Our Past Is Present August 6, 2018

August 6, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story was taken from a 1978 article published in the “Daily Union” newspaper about an Army truck that got stuck in the lake. 

            A two and a half ton Army truck challenged the wisdom of members of Fort Riley’s 34^th Engineers in extracting the vehicle from Milford Lake near the area known as the sunken bridge, east of US-77.  The Geary County Sheriff’s Department was called by a nearby resident, who reported that the truck, with two men aboard, was almost submerged.

            Captain Robert Woolever was dispatched to the scene and attempted to contact the Fort Riley military police by telephone.  He was unable to reach them because of an apparent malfunction, so the Fort Riley Police services were called. 

            Military Police, a crane and boat were dispatched to give assistance.  While the passenger remained in the boat, the driver waded ashore to get help.  The passenger remained with the truck and sat in a small unsubmerged portion of the vehicle, refusing to wade ashore.

            A boat had been dispatched to the scene, but did not have any oars. So, a Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission sign was lifted and used as a paddle.  Eventually there was an attempt to attach a 10 foot cable from the crane to the truck.  However, the cable was too short.  Since the cable was double stranded, it was made into a single strand, which made it possible to reach the truck.  Eventually the entire truck was rescued along with the lone passenger.  How the truck  got stuck in the lake in the first place is totally unknown.  And that is today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.