48th Brigade mechanics prove naysayers wrong

Photo By Staff Sgt. David Bill | CAMP STRIKER, Iraq -- Mechanics from 48th Brigade Combat Team lift off the cab of the Heavy Equipment Transporter Tractor, revealing an engine that needed to be replaced. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Bill, 48th Brigade Combat Team PAO)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.11.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Sgt David Bill and Staff Sgt Jerry Love
48th BCT PAO

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq " They said it couldn't be done, but Task Force Baghdad Soldiers proved the naysayers wrong.

Mechanics from 48th Brigade Combat Team completed in seven days a task they were told would take civilian contractors four weeks to accomplish: replace the engine in a Heavy Equipment Transporter Tractor.

When Staff Sgt. Jerry Love's automotive section of Company B, 148th Support Battalion was told that in order to replace an engine in a HETT, it had to be shipped off to Camp Anaconda near Balad, Iraq, or even as far as Kuwait.

"We were told we did not have the right equipment, personnel, or training to do this task. Even the active-duty units in the area said to just ship it off to the civilians," said Love, the automotive section noncommissioned officer from Claxton, Ga.

"We had more don'ts than do's when we looked at the job ahead of us," he added. "But I knew the team could get it done if we worked together."

The mechanics knew they would be working non-stop to get the job done. This job was critical since A Company, 148th Support Bn. needed the large transport trucks to sustain the support they provide to the 48th BCT.

"The best thing about the HETT job was that we had a good team." said Spc. Oscar Luis Garcia of New York City.

Love gathered five Soldiers with different elements of expertise " in the areas of heavy equipment, hydraulics, wiring, and wrecker operation.

The task at hand was daunting. Unlike the M1 Abrams tank, which is designed to have the "pack" removed with relatively less difficulty, the HETT's entire cab must be removed before mechanics can have access to the engine and transmission. Mechanics were forced to squeeze in between the cab and the engine and transmission to disconnect all the wires and hoses.

"It would have been easier if there had been an access panel in the armor so we could get to the wires and air lines," said Spc. Ignacio Mendez, of Aguada, Puerto Rico.

"The hardest thing about the HETT job was that even though it is a huge truck, some of the tasks required us to squeeze into very tight areas for long periods of time," said Spc. Bryan Urquart, of Cartersville, Ga.

Once the cab was unbolted, and the wires and hoses were all disconnected, the process of lifting the entire piece off the vehicle frame was the next challenge.

That was one of the areas the team was told they were not equipped to handle. However, they designed mechanisms required to hold the cab while the engine was being replaced.

The crew worked non-stop on the project and once the original engine was out and disconnected from the transmission, then the process was reversed with the new engine. However, the replacement had some issues that needed to be resolved and, with the skill of surgeons, the mechanics solved problems with discussion and teamwork. It all paid off as the mechanics watched the HETT drive away seven days after they started the job.

"I really enjoyed hearing the HETT start up and watching it roll out after all of our hard work." said Spc. Antonio Williams of Hampton, Ga.

"All in all, this was a good experience." said Spc. Robert Powell, of Lovejoy, Ga.. "We accomplished something that none of us had ever done before and may never ever do again. No one can ever take that away from us."

• Date Taken: 10.11.2005
• Date Posted: 10.11.2005 15:19
• Story ID: 3260
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ