Demolition takes dedication

Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Lance Cpl. Derek W. Schultz, a combat engineer with Engineer Operations Company, MWSS-172, uses a plasma torch to cut loose a support beam from a temporary building on the MCAS Futenma flightline Sept. 21.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OSAKA, JAPAN

09.21.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Erik Brooks 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Japan - Marines with Engineer Operations Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, combined with Marines from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st MAW, III MEF and demolished five temporary buildings on the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma flightline Sept. 21.

The buildings were constructed on the flightline in 2006 and meant to be used as temporary workspaces, according to Chief Warrant Officer Daniel S. Presley, a platoon commander with Engineer Operations Company.

“After five years of being ravaged by the extreme Okinawa weather, these temporary buildings began to fall apart,” said Presley.

The Engineer Operations Company Marines were asked by the MAG-36 leadership to demolish the buildings that are an eyesore and have been damaged by past typhoons, said Presley.

The Marines took the buildings apart systematically. They started by removing the external supports and wall pieces, said Staff. Sgt. Matthew W. Nunn, heavy-equipment operations chief with MWSS-172. After the external supports were removed, welders came in and removed the roof with plasma torches. The welders then removed internal support beams until the floor was the only thing remaining.

“The hardest part about taking down the buildings was the rusted bolts,” said Nunn. “We had to chisel, sledge hammer and plasma cut the bolts to get them off.”

The Marines separated some of the materials into trash receptacles for pick up.

“A substantial amount of materials removed from the buildings will be used by Environmental and Facilities Engineering in other projects, saving the base money,” said Presley.

This project is more than just another job for the MWSS-172 Marines, it’s a valuable training experience, said Presley.

Marines with six different military occupational specialties worked together to complete the mission. Included in the deconstruction were basic electricians, metal workers, engineer equipment operators, engineer equipment mechanics, combat engineers and refrigeration technicians.

“This was a perfect opportunity to display our capabilities and use multiple military occupational specialties to support the base, while providing valuable training for our Marines,” said Lt. Col. Darin J. Clarke, commanding officer of MWSS-172.

“We wanted to take this opportunity to train our Marines and save the base some money,” said Clarke.

Helping demolish these buildings is one of the best ways to learn about the capabilities of the Marines, according to Clarke.

“I hope that we can continue to do these projects with Futenma to train our Marines and meet the needs of the base,” said Clarke. “Projects like these help us maintain our capabilities so that if deployed, we can effectively achieve our main goal, which is constructing a forward operating base.”

• Date Taken: 09.21.2011
• Date Posted: 09.28.2011 23:07
• Story ID: 77728
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OSAKA, JP