MCB Quantico --
Marine Corps Air Facility Marines
have a new place to live and dine.
MCAF held a dedication ceremony for
McCaughtry Barracks and Dwyer Hall, June 5. During the ceremony, Lt. Col.
Vincent J. Ciuccoli, MCAF commanding officer; Capt. Antonio Edmonds, US Navy
commander of NAVFAC Washington; and Col. Allen Broughton, MCB Quantico chief of
staff, presented Mrs. Yvonne Dwyer and her sons Daniel and Dennis with a plaque
honoring Staff Sergeant Dennis R. Dwyer, husband and father.
“You may know that today is about
more than the concrete, brick and steel.
This day is truly about those for whom we’ve named these two incredible
buildings,” Ciuccoli said.
Dwyer gave his life for his country in Nov. 1992 in a transport helicopter crash in the
Atlantic Ocean near the Azores region.
Ciuccoli described Dwyer’s
personality as “charismatic and magnetic – the kind of guy we all want to be
around as aircrew. A genuine and
passionate leader of Marines. A role model for his sons, who were inspired to
join the Corps to finish his commitment. A faithful and loving husband who wore
his heart on his sleeve.”
Dwyer Hall, the new mess hall aboard
MCAF is located within the courtyard and mimics the design and style of the new
barracks.
The 10,000 square foot hall replaces
the existing 1940s dining facility at MCAF. The cafeteria-style dining area can
seat up to 250 Marines.
McCaughtry Barracks, a 408 man Bachelors
Enlisted Quarters features “comfort” style living for Marines.
The three story, 100,010 square foot,
co-ed building, was constructed with reinforced concrete, brick veneer and stone
accents by the Whiting-Turner contracting company.
The lobby features a lounge area, laundry
room, P.O. boxes, pool table, and other games.
Rooms resemble a college dorm, with
dimmable lights, a fan, desks, closets, a refrigerator, microwave, bathroom and
high ceilings. All furniture features locked storage space to store personal
belongings. Rooms can hold up to two occupants.
The barracks was dedicated to “Capt.
McCaughtry who commanded the 1st Air Squadron in the Dominican Republic from
Feb. 1919 to 1921 where Marine ground forces would be supported by Marine air
for the first time,” Ciuccoli said.
The project broke ground in Feb. 2013
and Marines moved into the new barracks May 22, 2015.
The courtyard between the barracks
and the chow hall features horse shoe pits, a basketball court and benches.
Noise reduction measures were taken
for both buildings because of the close proximity of the railroad and airfield.
cbrown@quanticosentryonline.com