The "Gods of Tow"- the US Marines

In thew latest issue of Tow Times (october issue) they reprinted an artical found about the U.S. Marine Corps Towing division. this is a great artical and i wanted to share it on my site also. I copied the artical from the USMC web site- i also included pictures and an aditional artical. These guys are the best! these guys are truly heros!

from: http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/1C5F4763F155A1FF85257051005DEB20?opendocument

"Gods of Tow" to the Rescue

Submitted by:	2nd Force Service Support Group
Story by:	Computed Name: Sgt. Kristin S. Jochums
Story Identification #:	20058213550

AL ASAD, Iraq � The Marines from the wrecker section, Maintenance Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), pose beneath an American flag flying between two of their recovery vehicles. The section�s mission is to provide recovery support for all vehicles that become disabled within their area of operations. Photo by: Courtesy photo

AL ASAD, Iraq(Aug. 2, 2005) -- Adorning the names of Greek Gods, such as Zeus and Achilles, are the �Gods of Tow.� Though they may not travel the road down from Mount Olympus, they do travel the ones throughout Western Iraq.

The �Gods of Tow� make up the wrecker section, Maintenance Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), and their mission is to provide recovery support for all vehicles that become disabled within their area of operations.

�We are the Marine Corps �AAA,�� said Cpl. Matthew B. Kennedy, a vehicle recovery operator, wrecker section. �You can call on us any time, day or night, and we are ready to go.�

�I drive a big tow truck,� laughed the East Lansing, Mich., native.

The Marines are responsible to recover broken-down, blown-up, flipped-over and wrecked gear. They do anything dealing with recovery and crane support.

�It doesn't matter if it's Marine Corps gear or not, if it's in our area of operations we go pick it up,� said Sgt. Carlos Xavier, noncommissioned-officer-in charge of the wrecker section.

They also support all of CLB-2's convoys going outside the wire by attaching a wrecker with each convoy, at the same time supporting everything else that happens with any other unit�s convoys and the missions other units have within the area.

�We've been extremely busy -- busier than we wanted to be -- but it's not a problem for us because all five of us within this section love doing our jobs,� the Houston native continued.

In the five months the five Marines have been here, they have logged in more than 145 missions, recovered more than 102 pieces of gear and totaled approximately 30,000 road miles. All together they have put in more than 3,000 hours of road time.

It does not matter what time the call comes in, two in the afternoon or two in the morning, the Marines are always enthusiastic about going out on a recovery mission, said Xavier.

�No matter the situation at the scene you always have to come up with a way of hooking that vehicle up and getting it back to base,� said Xavier. �We have to be good at coming up with things on the spot; it's nothing like what they teach you at school.�

During a routine convoy, Sgt. Stuart M. Parris, vehicle recovery operator, used his skills and quick thinking to assist in saving the life of a Marine, after a vehicle struck a double stacked mine.

The explosion flipped the humvee, killing the convoy commander and trapping the driver underneath the vehicle.

After the call came over the radio and not knowing what to expect, Parris had to start preparing himself for the situation up ahead.

�Not ten seconds after the blast they were yelling over the radio for the wrecker to get up there,� said Parris, a Louisville, Ky., native. �I could tell from there voices it was bad. I had to take the wrecker about 50 meters into the desert to make sure I did not hit a mine.�

Parris made his way to the site with the wrecker and used the wrecker to lift the vehicle so the driver could be removed.

�I had no idea what vehicle was hit, but I knew I was going to have to pick the vehicle up with the crane on the wrecker,� he continued. �All of the attention was focused on the driver side of the humvee. The driver, a female Marine, was being crushed by the wreckage. Some of the wreckage was resting on the Marine�s head; her Kevlar probably saved her life.�

During hectic situations the Marines with the Wrecker Section maintain their composure and get the task at hand done.

�I had to maintain control and a level head,� Parris said. �We made a rig to pick up the wreckage and safely removed the Marine from underneath the vehicle. Even with all of the chaos and confusion, Marines stepped up and did their jobs, made sound decisions and put emotion aside.�

Xavier said they are called the �Gods of Tow� because they are the best at what they do. They come up with on-the-spot hookups and make sure every vehicle makes it back to base.

�Not only do we have to hook up to these vehicles, but we have to make sure it's done safely, especially when you have to tow these vehicles a distance of up to 250 miles,� said Xavier. �I think we have stepped up to that challenge from the first day we got into this country.�

�We will never fail at any mission brought to us,� he continued. �Every vehicle that leaves the gate will make it back.�


AL ASAD, Iraq � Sergeant Stuart M. Parris (left), Louisville, Ky., native, and vehicle recovery operator, wrecker section, Maintenance Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), and Sgt. Carlos Xavier, noncommissioned-officer-in charge of the wrecker section and Houston native, pose between two wreckers suspending a piece of recovered equipment in the air. Photo by: Courtesy photo

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the following is from: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/marinefacts/blmk48-15.htm

MK48-15, Recovery / Wrecker Rear Body Unit

Background: The Marine Corps fielded the heavy tactical vehicle system during the mid 1980s. The Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) is a modular system consisting of a MK48 front power unit and, originally, four interchangeable rear body units (RBU). The front power unit and rear body units are joined by a hydraulically powered articulated joint that assists in steering the vehicle and allows a degree of independent movement between the front and rear units for more mobility. The articulated joint transfers automotive power to the RBU axles and hydraulic power for any hydraulically operated equipment. The completed units are 8x8 systems with two front steering axles. The LVS has an off road payload of 12.5 tons and an on road payload of 22.5 tons.

MK48, Front Power Unit - The MK48 Front Power Unit is an enclosed cab, diesel powered, automatic transmission, 4x4 vehicle that provides all automotive and hydraulic power for the LVS combinations.

MK15, Recovery / Wrecker Rear Body Unit - The MK15 Recovery/Wrecker Rear Body Unit provides a lift and tow capability and to recover disabled vehicles.

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The following is from: http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/EBA9BF2285EF417C85257051006801DA?opendocument

CLB-8 wreckers recover it all

Submitted by:	2nd Force Service Support Group
Story by:	Computed Name: Cpl. John E. Lawson Jr.
Story Identification #:	20058214562

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq � Sergeant David A. Taylor (left), Staff Sgt. Chad R. Weidner (center) and Sgt. Clifford A. Golembieski, enlisted leaders of Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward)�s wrecker section pose next to one of the section�s wrecker trucks. The Marines of the section are responsible for providing vehicle recovery support to all Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces operating within their area of operations. Photo by: Cpl. John E. Lawson Jr

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Aug. 2, 2005) -- Humvees, Logistics Vehicle Systems and seven-ton trucks are among the vast arsenal of vehicles used by U.S. troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. So are M1A1 Abrams tanks, Light Armored Vehicles, Amphibious Assault Vehicles and many others.

Fortunately for everyone who operates or rides in these systems, the Marines of Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), have another type of vehicle in their arsenal: wrecker / recovery vehicles.

The 15-Marine section operates five motor transport recovery vehicles, one M88 tank recovery vehicle and one R7 AAV recovery vehicle on recovery missions and as attachments with every CLB-8 convoy departing Camp Fallujah. The Marines are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for recovery missions.

�The whole team is on standby,� said Staff Sgt. Chad R. Weidner, recovery chief and Centerville, Penn., native. �We are usually responding and ready-to-roll within ten minutes of [a recovery request].�

The recovery team has stayed busy, logging more than 17,000 miles since deploying to Iraq in February.

The wreckers support more than just the needs of CLB-8; they support any within their area of operations, including other Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces. They have also moved numerous civilian vehicles and lent their assistance to the engineers and projects short on heavy equipment.

Sergeant David A. Taylor, wrecker noncommissioned officer-in-charge and Port Allegany, Penn., native, said it is not uncommon for the recovery section to move broken-down, abandoned civilian vehicles from the roadways in the Fallujah area.

This initially provided a challenge for the Marines; their training taught them how to recover military vehicles, not civilian vehicles. But, in true Marine fashion, the wreckers quickly learned to adapt and overcome.

�Out here we recover cars, tractor trailers; we do everything, heavy equipment, motor [transportation], civilian vehicles, AAVs, tanks,� Taylor said. �We do it all.�

Civilian vehicles are turned over to the appropriate Iraqi Highway Patrol unit once removed from the roadways.

Removing broken down vehicles from the roadway is important because they have become an insurgent favorite as a hiding place for Improvised Explosive Devices, said Taylor.

The recoveries do not come without challenges though, said Sgt. Clifford A. Golembieski, R7 crew chief and Silver Creek, N.Y., native.

�A lot of [the challenges] come from where the vehicles are located. There are a lot of tight or rough areas out here,� he said. �We�ve been down some roads I wouldn�t take a Hugo down; but we�re going down them in a seven ton wearing [night vision goggles].�

Most of the non-IED or mine-related recoveries originate when the units are operating on terrain or in conditions where their vehicles are not made to go.

�You can�t blame the units though,� said Golembieski. �They have a mission to do.�

Taylor pointed out another challenge of the high-paced mission: sleep deprivation.

�Every recovery mission we go on, we have no idea how long we�ll be out there,� he said, also emphasizing the ever-ready mindset of the section. �Sometime we get to sleep and 20 minutes later there is a knock on the door and a mission to accomplish. We�re always on the go.�

The mission would not be the success it is without the positive attitude possessed by each Marine, said Weidner, adding the Marines often argue on who �gets to go� on a mission, not who �has to go.�

�They�re all happy to go out,� he said. �They�d rather be out on the road than sitting around here.�

For more information regarding this story, contact cssemnfpao@cssemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq �A truck from the wrecker section of Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), stages with a convoy preparing to depart Camp Fallujah. The Marines of the vehicle recovery section attach to convoys to provide wrecker support and support to all Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces operating within their area of operations. Photo by: Cpl. John E. Lawson Jr.

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the following is from: http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2005/050318-wrecker.html

Operators complete first seven-ton wrecker course on Okinawa

A group of Marines learn about the MK36 in an operators' license course for the MK36 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement wrecker at 3rd Transportation Support Battalion's motor pool on Camp Foster March 8.

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This is from: http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/lookup/2004111925351?opendocument

Sgt. Jack R. Pierce, a wrecker operator of Motor Transportation platoon, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, transports a HUMMWV tire on a wrecker during Fallujah operations.The mission of Motor-T is to respond to any vehicle that may go down while performing duties in Fallujah.