Posted on 12/10/2005 5:41:42 AM PST by Libloather
Fueling the fight
Submitted by: 2nd Force Service Support Group
Story Identification #: 2005111115111
Story by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser
CAMP GANNON, Iraq--Marines serving with Combat Logistics Battalion-2, 2nd Marine Logistics Groups (Forward), distributing upward of 12, 000 gallons of fuel per day for various units participating in Operation Steel Curtain. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser, captioned by 2nd Lt. Jorge O. Escatell) (released). Photo by: Sgt. Josh H. Hauser
CAMP GANNON, Iraq (Nov. 9, 2005) -- A key ingredient to the success of Operation Steel Curtain is ensuring vehicles helping to clear Husaybah of insurgents have an adequate fuel supply to sustain the fight.
Providing that source of fuel is the responsibility of a small group of Marines serving with Combat Logistics Battalion-2 here.
Distributing upward of 12,000 gallons of fuel per day to everything from High Mobility Multi-wheeled Vehicles to M1-A1 Abrams tanks and Amphibious Assault Vehicles, the Marines running Camp Gannon’s fuel farm are doing their part to rid this city of along the Syrian border from any insurgent presence.
Sergeant Marcus E. Emerson, a bulk fuel specialist assigned to CLB-2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) oversaw the construction of the camp’s bulk fuel supply point prior to the start of operations here.
“We got here late in the evening, unloaded our equipment, dug a berm, filled sandbags and we were up and running distributing fuel by eight o’clock this morning,” the 29-year-old native of Gardiner, Maine said.
Emerson said that he and a handful of Marines were called to ensure coalition efforts involved in the operation had an adequate fuel supply.
“They worried that their fuel sources may not be sufficient so they called us in to ensure that all the offensive vehicles would have enough,” he said.
In just one night, Emerson and his men increased the camp’s fuel capacity by more than 12,000 gallons.
They needed it so we just had to come out and make it happen,” he said.
The Marines noted their pride in being a part of the ongoing operation and their commitment to their fellow Marines at the front of the offensive.
“The credit goes to the infantry but they can’t go anywhere unless we give them the fuel to get there,” Cpl. Jackson L. Wishin said.
Wishin is a bulk fuel specialist with CLB-2 and native of South Bend, Ind.
“I wish I could be out there with them and do more, but just to have a task and be involved with the operation is great,” the 20-year-old said.
Wishin noted that he had never heard of any other fuel site to be constructed so fast with so few people however, the speed of their work did not diminish the site’s quality standards.
“The prep-work; creating a fairly level surface, digging the berm – that would normally take a day or two, but we did it overnight,” he said.
CAMP GANNON, Iraq--Corporal Jackson L. Wishin, a bulk fuel specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion-2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, checks the fuel pump at Camp Gannon's fuel farm to ensure all vehicles in Operation Steel Curtain can quickly refuel and return to the fight.(Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser)(Released)
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