Photo By Capt. Jered Stokes | LTC Jason Kelly, commander of the 20th EN BN, awards an Army Achievement Medal to PFC...... read more read more
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Earlier this summer, a group of Afghan insurgents made their way into the secure confines of Forward Operating Base Frontenac, a small U.S. outpost in southern Afghanistan. The effects of the ensuing attack were significant to both the facilities and the soldiers station at FOB Frontenac.
Nine coalition troops were wounded before all but one of the attackers were killed. The resulting combat action also destroyed the outpost’s dining facility. For the last few months, soldiers have either dined in the tight confines of an austere temporary facility or opted for Styrofoam take-out containers that permitted consumption at some other location, most likely their work or living areas.
Two weeks ago, soldiers from the 181st Engineer Company (Massachusetts Army National Guard) arrived to change this. Having received their marching orders from the 20th Engineer Battalion, who recently assumed responsibility for most of the construction effort in Regional Command-South, a platoon of skilled carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and welders were immediately dispatched. “This is an important effort and the very best craftsmen in our formation are on site,” said Lieut. Col. Jason Kelly, commander of the 20th Engineer Battalion. “Many of the leaders and soldiers in the 181st Engineer Company make their living doing exactly what we’ve asked them to do. Every time I visit one of their jobsites I’m amazed at what they’ve done. The unit is well-led and consistently exceeds my every expectation. I was able to visit Frontenac a few days ago and they’re at it again.”
“The 181st soldiers have exercised a wide array of construction skills on the Frontenac Dining Facility,” states CPT Adam Peterson, the Commander of the 181st Engineer Company. “As always, the platoon relied on civilian construction expertise and produced a high quality product.” Sergeant First Class Laurie Bence of Cranston, RI is leading the way. When Sergeant First Class Bence is not spearheading jobs in Afghanistan, she’s a master plumber in Cranston. CPT Peterson speaks highly of SFC Bence as he comments, “SFC Bence matched her expertise in the trade with leadership and management skills that brought the full capability of the platoon to bear.” Morale is unbelievably high and improvisation is in full effect. The Soldiers are committed to having the facility up and running before Thanksgiving. “We’re going to have our Thanksgiving meal in this building,” claims Sergeant First Class Bence. “We will finish the job.”
| Date Taken: | 11.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.29.2012 09:01 |
| Story ID: | 98492 |
| Location: | CRANSTON, CT, US |
| Web Views: | 439 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Engineers use civilian experience to rebuild dining facility in time for soldier’s Thanksgiving meals, by CPT Jered Stokes, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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