Power to the People

EXPENSIVE PRICE TAG: Restoring air conditioning to public works officer. In addition, the borrowed tur- those housing units affected under Phase I was expen- bine engine consumes more JP5 fuel (a total of 250 sive, especially since the power crisis should be over gallons consumed an hour) than a diesel engine. And in another two weeks to a month. It cost $51,000 just when it comes time to return the turbine, slated to be to fly the C5-A Galaxie, shown at NAS as the turbine gen- back in San Diego by the end of July, that too will be erator was being unloaded from it early Tuesday, to expensive, even though it probably will be sent as far Gitmo from North Island, said Cdr. J.W. Cook, assistant as Norfolk by ship. (Photo by PHAN Ellman) Carries expensive price tog Power to the people By J02 Steve Vieregg and even help from the Air Force. using," said Cdr. J.W. Cook, assist- The story goes like this: ant public works officer. According- Base residents, sweltering since Prior to last Saturday, the base ly, Phase I, which shuts off all ma- last Saturday when Phase I of the was using a daily load of about jor large air conditioners on base, power load shedding plan went into 17,500 kilowatts. There was no went into effect. This, Cdr. Cook effect, were able to turn on their electrical problem since the gener- estimated, drops the power load by air conditioners again yesterday ators in operating condition were about 1,000 kilowatts daily. afternoon. producing roughly 18,400 kilowatts Thus, the situation was back in But the story of "power to the of power daily. hand until another 2,000 diesel gen- people" went far beyond those per- erator showed symptoms of developing sons living here on "the rock." To However, on Saturday morning one the same problem which had shut down restore normal electrical power to of the 2,J00 kilowatt diesel gener- .the first 2,000 kilowatt generator. the base, an emergency generator had ators had a failure in the gear Had this second generator gone out, to be found and flown to Gitmo. box. "This automatically put us in the base would have been forced into This involved coordination of per- a situation where we could not use Phase II of the load shedding plan, sonnel from Washington to San Diego as much power as the base had been (See POWER, Page 2) Page 2--LOCAL NEWS Guantanamo Gasette Friday, April 20, 1973 S THE GIANT BIRD: The C5-A Galaxie, the largest plane in the U.S. air fleet inventory, on Tuesday be- came the largest plane ever to land at Gitmo. Said Cdr. Cook: "We could have gotten another turbine generator of the same size inside with a tractor and still had room left over on both sides." Phase I until 2:30 p.m. yesterday, when a steam turbine which had been undergoing routine overhaul was put back POWER- from page one on the line three days ahead of schedule through the efforts of the contractors and Public Works personnel, which would have meant all air conditioners being shut who had been working around the clock. Cdr. Cook,in off. particular, cited Warrant Officer Paul Linn and Engine- Seeking help, Public Works Officer Capt. Jack Rickels man First Class Robert Gower, who were in charge. and Rear Admiral Leo B. McCuddin, Naval Base commander, made numerous phone calls and sent several messages to Fortunately, the future looks brighter. the States, Cdr. Cook said. Wheels were set into mo- New gears for the generator which broke down last tion to fly a 2,jOO kilowatt gas turbine, which was be- Saturday were scheduled to arrive yesterday aboard an ing used at Naval Air Station North Island to provide Indian River plane. "Hopefully that generator will be cold iron power to aircraft carriers, to Gitmo. This repaired by Saturday (tomorrow)," Cdr. Cook said. If S was possible since no carriers are presently in port at so, Public Works will take the other 2,000 kilowatt North Island, which is near San Diego. generator off the line and inspect it to see if it is okay or in need of preventive maintenance. A turbine generator is no easy item to transport. Thus, it was necessary, said Cdr. Cook, for.the Air Once this is successfully completed, another steam Force to use one of its C5-A Galaxie planes. This turbine generator will be taken down for its regular plane, the largest in the U.S. air fleet inventory, had overhaul. never landed before at Gitmo. Parts are due to arrive next week for another 1,500 It touched down at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday at Leeward with kilowatt generator. the turbine generator and two civilians from North Island--Charles inebarger, an electrician, and Jerone Meanwhile, three additional 1,500 kilowatt diesel Faucher, a heavy duty automotive mechanic--to help out. generators are on their way to Gitmo by ship--the one from Norfolk is due to arrive in about two weeks and The turbine was brought to Windward on the 8 a.m. two others from the Philippines should be here in ferry and was in operating condition at the Desalini- about two months, Cdr. Cook said. zation Plant by 11 p.m. that night. Thus, if the base can make it for the next 30 days, Base officials, still leery that the second 2,000 the power crisis should be over, he added. In the kilowatt generator might go out and put the power sit- meantime, he said, "If the lights go out, you know it uation back to where it was Saturday, kept the base on will be a safety catch on the turbine generator." Water status Guantanamo Gazette . cap rO Local Forecast er . b. cddin C Water figures for Thursday: WATER PRODUCED: 1,652,000 Partly cloudy with scattered showers. Visibility unrestricted. Winds WATER CONSUMED: 1,801,000 N 3-5 knots becoming SE 8-12 knots with gusts to 20 knots during the WATER LOSS: 149,000 afternoon. High today 86. Low n.aa.bdischion0. a t Oe wan. asb pth tonight 72. Bay Conditions 2-3 feet. artsbOe offibm. Ito b ied n dys weatswema -x on.am . .. .opnioss t.e.n WATER IN STORAGE: 18,947,000 .in . .i.tem.r e .hat. High tide tomorrow morning at 0020. offic s or s refe 1ti Low tide today 1653. LOCAL NEWS--Page 3 riday, April 20, 1973 Guantanamo Gazette riday, April 20, 1973 Guantamamo Gazette LOCAL NEWS--Page 3 Awards presented The meritorious unit commendation, a letter of commendation, and good conduct awards were presented recently to these men by Capt. Zeb Alford, Naval Station commanding officer. Top left is Capt. Alford presenting BU3 Charles Courville with the meritorious unit commendation; top right is Capt. Alford with the receivers of the good conduct award. Left to right are: BM2 2 Terrence Walsh, L0 Arthur Priest Jr., CE2 A. C. Haul- mark Jr., L02 John Vanorman, %T3 Lawrence Toal, and CE2 Theodore Dement. Capt. Alford presents the letter of commendation to PNC John Crown (left) and PCC Michael Dwyer (right)a in right photo. LOCAL BRIEFS What's happening TODAY * chiefs WINDJAMMR: St. Elmo's Fire from 7:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The CPO Club is holding a CPO initiation for the newly frocked TOMORROW chief petty officers of the USS GITMO AUTO CLUB will meet at 10 a.m. at Marblehead Hall. 'or more infor- Grand Canyon at 1 p.m. tomorrow at mation, call John Baker, 951030. the CPO Club. All base chiefs are CPO CLUB: Fred from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. invited and there will be a casual COMO CLUB: Benefit at 8:30 p.m. bar. STAFF NCO CLUB: Jacks. *schools SUNDAY GUANTANAMO SELF-IEFENSE CLUB will meet at 2 p.m. at the Child Day Care Cen- William T. Sampson schools will ter. For more information, call 97110 AWH. close at their regularly scheduled times today and will resume Monday, MONDAY April 30 at their normal hours. The ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 8:30 p.m. in the Hospital classroom. 7or same is true of the Base Nursery. more information, call 7493 DWH, or 97191 AWH. In yesterday's Gazette it was mis- JIL PAINTING WORKSHOP will. be held at 9 a.m. at the Arts and Crafts building takenly printed that the schools on McCalla Hill. For more information, call Harriet Hastings, 85627. would reopen this Monday. BINGO will be held at 8 p.m. at Morin Center. Page 4--FEATUR Cuantanamo Gazette Friday, April 20. 1973 Friday, April 20, 1973 Guantanamo Gasette FEAMUE--Page 5 Where they learn skills through experience Students flock to work program By Sandra Bernstein has set up a program of half-day school and half-day get an enty-level positioninacareerfthi hoice after high school. Seniors at William T. Sampson High School are learn- -h-jb h puts the student in work sit- right Hi WB1BBH . BHHBBB Hgh S~HH1 H uations allHH H over t hebaseB. You caB find them in the ini thatali p a na sd Howorkmakes ~ H Jack unemployable. peHchatgttheD ut oP roessingnOffice, th ehip1 ngpi So they're joining up "en mass" itheiiiCooHerativeB wahy havB ihmaoppoun t fB dto ick thetraing othed Department, Horks, i i Hui Ro, ImperiiPackingB, waHtfrom Work ~ub1B ~ he manH~fyposiions oHffered by tiivi ouHsHBde- Experience Program offered at the high school this and the Dental Clinic, working at everything year.

Load more