NMCB 22 Seabees Repair Key Bridge In Iraq
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS051107-01
Release Date: 11/7/2005 9:24:00 AM
By Journalist 1st Class Leslie A. Shively, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 22 Public Affairs
HIT, Iraq (NNS) -- A team from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 22 repaired a bridge critical to Iraqi people Oct. 10, allowing residents access to polling stations and a major marketplace for food and other necessities.
A car bomb blew a large hole through the bridge in September, rendering it useless.
“This bridge is one of three in this area from Ramadi all the way up through Haditha that offer an opportunity to cross the Euphrates River,” said Lt. Richard Windham, NMCB-22’s officer-in-charge of the project.
The bridge connects Hit, 85 miles west of Baghdad, to cities in the north. According to Windham, the overpass was vital for the country's referendum in October.
“Within five minutes of pulling our vehicles off of the bridge, Coalition Forces moved supplies, equipment and poll workers across the river,” Windham said.
Rebuilding was accomplished in stages.
First, the NMCB-22 team conducted an on-site survey, then prefabricated the decking, railing and part of the steel beam framing. Practice runs identified problems and solutions on the following day.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Camacho, NMCB-22’s Marine advisor, explained that rehearsals prepared Seabees to respond tactically to possible threats.
“Everybody knew exactly what to do,” Camacho said. “You've got to have the mindset that you’re going to win.”
On the final day, Seabees repaired the bridge in four hours.
“The bad guys blew it up, and they got to watch American Seabees fix it,” remarked Chief Steelworker Mark Johnson, crew leader. “We were there to help them bring stability to the area.”
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