Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany

Last updated
Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany
Near Albany, Georgia in the United States
Defense-12.jpg
A M88 Recovery Vehicle undergoes depot maintenance at MCLB Albany in 2005
Mclblogo.gif
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
MCLB Albany
Location in the United States
Coordinates 31°33′00″N84°03′15″W / 31.55000°N 84.05417°W / 31.55000; -84.05417
TypeMarine Corps logistics base
Site information
Owner Department of Defense
Operator US Marine Corps
Controlled by Marine Corps Installations East
ConditionOperational
Website Official website
Site history
Built1952 (1952) (as Marine Corps Depot of Supplies)
In use1952 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Colonel Matthew J. McKinney

Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany is a United States Marine Corps base located just outside Albany, Georgia. The primary mission of the units on the base is to rebuild and repair ground combat and combat support equipment and to support installations on the East Coast of the United States. Today one of MCLB Albany's most important facilities is the Marine Corps Logistics Command's Maintenance Center. The only other facility of this kind is located at MCLB Albany's sister installation, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California. The base comprises more than 3,300 acres (13 km2) and in 2002 employed more than 2,400 civilians along with a complement of 600 Marines. One of the Corps' major commands, Marine Corps Logistics Command, is based at MCLB Albany. The command also encompasses activities at bases in Barstow, California, and Jacksonville, Florida.

Contents

History

Brig. Gen. Raymond P. Coffman and his staff MCLB Albany 1952 staff.jpg
Brig. Gen. Raymond P. Coffman and his staff

The base was commissioned on March 1, 1952, as the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies. At that time, Marine Brigadier General Raymond P. Coffman assumed command and a small contingent of Marines established headquarters in temporary buildings.

Albany was chosen as the site for the logistics base after a two-year search in the early 1950s for a level area convenient to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean and serviced by road and rail. Albany was also attractive for its inland location, well away from the possibility of saltwater corrosion of the stored equipment, and its adequate workforce.

Construction continued rapidly, and by early 1954, the station was sufficiently complete with warehouses and administration buildings to assume supply support for Marines east of the Rocky Mountains and in the Atlantic area. On July 29, 1954, the command was renamed the Marine Corps Supply Center Albany. The MCSC managed and controlled supplies at storage and issue locations in the eastern half of the United States, the Caribbean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea areas. Depot level rebuild operations began to function at the base in October 1954.

The base opened in 1954, as the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies. In 1959, renamed the Marine Corps Supply Center, it was assigned the mission of rebuilding nonaviation equipment.

The MCSC Albany was redesignated Marine Corps Logistics Support Base Atlantic on April 1, 1976, because the Marine Corps Supply Activity at Philadelphia and its inventory control, financial management, procurement and technical support functions were relocated to the Albany installation.

On November 1, 1978, the installation was renamed once again – Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. The full spectrum of logistics support functions required to support the Marine Corps ground weapon systems and equipment was now performed at this base.

On January 17, 1990, the Commandant of the Marine Corps designated the commanding general at MCLB Albany to also take on the responsibilities of commander, Marine Corps Logistics Bases. The reorganization placed control of MCLB Albany, MCLB Barstow, and the Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, Florida, under this single commander.

Environment and archaeology

Preserving the environment and the wildlife in and around the base has been a priority since the early planning phases of the facility. Colonel A.E. Dubber, the officer who chose the Albany site, insisted early on that he wanted no wildlife disturbed unnecessarily and that as many trees as possible should be saved. Because of his policies the base is lined with pecan orchards and rows of oaks. The so-called Dubber Oak, upon which the base was aligned during construction, still stands near the main gate.

In 1973 more than 200 Indian artifacts were discovered on the base. Arrowheads, flint knives, scrapers, and other ancient tools estimated to be more than 8,000 years old were unearthed by archaeologists. Their presence suggests that the area may have been a trading or supply post for Native Americans.

The EPA has conducted tests (and continues to monitor) the contamination by hazardous substances on the base of the ground and the drinking water supply.

Persian Gulf War

From the beginning of the historic buildup of U.S., Arab and other allied air, ground and naval forces against Iraq during 1990 and 1991 until Operation Desert Storm ended, MCLB Albany and its personnel were deeply involved in the greatest surge of activity in the history of the base. Between August 10, 1990, and March 31, 1991, MCLB Albany provided support to the Marine Air-Ground Task Forces sent to the Persian Gulf area.

During the Persian Gulf War (1990–91) the base's workforce shipped more than 9 million pounds of equipment to air and seaports for rapid transport to troops abroad. Personnel also installed twenty-six "tractor protective kits" on bulldozers used to break through Iraqi barriers and minefields. The armored bulldozers helped open the way for coalition troops to overrun enemy defenses.

During the first phase of activation of Prepositioned War Reserves, MCLB Albany's Materiel Division (today, MCLB Fleet Support Division and DLA Defense Distribution Depot Albany) shipped more than nine million pounds of goods and equipment on more than 300 semi-trailer trucks to airports and seaports of embarkation to Saudi Arabia. The division's support continued throughout the crises as its personnel established around the clock operations and worked nearly 50,000 overtime hours packing goods that included 4,800 supplemental items packs and other high priority requisitions for U.S. military personnel.

MCLB Albany also provided medical support throughout the crises. Two doctors, eight medical corpsmen and one independent duty technician from the Naval Branch Medical Clinic at the base deployed to the Persian Gulf. Additionally, the Air Force Medical Logistics team at the base had four air transportable hospitals (ATHs) that were assembled at the base prepositioned in the Persian Gulf area. Two additional ATHs, along with 895,000 pounds of additional medical materials and equipment that were assembled at the base were also sent to the Gulf War area.

The Publications Branch at the base sent 29,000 publications and technical manuals to reconstitute the Maritime Prepositioned Force in Saudi Arabia. This work continued for nearly a year after the war ended.

The Maintenance Center performed a myriad of projects and support activities during the war, many of which were innovative and were accomplished in record time. Notable among the Maintenance Center's support were personnel who developed and installed 26 Tractor Protective Kits on II Marine Expeditionary Force's bulldozers in the Persian Gulf area. These armor-plated bulldozers broke the paths through Saddam Hussein’s so-called "Wall of Death" minefields and other fortified barriers, opening the roads along which the Marine divisions pursued and defeated the Iraqi army.

More than 100 MCLB Albany Marines, Navy personnel and civilian employees served in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine expeditionary unit</span> Small United States Marine Corps task force

A Marine expeditionary unit is the smallest air-ground task force (MAGTF) in the United States Fleet Marine Force. Each MEU is an expeditionary rapid reaction force ready to any crisis, whether it be disaster aid or a combat mission. Marine amphibious unit (MAU) was the name used until the late 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Field</span> Military facility in San Antonio, Texas

Kelly Field is a Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he was piloting.

Combat service support is a topic that is, broadly speaking, a subset of military logistics. However, combat service support is often more limited in depth, as the related groups primarily address factors supporting readiness for combat operations. The United States Department of Defense organizes various agencies providing services such as medical assistance, for example, akin to other nations' militaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Marine Logistics Group</span> Military unit

The 3rd Marine Logistics Group is the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) for III Marine Expeditionary Force currently headquartered on Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. 3rd MLG provides combat service support (CSS) to III MEF units above the organic capability. CSS is the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of operating forces in theater at all levels of war. Combat service support includes, but is not limited, to supply, maintenance, transportation, general engineering, health services, and other services required by aviation and ground combat forces to permit those units to accomplish their missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Wing Support Squadron 274</span> Military unit

Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 (MWSS-274) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Wing Support Group 27 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organization of the United States Marine Corps</span>

The United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). The most senior Marine commissioned officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for operation under the command of the unified combatant commanders. The Marine Corps is organized into four principal subdivisions: Headquarters Marine Corps, the Operating Forces, the Supporting Establishment, and the Marine Forces Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Systems Command</span> Acquisition command of the United States Marine Corps

The Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) is the acquisition command of the United States Marine Corps, made up of Marines, sailors, civilians and contractors. As the only systems command in the Marine Corps, MCSC serves as Head of Contracting Authority and exercises technical authority for all Marine Corps ground weapon and information technology programs. MCSC is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow</span> US Marine Corps base near Barstow, California, US

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is a United States Marine Corps supply and maintenance installation located in the Mojave Desert east of Barstow, in San Bernardino County, Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Logistics Command</span> Major command of the U.S. Marine Corps

The Marine Corps Logistics Command (MARCORLOGCOM) is a major command of the United States Marine Corps responsible for providing support for fielded weapons systems, support services and supplies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blount Island Command</span> Subordinate command of the United States Marine Corps Logistics Command

As the hub of the Marine Corps' prepositioning programs, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island(MCSF-BI), located in Jacksonville, Florida, serves as the home of Blount Island Command(BICmd) and its worldwide mission of supporting the Fleet Marine Forces (FMF) who are Forward deployed and forward engaged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex</span> Military unit

The Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC), through about 7,000 employees at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, provides depot maintenance, engineering support and software development to major weapon systems [F-15, C-5, C-130, C-17 and Special Operations Forces (SOF) aircraft]. The Complex achieves command objectives providing a capability/capacity to support peacetime maintenance requirements, wartime emergency demands, aircraft battle damage repair and a ready source of maintenance of critical items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Army Depot</span> Airport in Sierra Army Depot, California

Sierra Army Depot (SIAD) is a United States Army post and military equipment storage facility located near the unincorporated community of Herlong, California. It was built in 1942 as one of several ammunition storage facilities located far enough inland to be safe from Japanese attack, yet close enough to western military posts and ports to facilitate shipment of supplies. The site also met the requirement that the depot be in a dry and isolated area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Installations Command</span> Major command of the U.S. Marine Corps

The Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) was created on October 1, 2011 to oversee U.S. Marine Corps installations through direct oversight, policy creation and coordination, and resource prioritization. MCICOM is currently commanded by Major General David W. Maxwell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Antonio Air Logistics Center</span> Former air depot of the US Air Force in San Antonio, TX

The San Antonio Air Logistics Center is a former air depot of the United States Air Force located alongside Kelly Air Force Base. It traced its history to the creation of the San Antonio Air Depot Area Command in the 1940s. Kelly's World War II mission turned the base into a huge industrial complex. It was closed as part of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway</span>

Stockpiles of United States Marine Corps weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other equipment have been located in Norway since 1981 as part of what is currently designated the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway (MCPP-N). This material is stored in a network of climate-controlled caves and buildings near the city of Trondheim, and is drawn upon as part of worldwide US military operations. Norway has met most of the costs of the MCPP-N since the 1990s, and the sites are mainly staffed by Norwegians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Beach Group Two</span> Military unit

Naval Beach Group Two, (NBG-2) is a United States Navy amphibious unit based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Naval Beach Group One is its sister unit based in Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in Coronado, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph O. Butcher</span> U.S. Marine Corps Major General

Joseph Orville Butcher was decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps who reached the rank of major general. He spent his career mostly in Quartermaster Department of the Marine Corps beginning in the field assignments during World War II. Butcher later served as commanding general, Marine Corps Supply Center Albany and also Assistant Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps and deputy to Major General Chester R. Allen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy M. Gulick</span> American Marine Corps Quartermaster General

Roy Moyer Gullick was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. He spent his senior career mostly in Quartermaster Department, reaching the capacity of Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps. He held this office between dates July 1, 1958 – January 1, 1960.

The Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal is awarded to Department of the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps civilians who, while serving in a capacity within the Navy or Marine Corps, are to be recognized for sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature at the equivalent level of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal awarded to military personnel.

References