Marine Corps welders, machinists overcome any challenge
Cpl. John E. Lawson Jr of the U.S. Marines wrote this one up. We should all support these guys any way we can, besides being great welders, they're in the front lines of this war and sacrificing more than many of us can understand...
AL ASAD, Iraq (June 6, 2005) -- When the mission requires a piece or a part that isn’t readily available and cannot be made available, the Marines of the machinist and welding shop, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2d Force Service Support Group (Forward), are on hand to fabricate.
“If it’s made of metal… well if we can’t fix it, they didn’t make it,” said Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Dewey, a 22-year-old machinist and Seattle native. “We can fix anything made of metal.”
The four-Marine shop consists of two welders and two machinists. Cross training since they arrived in Iraq earlier this year, both machinists can weld and both welders can machine. They replaced a shop of nine Marines.
Corporal Wayne M. Perritt, a welder and the floor chief for the shop, said, “No matter what we do, it takes half the shop: one machinist and one welder. We make up for the difference [in personnel] by working more hours and teaching each other.”
“When we first got here we needed to up-armor four humvees. The last shop used all nine people to do one humvee in one day. We use two people per vehicle and got all four done in 36 hours,” the Waterford, Conn., native said.
Responsible for up-armoring humvees and other tactical vehicles, these Marines ensure the safety of their fellow Marines who convoy across Iraq.
“We’re doing our part; we’re saving lives and that’s the bottom line,” said Lance Cpl. Brian T. Temple, a 21-year-old machinist and Oklahoma City native.
“Our job is really gratifying, especially installing the armor to protect our fellow Marines,” added Lance Cpl. Heather L. Moulton, a welder and Parma, Ohio, native. “Like everything else it has its good days and its bad days, but we know we are making a difference.”
They also fabricate parts and equipment from scrap metal to meet the needs of the units operating throughout Western Iraq. The shop’s fabrications have included machinegun mounts to put M-240G medium machineguns on the sides of vehicles, cable trailers, radio mounts, security gates, various pins and other products. They have even repaired the hull of a boat.
“We’ve done a lot for the Iraqis. The whole ‘hearts and minds’ projects… fixing their trucks,” Perritt said. “Our job never stays the same; there are always different projects.”
“We’re always busy,” said Temple. “There’s always something we can do.”
One thing that sets this shop apart from many shops is how close-knit the group is, despite the long hours and frequent hard labor.
“The best part [of the deployment] is working with the guys I do here,” said Moulton. “We make a great team and get a lot accomplished together.”
“For only four people it’s amazing what they’re able to do,” said Chief Warrant Officer Herbie L. Morris, officer in charge of the Maintenance Detachment for CLB-2. “They’re busting their butts to accomplish the mission.”
See the entire story here.
AL ASAD, Iraq (June 6, 2005) -- When the mission requires a piece or a part that isn’t readily available and cannot be made available, the Marines of the machinist and welding shop, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2d Force Service Support Group (Forward), are on hand to fabricate.
“If it’s made of metal… well if we can’t fix it, they didn’t make it,” said Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Dewey, a 22-year-old machinist and Seattle native. “We can fix anything made of metal.”
The four-Marine shop consists of two welders and two machinists. Cross training since they arrived in Iraq earlier this year, both machinists can weld and both welders can machine. They replaced a shop of nine Marines.
Corporal Wayne M. Perritt, a welder and the floor chief for the shop, said, “No matter what we do, it takes half the shop: one machinist and one welder. We make up for the difference [in personnel] by working more hours and teaching each other.”
“When we first got here we needed to up-armor four humvees. The last shop used all nine people to do one humvee in one day. We use two people per vehicle and got all four done in 36 hours,” the Waterford, Conn., native said.
Responsible for up-armoring humvees and other tactical vehicles, these Marines ensure the safety of their fellow Marines who convoy across Iraq.
“We’re doing our part; we’re saving lives and that’s the bottom line,” said Lance Cpl. Brian T. Temple, a 21-year-old machinist and Oklahoma City native.
“Our job is really gratifying, especially installing the armor to protect our fellow Marines,” added Lance Cpl. Heather L. Moulton, a welder and Parma, Ohio, native. “Like everything else it has its good days and its bad days, but we know we are making a difference.”
They also fabricate parts and equipment from scrap metal to meet the needs of the units operating throughout Western Iraq. The shop’s fabrications have included machinegun mounts to put M-240G medium machineguns on the sides of vehicles, cable trailers, radio mounts, security gates, various pins and other products. They have even repaired the hull of a boat.
“We’ve done a lot for the Iraqis. The whole ‘hearts and minds’ projects… fixing their trucks,” Perritt said. “Our job never stays the same; there are always different projects.”
“We’re always busy,” said Temple. “There’s always something we can do.”
One thing that sets this shop apart from many shops is how close-knit the group is, despite the long hours and frequent hard labor.
“The best part [of the deployment] is working with the guys I do here,” said Moulton. “We make a great team and get a lot accomplished together.”
“For only four people it’s amazing what they’re able to do,” said Chief Warrant Officer Herbie L. Morris, officer in charge of the Maintenance Detachment for CLB-2. “They’re busting their butts to accomplish the mission.”
See the entire story here.
posted by Scott at 6:13 PM
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