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In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, IBEW members from across the United States have been called to serve their country in all branches of the U.S. military. As highly skilled IBEW electricians, these members have served honorably and well, bringing invaluable technical expertise and great pride. Many have assumed major leadership roles in carrying out their military duties. Several IBEW members called to active duty since September 11 have relayed their experiences, as reported below. Although we do not know the exact number of IBEW members serving in the armed forces as a result of 9/11, all such members can be assured the Brotherhood pays them tribute and acknowledges with gratitude their loyal service. "The IBEW commends all our members who answered the call of duty to serve the nation in all branches of the military following the September 11 attacks on our homeland," said International President Edwin D. Hill. 200th Red Horse Squadron, U.S. Air Force Local 129, Lorain, Ohio, member Orville Platte wrote that he and other IBEW members from Ohio and Pennsylvania are on active duty with the U.S. Air Force 200th Red Horse Squadron based in Qatar. "In this unit the Electrical and Power Production shop has over 70 percent IBEW members," said Platte, a journeyman inside wireman and 23-year IBEW member. "We installed the new central command building in Qatar, and our unit has been in over 12 different countries in this area of operation." Also in Plattes squadron from Local 129 is journeyman inside wireman Brent Daley, a 12-year IBEW member. Other IBEW electricians with the squadron from Ohio include members of Toledo Local 8, Cleveland Local 38 and Mansfield Local 688; and from Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Local 5, Erie Local 56, Harrisburg Local 143, Allentown Local 375, Reading Local 743 and Bethlehem Local 1600. A complete list of all IBEW members serving in the squadron was not available at press time. "Our training with the IBEW has given us the knowledge to overcome any problems found here," said Platte, the squadrons electrical shop superintendent. IBEW Seabee Reservists Four IBEW electricians from New York state recently returned home from a 10-month deployment as U.S. Navy Seabee reservists following the 9/11 attacks. The IBEW Navy reservists were recalled to active duty in direct support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom. Attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, out of Gulfport, Mississippi, the IBEW electricians were deployed to such locations as Guam, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico, Andros Islands in the Bahamas, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The IBEW Seabees from New York are: Bob Crary, Local 97, Syracuse; Tim Doney, Local 910, Watertown; L. Thane Benson, Local 241, Ithaca; and Joe McShea of Local 3, New York City. All four IBEW electricians achieved the Seabee Combat Warfare (SCW) designation, "a combat readiness qualification that is tough to get," Crary said. These brothers were assigned important leadership roles. At Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Brothers Crary and McShea were responsible for electrical distribution, power and lighting. They were crew leaders for the construction of Camp X-Ray, which housed more than 300 detainees from Afghanistan. In Guam, Brother Benson was project supervisor overseeing all electrical distribution, as well as interior construction for a new housing facility for future enlisted Seabees. Brother Doney was supervisor responsible for operations at Orote Point Quarry in Guam, where he performed troubleshooting and repair of electrical problems. The IBEW Seabees were released from active duty on July 16, 2002.
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