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Pocono News Section
Army Depot Extremely Busy
Army Depot Extremely Busy - Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 3:30PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 @03:30pm EST
TOBYHANNA, MONROE COUNTY - While soldiers fight the War on Terror in the Middle East, others fight it right here in Northeast Pennsylvania. Workers at the Tobyhanna Army Depot repair equipment for the military. The crew that repairs night vision goggles and scopes is exceptionally busy.
Joe Fantanarosa is the Division Chief for Electro Optics Night Vision. He said, "Recently we we had a shipment of 1300 of them that these guys did in two weeks working seven days a week."
Thats about a month's worth of work in two weeks. As the War on Terror continues Army Depot workers say they have to work overtime to keep up.
David Kakareka is an electronics technician. He recently worked ten to twelve hour days for two weeks. He said, "I guess I could say my family motivated me, helping them out. It's giving them the freedom because they're fighting a war for us. IF they weren't fighting it for us then who would."
When the scopes come in from the battle field they can be a mess, full of sand and scratches but once the crew at the depot is finished, they work as good as new and they're shipped overnight back to soldier.
"You're giving it back to standards that can be used by the soldier immediately," said Kakareka.
While about 15 workers repair the scopes at the depot, others work on army bases.
Twenty one employees from our area are about to work away from home, repairing gear in the field.
Kakareka has done two of those missions. He misses his wife and two kids when he's away but says his family understand protecting the people who protect our freedom is an important mission.
The Army Depot is the military's largest electronics repair center so every department has been extremely busy recently.
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