Tripler to get repairs after worldwide inspection of Army bases
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army said Friday it will immediately repair barracks at eight facilities, including Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawai'i, in the wake of inspection at bases worldwide.
The inspections were done the last week of April and covered nearly 150,000 barracks rooms. They found that 45 repairs needed priority attention, including new heating and cooling equipment, repainting, mold removal and other work.
Army Secretary Pete Geren has said that $248 million in emergency funds has been appropriated to fix problems found during the inspections.
The Army on Friday identified seven installations that will get priority attention in addition to Tripler: Fort Polk, La.; Fort Gordon, Ga.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York; Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
So far, the Army has had to relocate 13 soldiers in order to make the needed repairs.
Officials are scrambling to make the repairs after a soldier's father posted a video on YouTube last month showing the dilapidated barracks for paratroopers at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates called the conditions appalling and ordered base commanders to ensure their troops have proper quarters.
According to the Army, repair funding will include:
Thousands of soldiers are assigned to barracks built for the GIs who fought World War II and the Korean War, and the buildings are showing their age.
