Exceptional employees, quilt for a captain

Photo By Cynthia McIntyre | Carlos Guerra, combat camera photographer for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., received the Employee of the Quarter award during the fiscal year 2015 first quarter awards breakfast March 4. The award, given for the quality and quantity of photographs Guerra produces, was presented by MCLB Barstow commanding officer Col. Michael L. Scalise.  

BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES

03.04.2015

Story by Cynthia McIntyre 

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., held its fiscal
year 2015 first quarter employee awards breakfast at the
Maj. Gen. James L. Day Conference Center, March 4.

Also included was a Welcome Home Heroes presentation
honoring Capt. William Hemme, operations officer with
Fleet Support Division, who recently returned from a tour of
Afghanistan and Kuwait. Hemme was responsible for shipping
out military assets and supplies from Afghanistan during the
winding down of American involvement in the war effort there.

"I don't deal with people," he said of his job. "I deal with
stuff. I get pencils. I get paper. I get tanks. It's not extremely
exciting except in my own little world."

Bill Ponder, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
12039 in Victorville, gave Hemme an official welcome home
certificate. Hemme, who returned to Barstow in December 2014,
was also presented a handmade quilt made by women of the
Apple Valley Regional Chapter of Quilts of Valor.

Dee Brawley, presentation coordinator for the group, said, "I
was humbled by listening to this gentleman saying his job wasn't
very exciting." Addressing Hemme, she continued, "To me …
every single job is important, because the equipment you sent out helped protect people. We're happy to wrap you in this quilt of comfort."

Then the quilters draped the patriotic-themed quilt over
Hemme's shoulders, and he wore it while Brawley recited a
poem that is sent with each one. The international organization
has made more than 144,500 quilts for wounded and returning
veterans since 2003.

Awards were also presented to civilian employees and
Marines by MCLB Barstow commanding officer Col. Michael L.
Scalise. Gunnery Sgt. Chad Webb read each commendation.
Gregory Kunkel, supervisory firefighter/paramedic was
presented with the Supervisor of the Year Award.

"The blend of compassion, understanding, and dedication to duty that he brings to work every day is exceptional," read Webb. Because of Kunkel's efforts, base fire department personnel are 100 percent in compliance with EMS protocol, and the department is a frontrunner in state-of-the art EMS equipment.

Wendy Hiett, supervisory financial management analyst, was
awarded Employee of the Year for fiscal year 2014. She instituted a new process to assist directors with reviewing, approving and tracking overtime requirements and execution. She also coordinated the processing of retroactive pay transactions following the October 2013 government shutdown, and achieved cost savings of more than $2 million.

Chad Hildebrandt, rail operations supervisor, was awarded
Supervisor of the Quarter. He was instrumental in shifting the
MCLB Barstow rail yard from operating within confines of the
base to coordinating movement with military units and private
industry railways such as BNSF. Hildebrandt's leadership saw the
rail operations move 636 million pounds of freight, increasing the
rail yard operation 228 percent.

Carlos Guerra, combat camera still photographer for the
last two years at MCLB Barstow, was awarded Employee of
the Quarter. Guerra completed 72 on-location and in-studio
photography sessions, as well as hundreds of photographs.
"Because of the quality of his work, he is often requested by
name to provide photo support to the Army's aviation unit in
Daggett and the Marine Aviation Detachment at Edwards Air
Force Base," read Webb.

Michelle Adams, behavioral health administrative assistant
for Marine and Family Programs, also received the Employee
of the Quarter Award for developing and rewriting standard
operating procedures instrumental in the accreditation process for

behavioral health and Marine and Family Programs.
Receiving special recognition for superior performance were
Child and Youth Program administrator Carey Carr, and resource
and referral specialist Stacy Korves. They assured the Child and
Youth, and Resources and Referral programs were in compliance
above and beyond all requirements during the December 2014
multidisciplinary inspection.

Cpl. Kristopher Ezell, wireman, received the NCO of the
Quarter Award, and Cpl. Amir Mohamed, administrative clerk,
was awarded Marine of the Quarter. Both were cited for
performing their demanding duties in an exemplary and highly
professional manner, attesting to their leadership, devotion to
duty, and military bearing.

• Date Taken: 03.04.2015
• Date Posted: 03.12.2015 11:55
• Story ID: 156764
• Location: BARSTOW, CA, US