Photo By Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | Past and present commanding officers of 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- The 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group held a demolition ceremony to tear down its old command post here, Jan. 12.
The former command post was built in 1942 and housed many commanding officers and their staffs in its 69 years of existence. Several of the former commanding officers attended and participated in the official demolition of the old building.
“I’ve had a lot of memories here,” said Llyod Prosser, who served as the commanding officer of 7th ESB from June 1984 to December 1985. “This building has a lot of history.”
During the ceremony, several past and present commanders gave speeches and later took part in the destruction of the building. All of them gathered around an antique detonator and recited a signature slogan used by engineers before detonating explosives –“Fire in the hole!”— before setting off carbon dioxide powered simulation explosives. Afterward, engineers used bulldozers to level the building.
7th ESB has a new 19,000-square-foot command post located a few hundred feet from the old location. The construction of the new building is part of a slew of projects, including a new 1st MLG headquarters building and new barracks aimed at updating the condition of 1st MLG facilities.
“It was time to get rid of these old buildings,” said John Sweeney, commanding officer of 7th ESB from August 1993 to June 1995. “Our new generation of Marines needs a newer building to work in.”
Since its inception in 1950, 7th ESB has served during multiple operational deployments, including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Phantom Fury and most recently Operation Moshtarak in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2010, during which 7th ESB improved roads and built bridges to assist in projecting coalition forces into Marjah to clear the area of insurgents. During their tour, the battalion also built wooden structures, purified water, and provided bulk fuel and power in order to sustain the “life support” infrastructure for units throughout the area of operation.
“I can honestly say 7th ESB is one of the hardest-working battalions in the Marine Corps,” said Frank Winter, commanding officer of 7th ESB from September 1991 to August 1993. “I have witnessed it during my time here as well as what the Marines are doing now.”
After the ceremony each commander was given a plaque made with wood from the former command post, so they could take home a piece of history and have something to remember their time as the commanding officer of 7th ESB.
| Date Taken: | 01.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2011 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 66730 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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