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Inspecting the progress of a new phone and internet center, Cpl. Jasques P. Duplantis, 24, a company clerk with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, ensures the work is correct before moving on to the next phase of building at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, June 14. The new center is scheduled to open at the end of June and will provide the Marines and other service members aboard the camp with more than 16 computers and 10 phones to use.

Photo by Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson

Mission: Connecting Marines with families

14 Jun 2008 | Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson 1st Marine Division

A shorter wait for phones and internet is at hand for service members and civilian contractors here.

Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, are constructing a new internet and phone center aboard the camp to make this possible.

“We wanted to build another phone center to reduce the strain on the original,” said Capt. Juan C. Rodriguez, company commander,  H&S Co. “It will bring a bigger morale boost for the Marines and soldiers of this camp.”

The leaders of the battalion decided to construct the new internet and phone project at the beginning of June. As soon as the call was made, the Marines with Camp Commandant Platoon, H&S Co., began building to make the idea a reality.

“The idea was something that I wanted to follow through on,” said Rodriguez, 41, from Sea Fort, N.Y. “The project will also open up room for the post exchange to expand and make a larger recreation room for the service members.”

The new center will be located in a large trailer with more than 16 computers and 10 phones to serve the residents on the base. Once the framing and interior is finished within the trailer, the Marines will put the 2nd LAR letters into the floor to establish their mark in the construction.

“The best part of this job is to know I did something in Iraq that makes a difference for the Marines,” said Cpl. Jasques P. Duplantis, a company clerk with H&S Co.

The project is part of a series of operations to increase the morale and recreation of the base. So far, the Marines and other tenants have planned to build a new gymnasium, expand the PX for more items and provide a larger recreation room.

The new center is scheduled to open at the end of June.

“We’re here to do something good for the camp,” said Duplantis, 24, from Houma, La. “We will continue to better the lifestyle out here for these Marines.”


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