MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- The plaque outside of the Marine Memorial Chapel has been updated thanks to the skilled artisans at Production Plant Barstow, Marine Depot Maintenance Command, aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif. February 10, 2020.
“We appreciate any opportunity to support the Marine Corps, Our customers in Camp Pendleton, Twenty-nine Palms, or the local Commanding Officer here in Barstow,” said Bryan McKay, Metals and Coatings Branch Head, PPB. “The plaque process falls within the tasks that we perform from time to time. Our team receives the measurements, pictures or a sample, we request the material, cut the plate out of aluminum or steel, and then our machinist, Kazuyoshi ‘Kaz’ Brooks creates the plaque itself. Afterwards it goes through weld, body or paint shops, depending on what exactly needs to be done.”
From a large sheet of aluminum, the artisan uses the water jet cutter to cut the plaque to exact measurements. In the machine shop, machinist Kaz uses a specialized machine with a CAD program that controls the cutting devices. He levels the surface of the metal, then inputs calculations to design and create nearly any design. He then pushes a button and stands back to watch as the machine carves away thin shreds of metal, one pass at a time, for several minutes. Some of the machines use a water spray to cool the device as metal-on-metal scraping and grinding can heat things up.
“Things have to be precise,” said Mike “Micrometer” Johnson, machine shop supervisor. “If it’s not right, it’s out! There’s no room for error in this shop and my guys are the best at what they do. “Kaz is so good here with the machine used to create the plaque that he can nearly enter calculations into the program by memory and sight” said Mike.
The plaque left the machine shop and went to the body shop for polishing, perfecting, painting and sealing.
“I use a very fine polish and cloth to make sure that the final piece comes out so flawless that you can use it to see your reflection clearly,” said Salvador Salazar a mechanic with CWC 245 body shop at PPB. “We take a lot of pride in our work. We like to make sure that whatever we send out is as perfect as it can be. They gave us an idea of what they wanted and brought us a couple of samples to see for the chapel plaque. Then it was machined. We painted it and checked with them to make sure it was what they wanted. Then we carefully covered the letters and then sealed it so that it can be mounted.”
The plaque reads:
THIS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MEMORIAL CHAPEL IS DEDICATED TO OUR BELOVED DEAD FALLEN IN COMBAT 7 DEC 1952 BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
The chapel plaque is the first plaque created by PPB personnel. Last fall, they were tapped with a request to refurbish the monument at Obregon Park on the Yermo Annex.
“The site is surrounded by poles and chain link, then has a concrete base,” said Kenneth Nowicki Weld Shop Supervisor. “We had to use our welders to remove the old chain which was falling apart, then remove the plaque itself. We recreated it, made sure it was painted to specifications and then installed it. Again we used the welders to reattach the new chains. Our paint crews then used a mobile paint cart and went out to redo the poles and chains on site making sure it looks like new.”
Obregon Park Plaque wording:
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS EUGENE ARNOLD OBREGON
FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRYAND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY WHILE SERVING WITH COMPANY ‘G’ THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH MARINES, FIRST MARINE DIVISION (REINFORCED)
IN ACTION AGAINST ENEMYAGGRESSOR FORCES AT SEOUL KOREA ON 26 SEPTEMBER 1950. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.
The work is done, in part, as improvements which fall under a base beautification project. It is also a way to honor those for whom the plaques were originally made.
“The plaques might have been aged or damaged,” McKay said. “When it’s time to refinish or replace them, we’re honored to help.”
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