OKINAWA, Japan — Seabees from U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 volunteered last month to help tear down a concrete wall at a church in Okinawa to facilitate new renovation.
Six Seabees did what they do best: building and helping the community by assisting the Assembly of God Church in demolishing a 10-by-10-foot concrete masonry unit partition wall. The new area is scheduled to be remodeled into a kitchen later this month.
Walter Mead of the Defense Logistic Agency of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron coordinated the community relationship event with Chief Logistics Supply Jose Ortega and Chaplain Lt. Troy Avery.
Construction Electrician Chief Dan Baldwin, the safety officer for NMCB 40, cleared the event for all safety and health hazards, and the volunteers eagerly demolished the wall and assisted wherever they could.
With six Seabees on the job, the work was done before lunch. As a reward for their hard work, the church provided lunch for the volunteers as well as coffee and doughnuts throughout the day.
“This is a great way to get off base! The doughnuts were good and the coffee was just right,” said Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Roy Corley.
The church was planning to start renovations six months prior to the demolition, but with the help of the volunteers, the church will not delay the kitchen construction any longer. The kitchen will greatly increase the church’s ability to serve their members and local community.
“I always love an opportunity to help out the community. I had a good time,” said Chief Builder Adam Brown.
Air Force Tech Sgt. Andy Madera said the Seabees were above and beyond normal volunteer workers.
“They were drilling and breaking walls,” he said. “We definitely couldn’t do it without the Seabees. It would take ten times longer without you guys.”
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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