Engineers fortify Iraqi Police Station
AL FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 23, 2007) -- In an attempt to protect those serving the local community, Marines from Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) fortified an Iraqi Police Station in southwest Fallujah March 23.
http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200732902023
March 23, 2007; Submitted on: 03/29/2007 12:20:23 AM ; Story ID#: 200732902023
By Cpl. Andrew Kalwitz, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
“They need a stronger presence in Fallujah,” said Gunnery Sgt. Richard O. Thomas, company gunnery sergeant for Engineer Company. “It’s the center of insurgent activity in the area of operations.”
The Marines planned accordingly before entering the area, having reinforcements nearby and security ready to watch over them.
“It’s a bubble of protection while we’re working. It’s a necessary bubble,” said Thomas, a Miami native. “We still had our internal security set up, but at least you know someone’s watching while you work.”
During the mission, the company repaired a pothole in front of the station, bulldozed an adjacent building that insurgents have been known to use for hiding, emplaced a concertina wire fence around the structure and disposed of unexploded ordnance discovered nearby.
The battalion’s Transportation Support Company later joined the mission, bringing along 55 concrete barriers weighing a total of 165,000 pounds. After placing the barriers along the front of the building, they left the area to the Marines of Engineer Company.
The mission was also intended to allow contractor support to refurbish the building. Thomas said the structure could be improved with better plumbing, roofing, electric work and windows.
Capt. Walter G. Carr, the commanding officer of Engineer Company, acknowledged the mission’s significance prior to departing.
“It will take a catastrophic event for us to stop working,” he told them.
As ready as the Marines seemed to be for such an event, it never came. Instead, they completed their mission, returning to Camp Fallujah more than 14 hours after originally beginning their labor.