Soldiers upgrade Humvees with new armor
By Spc. Creighton Holub
June 20, 2006
CAMP TAJI, Iraq (Army News Service, June 20, 2006) – Mechanics and ground support crews of the 4th Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade are providing protection for Soldiers that support aircraft cannot provide: extra armor to shield them from the roadside bombs encountered beyond the gates of Camp Taji.
The professionally manufactured armor is a long way from the scrap metal Soldiers added to their vehicles during the first parts of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“We’re doing the upgrades for Soldier protection,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tony Betancourt, native of El Paso, Texas, and maintenance technician, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
Betancourt was a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic during Desert Shield and Desert Storm when the first humvees saw combat.
“Today’s (humvees) are a lot better. Hopefully they’ll see the differences between what it was and what it is now,” he said.
In addition to the armor upgrades, the mechanics are adding a new restraint system for the gunners operating heavy weaponry from the top hatch.
“The gunner restraint keeps the gunner from going outside the hatch should the vehicle rollover,” said Staff Sgt. Donald Crapper, light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, and native of Rocky Point, N.C.
“The gunner can still move around when he wants to. He’s not going to go outside the vehicle and get hurt for something senseless,” Crapper said. “It’s more comfortable knowing that you’re not going to go outside the vehicle. You don’t have to hang on for dear life if the vehicle rolls over.”
(Editor's note: Spc. Creighton Holub writes for the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office.)
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