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Army Wants Howitzers Back From Ski Areas
The U.S. military is demanding the return of five howitzers that two Sierra Nevada ski resorts use to prevent avalanches, saying it needs the guns for the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Alpine Meadows and Mammoth Mountain received the artillery pieces on loan from the Army and began using them last year to fire rounds into mountainsides and knock snow loose. But the ski resorts received word earlier this month that the Armyâs Tank Automotive and Armaments Command at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois needs the howitzers back immediately. "I need to have them back in the troopsâ hands within 60 to 90 days," said Don Bowen, the Army commandâs team leader in charge of the howitzers. "Itâs a very short timeframe to get them serviceable and back into the theater in southwest Asia. Afghanistan-Iraq is the immediate concern." The ski resorts said they will comply. "Given itâs a war effort, their needs are greater than ours," said Larry Heywood, Alpine Meadows director of mountain operations. More at the link. Itâs an interesting read. Posted by: Seafarious 2004-04-27 |
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