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'MAINTAINERS' KEEP V CORPS SIGNAL BATTALION ROLLING IN IRAQ

V Corps Release

Release Date: 7/23/2003

By Spc. Ryan Smith 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- New York has traffic. Houston has traffic. Los Angeles has traffic. Driving in cities such as these takes a toll on drivers as well as their vehicles.

But if the wear and tear on a vehicle driven in these cities can be compared to a football game, they are the peewee leagues. Iraq is the Super Bowl.

But if driving here is the "big game" when it comes to straining vehicles, the soldiers of V Corps's C Company, 440th Signal Battalion's motor pool are the Most Valuable Players in that game, enduring the scorching sun over Camp Victory here to maintain and repair their unit's vehicles every day.

The Darmstadt, Germany unit, part of the corps's 22nd Signal Brigade, performs preventive maintenance checks and services to the company's light wheeled vehicles, as well as repairing damaged or worn out parts, said Sgt. Rodger Evans, senior mechanic for C Company.

It's also an environment where a breakdown could mean disaster. So repairs and maintenance are essential.

"The rest of our unit can't move if their trucks aren't working," said Spc. Cole Rose, one of the unit's light wheeled vehicle mechanics.

Because of the hot, dry weather and the poor condition of the roads here, the motor pool soldiers have been kept busy. The unit repairs or replaces vehicle parts daily, such as torn constant-velocity joint boots, dead batteries and blown tires, Evans said.

"We troubleshoot problems," said Rose. "We've replaced a lot of alternators, oil pans and starters. A lot of it is because of the (hot) weather."

The soldiers also make regular trips to Camp Dogwood to re-supply the shop there and drop off vehicles that have problems that they can't repair at their own motor pool.

In addition to making repairs on the vehicles to keep them running, the motor pool has heating and air conditioning repair specialists, such as Spc. James Ridings, on hand to keep the signal unit's communications shelter trucks in good condition.

"The heat melts the circuit boards and capacitors and other equipment in the signal trucks," said Ridings. Ridings's mission is to keep the trucks cool so signal soldiers can accomplish their missions.

The unit employs a generator mechanic as well, who keeps electricity running to soldiers around the 440th's logistical support area at Camp Victory.

It's not glamorous work, but what the "maintainers" of C Company do behind the scenes here is vital. Without them, their battalion could literally come to a grinding halt.