News
Email
Print
Army to repair barracks problems revealed by soldier's dad in video
AP Photo
An unnamed soldier tries to unclog a drain at Fort Bragg, in this photo released by Ed Frawley of Menomonie, Wis.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: May 10, 2008
Washington - The U.S. Army said yesterday that it will immediately repair barracks at eight bases in the wake of inspections at bases worldwide.
The inspections were done the last week of April and covered nearly 150,000 barracks rooms. They found that 45 repairs needed priority attention, including new heating and cooling equipment, repainting, mold removal and other work.
Army Secretary Pete Geren has said that $248 million in emergency money has been appropriated to fix problems found during the inspections.
The Army yesterday identified eight installations that will get priority attention: Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Polk, La.; Fort Gordon, Ga.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York; Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland; and Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.
So far, the Army has moved 13 soldiers to make the needed repairs.
Officials are scrambling to make the repairs after a soldier's father posted a video on YouTube last month showing the dilapidated barracks for paratroopers at Fort Bragg. The video was taken by Ed Frawley of Menomonie, Wis., whose son, Sgt. Jeff Frawley, is part of the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates called the conditions appalling and ordered base commanders to ensure that their troops have proper quarters.
According to the Army, repair money will include:
□ Fort Bragg, $2.9 million (in addition to the $2.6 million already spent on the barracks there, triggered by the video)
□ Fort Polk, $166 million
□ Fort Gordon, $49.7 million
□ West Point, $9.3 million
□ Fort Lewis, $7.4 million
□ Fort Stewart, $6.2 million
□ Tripler Army Medical Center, $1.7 million
□ Aberdeen Proving Ground, $1.2 million
Thousands of soldiers are assigned to barracks built for the GIs who fought World War II and the Korean War, and the buildings are showing their age.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
N.C. Politics
Federal Politics
See community events or add your own! Click here!
Advertisement
