Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | Dallas native, Sgt. Tim White, NCOIC of the carpenter and paint shop, Headquarters and...... read more read more
BAQUBAH, Iraq - If you can remember high school wood shop class you probably have fond memories of some old guy in suspenders missing a thumb making you build a tree house that no sensible bird would ever go in. Welcome to something 180 degrees different.
The carpenter and paint shop on Forward Operating Base Warhorse can build Soldiers anything their heart's desire -- as long as they supply the wood. From a custom-made bed to shelves to a whole entertainment center, Sgt. Tim White, NCOIC of the carpenter and paint shop,
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, and his crew are more than happy to build it.
The shop focuses on constructing smaller projects that Kellogg, Brown and Root can not perform due to contractual reasons.
Recently the shop built 14 foot bridges to place along the rain ditches. When it rains there are no drainage systems like in the U.S. The water run-off from the road collects in the ditches forming a medieval-like moat around buildings. Without the foot bridges Soldiers would be wading through knee-deep water trying to get to work or the dining facility.
Another such project, simple in design yet yielded big results, was placing plexi-glass windows in the guard towers along the perimeter of the FOB. The plexi-glass helps shield Soldiers from the rain, wind and dust making the towers a little more habitable.
The thanks we got from Soldiers for doing that job was more than enough retribution for the work we put into it, White said.
Keeping Soldiers well organized and improving their quality of life has always been the goal at the shop.
"It feels good to help people keep things in order so they are not scurrying around looking for stuff," said Pvt. David Frank, project supervisor, Company A, 64th BSB.
The carpenter and paint shop is a do it yourself place where Soldiers can stop by at their convenience to use any of the shop's tools to construct personal projects.
White asks the Soldiers to use their wood because he has a limited supply. Wood has to be trucked in from Kuwait or Logistical Support Area Anaconda. Due to the length of the journey the wood has to travel, supply gaps can occur in his re-supply inventory. However, with scrap wood a Soldier can use as much as they desire. White, Franks or any of the local national workers will be on-hand for assistance.
"As long as you bring a picture (of your design) there is no doubt in my mind we can build it," White said.
If a Soldier does not have the time to wait at the carpenter and paint shop they can go to the mayor's cell and fill out a work order, said Capt. Michael Olson, commander, HHC, 64th BSB.
The mayor's cell is responsible for the quality of life on FOB Warhorse and is the main liaison between tenant units and KBR. The cell will place the order with the carpenter and paint shop and make sure there is a quick turn around. A bed or shelves for a Soldiers" containerized housing unit can be made in 15 minutes by the workers at the shop. The shop has 10 local Iraqi workers to help build and paint projects.
"I am impressed with their quality of work. They do a great job, a fast job," Olson said.
In addition to working at the shop the local nationals also maintain grounds of the garden memorial for Soldiers who have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom who were headquartered at FOB Warhorse.
Keeping the work quality high and the shop staffed is a tough challenge for Olson. Since the quality of work the local nationals provide is of a premium grade they are often recruited from the carpenter and paint shop to provide contract work for other companies.
Olson does not want to imagine the staffing nightmare that would occur
if there was no carpenter and paint shop.
Without the carpenter and paint shop it would draw Soldiers away from their original jobs and take time away from the mission, said Olson.
Whether it is building bed posts or bridges, White and his team are always willing to go the extra mile for Soldiers" comfort.
"If there is anything that we can do for the Soldier to make their time here more enjoyable we are more than glad to do it," White said.
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2006 10:17 |
| Story ID: | 6358 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 49 |
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