US Army mechanic assures Afghans retain power of information

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Cpl. Mitchell A. Weaver, a Williamsport, Md., native and a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment’s Task Force Storm, troubleshoots Lal-Mohammad-Trabi’s three-kilowatt generator at Baraki Barak in Logar province Nov. 18. (Photo by U.S. Army Cpl. Cooper T. Cash, 210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Task Force Patriot)  

BARAKI BARAK, AFGHANISTAN

11.22.2010

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

By U.S. Army Cpl. Cooper T. Cash

BARAKI BARAK, Afghanistan - The three-kilowatt generator lay dormant, except for the periodic clicking of the starter as the radio station’s staff worked feverishly to restart their needed electric power source; thereby, restoring an equally needed information source for the people of Baraki Barak.

Just then, U.S. Army Cpl. Mitchell A. Weaver, a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to Task Force Storm’s Company F, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, arrived in a high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle. The Williamsport, Md., native broke out his pliers, wire strippers, multimeter and a fully charged replacement battery, working silently and vigorously to find the source of the generator’s failure.

Lal-Mohammad-Trabi is an Afghan radio station that offers news, as well as social and traditional Islamic talk radio to Afghans.

“It’s the only radio station in the area,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Orlando Quinones, a fire support officer assigned to C Company, 2nd Bn., 30th Inf. Also, the station’s staff hopes to distribute a local newspaper in the future, he said.

The local community has an active role in the station’s content.

“Local officials are often interviewed in the studio including the [provincial] governor and Afghan National Police chief,” said Quinones, a Yauco, Puerto Rico, native. “The local people call in and ask the officials any questions they have.”

After replacing equipment and splicing and cutting wires, Weaver flipped a switch and the sound of the diesel motor returned, along with smiles on the faces of the station’s staff who were gathered around the focused mechanic.

“I like mechanical work and am glad I can do something I enjoy in the Army,” Weaver said as he packed his equipment in his Humvee and grinned.

By the greasy hands of a silent mechanic, Afghans in Baraki Barak are once again able to stay informed.

• Date Taken: 11.22.2010
• Date Posted: 11.22.2010 13:30
• Story ID: 60665
• Location: BARAKI BARAK, AF