Battalion History…p.2

At the end of the 1959 deployment, a detachment was sent to Squaw Valley, California to do a snow compaction project for the VIII Winter Olympic Committee. The project consisted of compacting snow over a 125 acre area that was used as a lot capable of parking 12,000 automobiles and buses each day during the Olympic Games.

After returning to Port Hueneme, CA from Alaska, MCB Ten participated again in military training proir to returning to Guam for the 1960 deployment.

Major projects in Guam were the construction of housing for junior officers and enlisted men at the Naval Air Station, and the construction of ammunition maga- zines. A detachment was deployed to Cantou Island to construct facilities for Project Mercury.

Returning to Port Hueneme on November 22, 1960, MCB Ten enjoyed leave over the holidays and underwent extensive technical and military training including two weeks with the Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA. The Battalion again deployed to Alaska on March 15, 1961 with the Main Body remaining at Kodiak, and Detachment Charlie going to Adak.

Meanwhile, on Adak, Detachment Charlie’s construction schedule required the completion of 13 projects. Equipment operators set up a rock crusher and combined efforts with utilitiesmen to place an asphalt plant in operation, then used crusher and plant to produce material for construction, patching, and sealcoating asphaltic concrete roads. The electricians had the project of rewiring three large warehouses, rehabilitating numerous power transformers, and wiring controls and accessories on refrigeration, and sewer pump installations. Builders formed and poured concrete foundations and various other concrete structures, perfomed light and heavy framing on buildings and piers respectively, applied asphalt roofing, and received training in finish carpentry. Steelworkers tasks included gas and electric welding, sheet metal work, and bending and placing reinforcement steel. Utilitiesmen received training in copper tubing and refrigeration equipment installation. Fuel, water, and steam line systems were installed. Boiler operations and maintenance were also encountered in their work.

To Be Continued…..