When the weather conditions on Richmond Site were dreadful and the road was nearly impassable we would use the "Dead Men" anchors we installed for vehicle winching only as a last resort. This was because no one really wanted to get wet, muddy or frozen using the cable winch. Instead we would try to use every gear available in the vehicle we were driving to get us through the rough spot, ice or up the steep grade. The driver would use low and compound low gears in the transmission or try speed and a higher gear if he could get a running start at it. Every gear combination would also be tried in an attempt to find a way to get the vehicle up to the site without the use of the cable winch and the extra work it required to use.

Using a winch in the mud and monsoon rains is not much better but we did it in the heat and humidity of summer. The cab of the duce and a half truck was so hot even with the windshield windows opened up that we would stand on the trucks running board and drive from the outside of the truck using throttle and low gears to move slowly alone the road.

We went through a number of vehicle clutches either driving the difficult road to Richmond Site or using the clutch driven bumper winches to get out be being stuck along the road in the ditches, gullies and the numerous hazardous areas on the way to and from the radio site. Some fellows were from a big city like New York so they never drove a vehicle before getting to site so they had to be taught everything in a short time. It took them awhile before they could drive a standard transmission truck and develop the ability to operate the winches too. Many clutches were sacrificed for this endeavor to the displeasure of our company motor pool sergeant an SSgt Ramey.    Hi-Res Pic (80K)