Camp Ripley prepares vehicles for next wave of floods

CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - As the floodwaters of the Red River recede, Soldiers at Camp Ripley work to prepare about 40 military vehicles for next week, when the river is expected to again crest.

These vehicles, a collection of Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTV) and High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), were used in the Flood Fight during the past few weeks. One by one, each vehicle was brought into the inspection bays at Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site and inspected by two groups of Soldiers, working in two 8-hour shifts. The vehicles mostly needed small repairs, such as replacing hubs and seals, and changing fluids contaminated by the flood waters, according to Capt. Tim Engle, Field Maintenance Shop Commander.

“Much of what we found was daily wear-and tear,” said Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Holtz, platoon sergeant, E. Company, 2-136. “We corrected many of the deficiencies on the spot.”

Holtz also said that his crew knew where to look for damage. “We knew they were in water, and frozen, and they were going to break,” he said. “We knew what to look for.”

Operating in the harsh environment of the floods took a toll for some vehicles. Those vehicles which need extensive repairs will remain at Camp Ripley awaiting replacement parts and repair. The rest, about 90 percent, will be returned to their units or placed in a staging point, ready for the next flood surge.

Sgt. Daryl G. Sanford • Camp Ripley Public Affairs
April 10, 2009

April 7, 2009: Camp Ripley Vehicle Recovery after floods - Low-Res