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Rapid Runway Repairmen pave the way in Iraq

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 5/5/2004

Story by Staff Sgt. Houston F. White Jr.

AL TAQQADUM, Iraq(May 5, 2004) -- With an assortment of air operations being conducted on a non-stop basis here, the ability to take off and land 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing planes and helicopters is paramount.

To ensure that runways remain accessible to aircraft at all times, the Marines of heavy equipment section, Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd MAW, are available at a moment's notice to repair any destruction to the landing strips.

"Basically, our role is to take care of any damage the runways have," said Staff Sgt. Gary L. Stouffer, heavy equipment chief, MWSS-374, and Newport, Pa., native. "For instance, in case of something like a mortar attack, we have a crew already on standby, ready to go out and do an immediate fix on the runway."

"We use rock, sand and anything that can patch the surface in a safe manner to get that runway up and running as fast as we can," the 29-year-old added.

The rapid runway repair Marines received an opportunity to test their skills almost as soon as they arrived here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, explained Stouffer.

"When we got here in February, one of the biggest things (3rd MAW) needed to get up and running was a runway that had a huge crater in it because of enemy fire," he mentioned.

According to Maj. Gen. James F. Amos, commanding general, 3rd MAW, the damaged taxiway was identified as a safer means of taking off and landing, which made its immediate repair critical.

"We had the main two runways in Taqqadum that all the big airplanes landed on, and then we had a cross taxiway, which was about 6,000-feet-long that ran perpendicular across both runways. We took a look at the threat, because the planes landing on the (main two) runways were getting shot at," he explained.

"We decided to use the taxiway as a runway so that we could fly in across (Lake Habbaniyah) and not get shot at, but first we had to fix the bomb crater left over from OIF I," added Amos.

Within days, the 20-foot-deep, 60-foot-diameter hole was filled and ready for action, due to the efforts of the rapid runway repairmen of MWSS-374 and the unique equipment they employ.

"We used excavators to move the materials we needed to fill the crater and a water truck, in addition to a roller to both compact the sand and wet it repeatedly as we mixed it," mentioned Stouffer. "At the end, we used a grader to make a nice level surface."

Apparently, the work performed by the rapid runway repairmen of MWSS-374 was so exceptional, that the 3rd MAW commanding general made the bold decision to fly aboard the first KC-130 Hercules flight to land there following its repair.

"The service those Marines provide is indispensable," Amos emphasized. "I wanted the Marines of MWSS-374 to know that I trusted their work on the ground and that I appreciated their great efforts. As a demonstration of that appreciation, I wanted to be the first person to land on the runway," he added.

The daring gesture shown by the 3rd MAW leader evidently made a lasting impression upon the Marines who repaired the runway.

"It showed that the general has a lot of faith in his Marines," said 26-year-old Lance Cpl Clint D. Short, heavy equipment operator, MWSS-374, and Wauseon, Ohio, native. "I think it made the whole section feel pretty proud."