arrives and a final inspection before it is returned to its
unit.
"These inspections are to ensure vehicles are up to standard
before they go back out to the fight," said Liu, 26, from
Sacramento, Calif.
The IMA lot is divided into three sections – M-ATVs, MRAPs
and miscellaneous tactical vehicles – to speed
up the repairing process, explained Master Sgt.
Christopher R. Martinez, senior non-commissioned
officer in charge of Maintenance Company, |
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CLR-15 (FWD), 1st MLG (FWD). |
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Lawton, 25, from Norman Park, Ga., is in charge of the M-ATV
repairing section. "Ninety-seven percent of the M-ATV's that
come in here [have] IED-related [damage]," he said. "It's
hard to look at the trucks when they come in because they
were broken down to nothing. Our guys, they work really hard
on these trucks to get them back out to the units. These
Marines, they built it back to a finish product like it was
before it was damaged."
"I feel really good about my job," said Lawton, who added
he's seen mangled vehicles damaged by IED blasts come in for
repair. "But when we asked the Marines that were in the
trucks how they were; well, they walked away fine. So I feel
good about putting the trucks back out there."
These mechanics work hard to get vehicles back out to
operational readiness because they know that these vehicles
can save the lives of their fellow Marines.
"I love my job," said Sgt. Illustrious S. Campbell, MRAP
floor chief with Maintenance Company, CLR-15 (FWD), 1st MLG
(FWD). "Our mission is very important because, hands down,
MRAPs save lives. We've seen it first hand. We've seen it
when it first comes in, see how big the damage was and the
Marines walk out alive."
Replacing a vehicle can be costly – they can cost upwards of
$1 million each – so the mechanics are able to save a lot of
time and money by fixing the vehicles on-site.
"It costs [a lot] to ship an MRAP out here," said Campbell,
28, from Dinwiddie, Va. "We can fix these trucks in country
and get them back out to the fight."
The mechanics are doing everything they can to get these
trucks back out to their units and keep the mission going.
Sgt. Robert R. York, 27, from Hartwell, Ga., miscellaneous
vehicles floor chief with Maintenance Co., CLR-15 (FWD), 1st
MLG (FWD), is in charge of fixing vehicles such as wreckers,
Logistics Vehicle System Replacement, and 7-ton tactical
vehicles. His Marines work day in and day out to fix broken
vehicles.
"It's inspiring to see my Marines come in here and do this
everyday 14-18 hours a day," said Martinez, 42, from Port
Arthur, Texas. "They understand the bigger picture, so they
always push the envelope."
According to Martinez, IEDs are the number one threat to
vehicles in Afghanistan, but the mechanics keep the Marines
rolling in life-saving vehicles. The mechanics might not
hear "thank you" in person very often, but Martinez knows
their job is important to the mission, and keeping Marines
alive.
"Even though they don't hear it," he said, "they know that
someone is grateful." |
Article and photo USMC LCpl. Khoa Pelczar
1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Copyright 2010 | |
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through DVIDS
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