Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com

Published - Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Fort McCoy to get funds for barracks updates

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) announced Friday that Fort McCoy will receive $13 million to update its barracks and supporting facilities to improve living conditions on the base. The funding comes on the heels of the release of $248 million the Army recently made available to fix troubled barracks after an examination of the deplorable living conditions at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Following the Army’s announcement of available funds, U.S. Rep. Kind quickly sent a letter Army Secretary Pete Geren, requesting that some of those funds be directed to Fort McCoy.

“More than 100,000 citizen soldiers went through Fort McCoy last year, and poor living conditions there negatively impact their safety, health, training, and morale,” Rep. Kind said. “I am pleased funds are being directed to Fort McCoy so that we can provide them with the housing and facilities they rightfully deserve.”

Soldiers at Fort McCoy live in two-story wooden barracks that were constructed as temporary housing during World War II and the Korean War, originally intended for only five years of use. Since then, some of the 276 barracks have been renovated or modernized.

The emergency funding was made available by the Army following national news coverage about conditions at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

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