When your Humvee is stuck on a muddy road, you don't need AAA. You need the Army.
Earlier this month, the Montana National Guard helped rescue a Humvee from Malmstrom Air Force Base that had gotten stuck on a soggy dirt road, the Billings Gazette reported.
Air Force security forces from the base near Great Falls were patrolling Minuteman III missile sites when they had to abandon the vehicle. The airmen had to leave the area on foot, according to the newspaper.
The Air Force Humvee had been stuck on the muddy Montana road for more than a week.
Photo Credit: Maj. Christopher Lende/Montana National Guard
The Air Force attempted to free the Humvee three times, but the muddy conditions proved to be difficult. A log was jammed through two front tow bars, and another log was behind the rig. Mud buried the driver's side up to the bottom of the door, the paper reported.
The Montana National Guard sent a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew to rescue the Humvee, which took about 30 minutes. The Chinook set the vehicle back on dry land, where it was met by a ground recovery team, according to the paper.
Maj. Christopher Lende, public affairs chief for the Montana National Guard, told the Billings Gazette that such sling-load operations are a training task that Army aviation units must be proficient at performing.
Connie Hempel, public affairs chief at Malmstrom, told the paper that the Guard asked the Air Force base to use the recovery as a training exercise.
"It was a great opportunity to demonstrate and execute how cross-service support really works, and we appreciate the assistance," she told the newspaper.
Charlsy Panzino covers the Guard and Reserve, training, technology, operations and features for Army Times and Air Force Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
