CLB-8 wreckers recover it all
2nd Force Service Support Group
Story 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. Mueidner, 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 Mueidner, 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.”

Ellie