GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - More than 30 Marines, Joint Task Guantanamo Troopers, and U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) personnel and residents joined local Boy Scout Forrest Welsh and climbed Cuzco hill Monday, Sept. 10, to dedicate a new monument commemorating the June 14, 1898 Battle for Cuzco Wells.
The monument construction is the Eagle Scout project for Welsh, son of Navy Capt. Thomas Welsh, the Staff Judge Advocate for Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
The idea for the new monument was born when the younger Welsh, looking for an Eagle Scout project, learned that an existing monument to mark the historic battle had not only been constructed on the wrong ridgeline but also had the wrong date.
“The proper placement of the monument is very important,” explained Welsh. “Two Marines demonstrated exceptional courage and answered the call of duty. It is only right that we honor Sgt. Quick and Pvt. Fitzgerald by building a monument on the correct hill. One on which they were willing to die if necessary, in order to save the lives of their fellow Marines.”
The historic battle took place June 14, 1898 after Marines made a six-mile trek over treacherous terrain in our hot tropical environment where heat casualties were mounting. Quick and Fitzgerald stood silhouetted against the sky, their backs toward enemy fire and successfully called for and re-directed fire support given by the USS Dolphin (PG-24).
The new obelisk monument, made from rebar-reinforced poured concrete, stands eight feet tall from base to tip and is a fitting tribute to Marines whose actions arguably helped prevent the disbanding of the Marine Corps, and instead helped double its size.
Just as the taking of Cuzco Wells was no easy task, neither has the construction of the monument. More than 25 volunteers, including Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Marines, and members from all branches of service, have participated in the completion of the project.
The construction work ranged from digging a two-foot-deep, four-by-four foot hole in very rocky terrain, to hauling the framing materials and over 500 pounds of cement in plastic buckets up steep, rocky inclines over a distance of about 200 yards.
“On the side of that huge hill, there are no paths,” explained Marine Sgt. Rose Coleman, Joint Task Force Guantanamo medical linguist noncommissioned officer in charge. “Everyone had to carry all the cement by hand in five-gallon buckets, because the cement truck couldn’t climb the road, and the Bobcat with a bucket could only make it up the road to the entry point where we started the climb.”
Welsh handled all the coordination for the project as part of his Eagle project, including soliciting the donation of materials necessary from local contractors, Burns and Roe (BRDC) and Lakeshore TolTest.
“When we heard about the plans for the new monument we were inspired,” said Mark Howard, Lakeshore TolTest supervisor. “We felt it important to not only help Forrest in attaining his goal but to also have Lakeshore TolTest contribute to endeavors that honor the history of Guantanamo Bay by providing all materials and guidance on erecting the monument.”
In his remarks during the dedication, Commanding Officer of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Navy Capt. John Nettleton praised the hard work of all the Boy Scouts, Naval Station residents, Joint Task Force Troopers, and Marines who participated in the monument’s construction.
“This monument was a great opportunity for everyone to work together on an important historical project,” said Nettleton.