We had the old WW2 building for our shops, and one of them had a open section with a drive across pit for changing oil , etc.
The transmission in my car was worn out, and would no longer work properly at highway speeds. I located a good used one very cheap, so bought it. I asked my Sgt if I could use the outside pit on the weekend to change it, which he said OK.
Well, we drove it in, then let it cool for about 30 mins, then drained the fluid. These transmissions are pretty heavy, so I had brought a old orange crate down from the mess hall and placed it in the pit, to catch the transmission in case it got dropped. Well, we got everything unbolted, and my buddy grabbed the rear, and I grabbed the front, and we proceded to slide it out. Well with us being in a hurry, we forgot to drain the torque converter of fluid. Well, when the front of the transmission came out of the converter, about 6 quarts of Hot Red transmission fluid hit me in the neck and shoulders. I dropped the front of the transmission, and ran up the steps of the pit and out into the motor pool screaming from the hot fluid. Well, just then, one of the AIT Students walking around the motor pool on Guard Duty was walking up, and starting hollering louder than me, "OMG, what should I do?"
He though the red fluid was blood.... There was a water hose on the side of the building, and I pulled my tee shirt off, and hosed myself off to get the excess fluid off, and to cool my self some. We all laughed, then got back to work putting the other transmission in.
I wish we would of had a camera that day....
Below is how the area looks now, and where the old motor pool was located.
Our motor pool was located almost directly behind the new Anderson Hall.
At some point the GMC 2 1/2 trucks were replaced with M35 Series Mulitfuel Trucks for towing the 105mm Howitzers. I was told the motor pool was still in use in 1973. Any Updates on the 1st Brigade Motor Pool?
Below is some of the training that took place in the 1st Training Bde. These 105mm
Howitzers were only one of the many types used to train at Ft Sill OK.
I am looking for any of the guys that were in this unit during the late 60s, and any photos of the guys, buildings, or motor pool. Some of the guys I remember are: Roger Haynes, Ron Davis, Joe Tholand, Bob Osmas. Bob had a girl friend named Fran. I also remember a guy, Stanly that worked in the Tire Shop. He stayed jacked up sniffing glue. Seen him laying on his bunk with a glue soaked rag on his face.
This is the car that I had while I was at Ft Sill Ok.
I traded it in on my 67 Mustang GT. We spent a lot of weekends
in Chickasha OK, and Ada OK, home of East Central State University.