Courtesy Photo | Soldiers of the 864th Engineer Battalion, from Fort Lewis, Wash., assist in directing...... read more read more
By Army Cpt. Ashley Dellavalle
Task Force Rugged Public Affairs Office
PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army engineers began construction of a bridge at Jaji, a small village in eastern Paktya province near the Pakistani border, Sept. 9.
Soldiers with the 864th Engineer Battalion stationed out of Fort Lewis, Wash., were tasked to clear the land around the site and emplace the abutments for the future bridge.
"Our mission is to construct the ramp entrance and abutments that will act as footers for the bridges," said Army Staff Sgt. David Austin from Charlotte, N.C., the platoon sergeant overseeing the project.
The abutments are constructed out of Hesco bastions.
"I helped dig the hole with our Hyex. Then, we stretched out the Hescos. We are going to place gravel in the Hescos and level it out. The 70th [Engineer Battalion] will put in the Bailey Bridge," said Spc. William Burr of Chesterfield, S.C.
The site of the future bridge lies in a valley. Just on the other side of the river, Soldiers of the 864th Eng. Bn. are also building a small firebase for coalition forces. Without the bridge, it is almost impossible to get vehicles to the base.
The crossing is also a prevalent supply route for locals Afghans. Just a few miles away, through the passes of the mountains, lie the Pakistan border, where many of the locals conduct trade.
"This route is impassable for the locals without this bridge. It is both the main road to Pakistan [from this area] and the primary means for access to the firebase," said Austin.
"We are doing this for the community," added Burr.
"The bridge will help the economy of the Afghan people by increasing their trade capability," said Austin.
The 40-foot military bridge will be constructed by the Engineer Soldiers of the Afghan National Army in conjunction with the 70th Engineer Battalion, of Fort Riley, Kan., in the next few weeks. The Afghan and U.S. Engineers trained together on bridge emplacement at Bagram Airfield.
Currently, the same platoon that will emplace the bridge is assisting the 864th Engineers with security of the site.
Just two weeks ago, the bridge site was the location of a tragic incident where three Soldiers of the 864th Eng. Bn. were killed by a suicide bomber.
"We are saddened from our loss," said Austin. "The Soldiers are raising their standards and awareness on the jobsite."
The Soldiers of this unit will build the bridge in the name of their fallen Soldiers and never forget these Soldiers helped build the cornerstones to the bridge.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2007 14:53 |
| Story ID: | 12314 |
| Location: | PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 368 |
| Downloads: | 305 |
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