GARFIELD COUNTY — A historic Half-track military vehicle was stolen last weekend from the Dixie National Forest in an area administered by the Fishlake National Forest, and officials seek the public’s assistance in locating this World War II-era machine.
According to a news release, a White Motor Co., USA Half-track vehicle was removed from the Boulder Mountain Row Lakes area between Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22. The vehicle is part of a historic archaeological site determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
“The theft of this vehicle is a clear violation of this law, and we urge the public to understand the gravity of this situation. An investigation is ongoing,” the news release said.
The Half-track was one of 15,414 made by the White Motor Co. for the Department of Defense between 1939 and 1943. It had wheels on the front, rubber tracks on the rear and a White 160AX straight-six engine, the news release said. It was known as an M2 Scout Car. The vehicle carried six passengers, one gunner, a driver and a front-seat passenger.
“The Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 strictly forbids anyone from removing archaeological resources from federal land. It also prohibits any sales, purchase, exchange, transport or receipt of such resources,” the news release said, quoting the Advanced Research Projects Agency, which protects archaeological sites, states,
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Forest Service Intermountain Region Investigative Analyst Robert Smith at 775-420-1479 (cell), or by email at [email protected].