9th Infantry: Stryker Doesn't Work

January 30, 2008
9th Infantry: Stryker Doesn't Work

"I wish [the enemy] would just blow mine up so I could be done with it," said Spec. Kyle Handrahan, 22, of Anaheim, Calif., a tanker assigned to Alpha Company, 4/9's MGS platoon.

"It's a piece," another MGS platoon member chimed in. "Nothing works on it."

The gripes stem from a litany of problems, including a computer system that constantly locks
up, extremely high heat in the crew compartment and a shortage of spare parts. In one case, a key
part was held up in customs on its way to Iraq, a problem one Soldier recognizes is a result of a
new system being pushed into service before it's ready.