[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14126]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   FOCUS HOPE'S MOBILE PARTS HOSPITAL

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, earlier this week the U.S. Army held an 
awards ceremony honoring the Top Ten Greatest Inventions of 2003. 
Looking at each of these inventions, one is reminded of the 
technological innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that our 
Nation is able to harness in the global war on terror. These are among 
our Nation's greatest assets.
  One of the Army's Top Ten Greatest Inventions of 2003 was the product 
of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering 
Center, TARDEC, located in Warren, MI. This device, the Squad Automatic 
Weapon Pintle Mount Assembly for the Humvee is a gun mount that has 
been directly attributed with protecting and saving the lives of many 
of our soldiers who are currently deployed in Iraq.
  This gun mount is a novel device that would not have been possible 
were it not for another technological advance that has been developed 
by the U.S. Army TARDEC's National Automotive Center; Focus: HOPE, a 
Detroit-based non-profit; Alion; the Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing 
Project; and several other organizations.
  The Mobile Parts Hospital, as its name implies, is a field deployable 
unit that can rapidly manufacture parts as they are needed. Utilizing 
the latest manufacturing and computer technologies, the Mobile Parts 
Hospital team has developed a mobile unit that can readily travel to 
any destination. By using parts specifications or by reverse 
engineering an actual part, this hospital can make parts as they are 
needed.
  For the past several years, I have worked to fund research and 
development into this program in the hopes that this would one day be 
able to assist our men and women in uniform. It was hoped that these 
science and technology efforts would enable the Mobile Parts Hospital 
to reduce the need for carrying numerous parts into battle. Earlier 
this year, that vision became reality as the Mobile Parts Hospital and 
its crew team were deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The success of the 
Mobile Parts Hospital far exceeded anyone's expectations. Not only did 
it create one of the Army's Ten Greatest Inventions for 2003, but it 
was immediately able to begin assisting units in need of parts.
  Earlier this year, my brother, Congressman Sander Levin, was able to 
speak directly with the mobile parts team in Kuwait from Washington, 
DC. During that conversation, he learned that as soon as the team 
arrived in Kuwait, they had soldiers lined up outside the Mobile Part 
Hospital seeking the parts and tools they needed to perform their 
duties.
  By all reports, the soldiers came away impressed with the Mobile Part 
Hospital and grateful for its presence in Kuwait. Many soldiers and 
contractors have written to the Mobile Parts Hospital team thanking 
them for their work and for the hospital itself. One soldier wrote 
saying that:

       Currently, I am stationed in Iraq and I was in need of some 
     gun mounts. I made a stop by Camp Doha to pick up some 
     supplies and drive them back up into Iraq. However, my unit 
     is short some gun mounts. I stopped by Kevin Green's shop and 
     asked him to help me out. He was very helpful. In fact, he 
     produced 4 SAW [Squad Automatic Weapon] mounts and adaptors 
     for our unit overnight. I was able to mount all of my 
     weapons, which is very helpful when we are engaged with the 
     enemy. I wanted to let you know that the mounts he is making 
     are what we need and he is very helpful in what he is doing. 
     Thank you.

  Another soldier wrote saying that:

       you have an excellent representative to your project here 
     in Kuwait and your products are excellent quality, and in 
     excellent working order, much better than what we are able to 
     pull out of a retro yard, and I wish we would have had this 
     service a year ago when we got here. You all have done a 
     great service to the Army, and particularly, my guncrew . . . 
     and for that, I thank you!!

  Others wrote that due to the work of the Mobile Parts Hospital they 
were able to get their CH-47 helicopters ``fully mission capable for 
this task. We appreciate everything these guys have done for us. They 
have been more than cooperative and willing to help. They have been 
very professional, in person, and at their jobs.''
  The Mobile Parts Hospital has been used to make new parts for many 
purposes and one contractor noted that:

       A colleague saw new tools and asked if the Mobile Parts 
     Hospital ``could manufacture similar tools. Not only did they 
     agree to, but they also agreed to slightly modify their 
     current design to meet . . . requests for modification of the 
     tools.
       I cannot say enough how appreciative I am of their help, 
     timeliness, and professional demeanor. They are currently 
     working under a heavy load due to the Army's decision to 
     attempt to send only armored Humvee's to Iraq. They have been 
     asked to make a VARIETY of parts for all manner of devices. 
     As for my shop, we are currently inspecting and servicing .50 
     caliber machine guns (plus others) that are being sent to or 
     with the warfighters in Iraq. Being able to save time, labor, 
     and damage (incurred using the hammer and punch method), we 
     are able to send the weapons out in a much more timely 
     fashion.
       I want to thank you for having the foresight to send this 
     team of dedicated workers and I want to thank the men at the 
     `parts doctor' shop.''

  Michigan has a long and proud tradition of serving as the ``Arsenal 
of Democracy.'' The Mobile Parts Hospital is just one of the latest 
examples of the ingenuity and innovation that has enabled our nation to 
succeed in past conflicts and guarantees our success in the future.
  Developed in conjunction with Focus: HOPE, a non-profit organization 
committed to taking ``intelligent and practical action to overcome 
racism, poverty and injustice,'' and the National Automotive Center, 
the Mobile Parts Hospital has been a tremendous success. Both 
organizations are to be commended for their vision and their dedication 
to developing a practical tool for assisting our soldiers in combat, 
and making a lasting contribution to our national security.
  For 35 years, Focus: HOPE has been helping people develop the skills 
they need to succeed professionally. Many of the candidates at Focus: 
HOPE, who are earning their Associate's or Bachelor's degrees, played a 
key role in developing the Mobile Parts Hospital. Focus: HOPE and the 
entire Mobile Parts Hospital team are to be commended for their efforts 
in making this project a success. In particular, I would like to honor 
the 9 team members who were at Camp Arifjan working with the Mobile 
Parts Hospital and supporting our troops. What follows is the list of 
their names: Todd A. Richman, Joe Shenosky, Kevin Ksiazek, Tim Ponzi, 
Robert Huffman, Greg Murnock, Kevin Green, Matt Middleton, and Greg 
Outland.

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