Photo By Amber Kurka | U.S. Army Spc. Rodrick Filethin, electrician for the 643rd Engineering Company,...... read more read more
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LOB BURI, Thailand - In a small, rural village in Thailand, surrounded by farmland, houses, and some sparsely growing trees 23 Thai Soldiers, 16 U.S. Soldiers and 5 Indian Soldiers gather with one common goal: to construct a multipurpose building at Banradbumrung School. These soldiers speak different languages, come from different areas and lead very different lives from one another. For many the idea of trying to communicate with a stranger who doesn’t even speak the same language may seem daunting. However, for U.S. Army Spc. Rodrick Filethin communication is not a challenge, but a joy.
Filethin comes from a small island in the Pacific called Yap, measuring only 38.7 square miles. The island has a unique culture and history. Filethin said his unique upbringing both sets him apart and brings him closer to people.
“I’m like the odd one out, everyone else is from the mainland, and I’m from the islands,” said Filethin. “But, I like to bond with people. That’s my thing I get along with people, it’s just so easy.”
On Yap, Filethin says that the community works together on just about everything. When a building needs to be constructed, the whole community comes together to make it happen. This tradition has helped him to master many construction skills and to assist in creating a welcoming environment on the job site at Banradbumrung School.
“When it comes to a project like this, building houses and stuff, I had experience with the community,” said Filethin. “They know what they are doing when it comes to construction work. They do jobs like this pretty much daily. So when I come to the unit and do construction work its easier for me because I’m experienced.”
Filethin’s wide range of skills has definitely been a help to the international construction team said his line leader, Sgt. Kemuel J. L. Bankhead.
“He is becoming an expert of his craft, electrician, but he’s not afraid to jump in on any job, no matter the medium he is working in: concrete, woodwork, roofing, electrical, he is a jack-of-all-trades.”
Filethin said he say he doesn’t get much opportunity to work as an electrician at his home station in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. So, doing a project like this one is sort of a refresher course in electric work for Filethin. He said he mostly does other types of construction work in Hawaii, because there is not much of a demand for electrical work at the well-established base.
Filethin said he has been enjoying this challenge and this opportunity to learn more and refresh his existing electrical skills. However, Bankhead said his skill is not the only thing that makes Filethin standout on the job site, he has a magnetic personality as well.
“Spc. Filethin is one of those soldiers who kind of helps the day go by a little easier,” said Bankhead.
The construction project at Banradbumrung, Lop Buri Province, Thailand is one of six vertical construction project in progress as part of Cobra Gold 2016. The engineer civic action projects are designed to provide quality sustained training for combined task force engineers, as well as, provide needed multi-purpose facilities in underserved areas of Thailand.
Most construction sites have a sense of camaraderie, but the group at Site 4 in Lop Buri is constantly smiling. It is clear that the experience of working communally in Yap has helped Filethin contribute greatly to the creation of a welcoming environment within the team he has been with for international training mission Cobra Gold 2016.
Thai Army Sgt. Ukrit Jaturasu has been working with Filethin on the construction site in Lop Buri, Thailand. Jaturasu said he worked with Filethin on the very first day on site, and feels closer to him than many of the other soldiers on site.
“He is kind,” said Jaturasu through an interpreter. “He helps a lot when we work together, he is always there to support other soldiers and the team.”
Jaturasu said working on the construction team and particularly with Filethin has been a positive experience.
“Filethin is a very good colleague,” said Jaturasu through an interpreter. “He is very friendly, very good for the project.”
Filethin said overall his experience in Thailand has definitely been a positive one.
“I love it,” said Filethin. “I mean I like this sort of stuff. See new places and work and stuff. Bond with people. “the people (here) are so nice and everything. I wish, ... I’m hoping next time I will be able to come back.”
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2016 14:48 |
| Story ID: | 189449 |
| Location: | LOP BURI, TH |
| Hometown: | SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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