864th Engineers beautify Camp Torkham

Photo By Daniel Rangel | Pacoima, Calif., native, Army Spc. Cristian Camacho of the 864th Engineer Battalion, Bravo Company stationed out of Fort Lewis, Wash., builds walls for the new B-huts at Camp Torkham 23 Aug.  

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

09.01.2007

Story by Pfc. Daniel Rangel 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Engineers began construction of another B-hut Aug. 22 at Camp Torkham, near the Pakistani border.

Soldiers of the 864th Engineer Battalion stationed out of Fort Lewis, Wash., have been building a set of about a half dozen B-huts to accommodate the large amount of personnel that flow through the installation.

"Our mission is to construct five B-huts, possibly seven, for other units to come by and stay for a while," said Spc. Cristian Camacho from Pacoima, Calif., the 864th Engineer Battalion.

Camacho explained the process of building a B-hut.

"It takes a lot of people to put up a B-hut," Camacho said. "First we build footers then we put in the foundation. (We then) put in plywood (floors). After that we put up the walls, and then we do the roofing. After that it's just beautification to make everything look pretty."

Although the work is hard, the construction foreman explained that the process is actually quite simple.

"It's pretty basic stuff as far as construction goes," said Army Sgt. Joseph Duplechin of Chicago and also from the 864th Engineers. "The only thing you (have) to do is make sure that everything has the right dimensions and measurements. It's all pretty text book, basic stuff. As long as everything is straight and square it all comes out pretty easy."

However, the simplicity of the job doesn't mean there isn't any danger.

"The roof is the most dangerous part because it's high and because of the tin," said Duplechin. "It's the hottest! It's probably a hundred and something (degrees) outside then add another 30 degrees because of the tin."

Even experienced construction workers have fears that they routinely face.

"Well, I'm afraid of heights, so falling off the roof might hurt," said Camacho, who did construction work as a civilian.

According to Duplechin, the trick to safety is staying alert.

"If you start letting your mind wander and do something without even thinking, that's when you get injured," Duplechin said. "People in charge (have) to make sure people stay hydrated and keep their head in the game so they don't get injured by doing something stupid."

The Engineers face other challenges building B-huts as well.

"The material doesn't all get here at the same time to complete a whole section," Duplechin said. "So we just work with what we have and we do the parts we can. And when the other stuff comes, we finish what we can."

The engineers build multiple B-huts at a time. It takes about one week and a considerable amount of materials to build one B-hut from start to finish.

"It takes probably 80 to 100 two-by-fours, 60 to 70 two-by-sixes, about 25 four-by-fours and about 40 two-by-eights. (It also takes) 125 sheets of plywood, 60 sheets of tin and a few rolls of (roofing) paper.

According to Duplechin, when the 18-by-38 foot B-hut is complete it will hold eight-to-10 Soldiers. But the engineers also build different size buildings. The C-hut is a bigger building measuring 120-by- 60 feet. Plus, Engineers also build the K-hut.

"K-huts are made out of arches of metal," Duplechin said. "There's a K-span machine that builds the metal arches. It comes out as a roll of steel then spits it out into an arch."

The engineers also do the electrical work on the buildings, then their job is finished.

"When you do a nice job and everything turns out right, Soldiers have better living conditions and a little more space," Duplechin said. "Right now they have people spending the night in the (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) when (the rest of the FOB) gets too full. Now at least they'll have a place to stay."

The 864th Engineers are particularly motivated to work for the 66th Military Police Company who call Camp Torkham home.

"It feels kinda like family because they're from the same base as us," Duplechin said. "We're trying to do extra good work out here because everybody from this firebase is from Fort Lewis."

With the help of extra B-huts and the 66th MPs, everyone who visits Camp Torkham will feel more like family.

• Date Taken: 09.01.2007
• Date Posted: 09.03.2007 16:26
• Story ID: 12112
• Location: NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AF