US Navy seabees build hardened galley for Marines

[USMC5831]

US Navy Seabees build hardened galley facility for Marines
Dec 30, 2004

FOB KALSU, Iraq -- As news reports depict continuing security concerns aboard U.S. military camps in Iraq, US Navy Seabees of the I Marine Expeditionary Force Engineer Group recently completed construction on a new reinforced dining facility here.

“I am extremely proud of the work we’ve done here, especially in light of what happened in Mosul,” said project crew leader Builder 2nd Class Paul Verratti, referencing the recent suicide bombing attack at a dining facility aboard a coalition camp.
Verratti and 20 other Seabees from a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion recently put the finishing touches on the new facility, which will be used by more than 1,500 military and civilian personnel stationed at FOB Kalsu, home of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Seabees completed the project, built of 55 HESCO bastion barriers, 90 ten-foot wood columns, and 85 cubic yards of concrete, in just less than four weeks.

“Being in the new chow hall is a relief to know you can finally relax and eat instead of thinking about being in an unsafe and unprotected building," said Marine Cpl. Justin Dawson, of Aberdeen, Md., assigned to the command element of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Seabees have not been without their own security concerns during the project. “We’ve seen some incoming fire in this camp,” said Builder 3rd Class Rebecca Newman. “It hasn’t been easy, we’ve worked overtime to get the job done and get it done right.”