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Daniel Madrid works on the Auxiliary Power Unit for the HERCULES M-88 tank retriever, May 16. His knowledge of the programs and systems involving engines and transmissions make him a valued member of the workforce. Madrid started working at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., in 1969. Five decades later he has seen many changes at Production Plant Barstow, Marine Depot Maintenance Command, aboard the Yermo Annex of MCLBB.

Photo by Keith Hayes

Fifty years working for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

24 May 2019 | Keith Hayes Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

A half-century ago in 1969 astronaut Neil Armstrong put the first human footprint on the surface of the Moon, the massive Woodstock Music and Art Fair drew more than 400,000 people to Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm near White Lake in Bethel, New York for “3 days of peace and music,” America was stilled involved in the Vietnam War, Golda Meir became the first female Prime Minister of Israel, and Daniel Madrid began working at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California.

In the 50 years Madrid has worked at MCLBB, 10 of those were as a mechanic for the old Marine Corps Exchange gas station and the rest as a Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic at Production Plant Barstow, Marine Depot Maintenance Command aboard the Yermo Annex of MCLB Barstow.

“I was born in Monrovia, California,” Madrid said. “My father brought us to Barstow in 1950 when I was a year old. I began working at the Marine Corps Exchange when I was 19 years old.”

Now he works exclusively on the Auxiliary Power Units that go into the HERCULES M-88 tank retrievers.

“That’s the power unit that operates the lift boom and hydraulics as well as some fueling capabilities for the M-88 when it’s not using its main engine,” Madrid explained.

“There were a lot more people working at the plant when I started in 1980,” he said. “We had about 65 people in the Engine Shop and about 40 in the Transmission Shop.”

The number of buildings in and around the plant has increased, too, and building 573 itself was also a lot more crowded.

 “Back when I first started here, they didn’t have the emergency lights or windows in the doors,” he said. “If the power went out, even during daylight, it was pitch black. You’d better have a flashlight because you’re not going to be able to move with all of the shelves and worktables around.”

Today safety is a major component integrated into the workplace environment everywhere aboard MCLB Barstow, but that was not necessarily the case when Madrid began his career.

“You had to wear safety shoes back then, but no hearing or eye protection,” he said. “We didn’t have a dynamometer room, either. They tested the engines in a trailer just outside 573, and those engines were noisy. All we had for hearing protection were earmuffs.”

Madrid added the personal protective equipment is a lot better now, and safety is job one.

How repairs and upgrades are performed has also changed for the better.

“The Continuous Process Improvement Program makes the different jobs here more efficient most of the time and reduces errors and mistakes,” Madrid said.

Madrid has always worked on motor vehicles, but the nature of that work has changed with the times.

“The biggest change I’ve seen in the engine and transmission department is when I first started here in 1980 most of the engines were a standard shift, but now all of them are automatics,” he said.

Though he’s looking forward to retirement, probably in 2021, Madrid knows he’ll miss some things about the place he’s worked at for 50 years.

“I’ll miss the people I’ve worked with for so many years, but you eventually have to call it quits,” he said. “One thing I won’t miss is getting up at 4:15 in the morning to get here by 6:30.”

He said he has worked very hard at never becoming complacent about what the goal of his job or mission is really all about.

“I never forget that this APU is going to be part of a vehicle that a Marine is going to be driving into battle,” Madrid said. “It’s their lifeline, so I have to get it right the first time. I don’t want the vehicle to break down in the field when they’re getting shot at.”

The veteran mechanic with five decades of experience under his belt knows wholeheartedly that what he and others do at Production Plant Barstow makes a difference.

“I believe in that sign on the outside of 573 that says ‘What you do here every day could save a Marine’s life.’”

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