USO Canteen FReeper Style~Continuation of Ancient Greek Military~December 9, 2003

Warfare in Hellas ^ | December 9, 2003 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

Thanks, Goddess! I too missed everyone here. It's good to be connected again.

[LaDivaLoca]

You caught me at the very good time - just got back from a restful vacation so here ya go! Now, what would you do with all of that?

[Old Sarge]

Aw, I'll be in and out, just like you will be.

I'll just keep a lookout.

*hug*

[LaDivaLoca]

Cute angels, Kathy! If only it were so - LOL! Maybe reverse psychology would work? Time will tell.

[LaDivaLoca]

Hiya, beach! How ya doin'? Are you off now or is it just the Algebra class?

[LaDivaLoca]

I was enjoying the sight of lush flora and fauna in Kauai and I come back to snow and freezing cold. Just heard that we might have more snow again soon! ARGH!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I was on the phone with my Coast Guard Auxiliary Communications Officer.
I just checked your page and see you got the medals updated!

[Kathy in Alaska]

1907 1st Christmas Seals sold (Wilmington DE post office)

This year's Christmas Seals....

[LaDivaLoca]

Your donkey is so cute or is that a mule? LOL!

[LaDivaLoca]

Hallo there, TC! How is the Texas Termite doing?

[Old Sarge]

No it didn't.

I just looked at it now - it still shows four, not the new six.

WTF?

[LaDivaLoca]

When you come by in the convertible ~ I'll be ready ~ better put the top up ~ it looks like rain

I'm still in denial. Over here it won't only be rain - snow is in the forecast! Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

[LaDivaLoca]

Prayers for your final, Mr. Silverback. Maybe this guy can help

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Refresh your page, I see 6

[LaDivaLoca]

THANK YOU for your service USAF_TSgt!

[LaDivaLoca]

[Old Sarge]

Refresh your page, I see 6

D'OH!

[LaDivaLoca]

This is wonderful, Sarge!!! CONGRATULATIONS and a BIG HUG! A much-deserved honor and recognition.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I STILL catch myself not refreshing a page sometimes after I've made some changes.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Soldiers from the 652nd Assault Bridge Engineer Company, an Army Reserve unit based in Ellsworth, Wis., ferry troops to a site near Tikrit, Iraq where soldiers a constructing a 340-meter bridge across the Tigris River. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Liana Mayo

Bridge Mission Pushes on Despite Challenges

By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Liana Mayo
244th Combat Heavy Engineer Battalion

FORWARD OPERATING BASE IRONHORSE, Tikrit, Iraq — On a crisp November evening, as shadows stretched along the banks of the Tigris River, six soldiers from the 652nd Assault Float Bridge Engineer Company, climbed out of the multi-purpose boat and fanned out along the cliff.

While some pulled security, others pushed through the tall reeds along the river’s edge to retrieve a pontoon that had escaped its restraints when the river rose the night before.

Aptly named, Rugged Bypass is a major floating bridge construction project near the city of Tikrit that began more than two months ago. When completed later this year, it will be the longest pontoon bridge built by Coalition forces in northern Iraq.

The bridge will be 340 meters long, or more than 1,000 feet, and will stretch past both banks and onto the causeways. The pontoon span is meant to handle rerouted traffic when a permanent bridge in Tikrit is closed for repairs.

The 652nd, an Army Reserve unit from Ellsworth, Wis., is one of a handful of units collaborating on the Rugged Bypass project that, when done, will feature a floating bridge that spans the Tigris River five miles south of Tikrit.

The latest challenge came with rising water levels of the Tigris as severe storms in northern Iraq and Turkey in November caused 24 pontoons to break away and float downriver. The search for pontoons went on for several days, and many were found as far as 25 miles downriver. Almost all stray pontoons were found and recovered, and construction teams have resumed building.

To withstand the fast current, the new Mabey & Johnson bridge is a floating construction using large pontoons that are anchored to the riverbed. Allen Pierson, a Mabey & Johnson Ltd. employee from the United Kingdom, is supervising the construction of the bridge.

“This will be the longest floating bridge by Mabey Johnson ever built and the first Mabey Johnson bridge to be constructed by the U.S. Army.” Pierson said.

Because of the fluctuation of the river level, building the span has been particularly challenging.

“So really, the actual bridge building is a small part of the project,” Pierson said.

The rest of the story