Sgt. Isaiah Pesce, a water purification specialist (waterdog) with 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, checks the fuel level in his fuel tanker at Forward Operating Base Normandy near Muqdadiya, Iraq, June 29. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 062907-01
June 29, 2007

By Pfc. Ben Fox
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division


BAQOUBA, Iraq (June 29, 2007) – Waterdogs – the term refers to a group of Soldiers formally known as water purification specialists. On many military posts in Iraq, though, water and other needs are contracted out to civilians, leaving these masters of water purification to find other jobs.

On Forward Operating Base Warhorse, near Baqouba, Iraq, these Soldiers work with a liquid almost completely opposite of water – fuel.

“Back in the rear we started doing the fuel,” said Pvt. Michael Pungsujarit, a waterdog with the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

“We didn’t know if we were going to have a water mission or not,” said Sgt. Isaiah Pesce, Pungsujarit’s section NCO.

With the training his platoon received back at home, little additional training was needed when they deployed, said Pungsujarit. His platoon consists of both fuel and water specialists.

“I got it down pretty quickly in around one to two weeks,” he said. “Besides that, it’s not hard at all to do cross training.
“It’s pretty easy, I guess, to me,” Pungsujarit said. “I don’t know about other people.

“We cross trained just to better ourselves,” said Pungsujarit.

“It gave us an advantage instead of having to learn all fresh out here,” said Pesce.
“I wish we could do the actual water job, but we don’t have a water mission out here,” he said.

“We aren’t doing any water anyway, so it’s good to help out and know more,” said Pungsujarit. “Since there’s no water we might as well just switch to fuel.”

One of the most difficult parts of the job is knowing how to take care of hazardous materials, he said.

“We just have to worry about the fuel spills… and how to clean that up,” said Pungsujarit.

A common saying in Pungsujarit’s platoon is that “fuel and water don’t mix,” but he said that the statement isn’t true.

“All of us get along,” said Pungsujarit. “We are like family I guess.”
“There is no rivalry or anything,” he said.

“Everyone does a good job,” said Pesce. “They all get along and stuff.”

There are three main aspects of fuel distribution: bulk fuel distribution, convoy, and the fuel and ammunition resupply point (FARP) where helicopters are refueled.
Pungsujarit started out at the bulk fuel distribution.

“After that I came directly to the FARP,” he said. “I haven’t had a chance to go on a convoy, but I think that is going to change.

“I enjoy the FARP because I have worked here a long time and I know it very well,” he said. “I know how to handle situations that if anything goes wrong I can fix it quickly.”

Pungsujarit said he also enjoys the FARP because he has never worked with helicopters before.

“Over here was when they first taught me how to fill up the birds,” said Pungsujarit.
“I was kind of excited the first time because I had never filled up helicopters before,” he said. “I had never been close to helicopters before.”

Pungsujarit also said that the waterdogs are making a significant contribution to the unit.

“Without us I think they (fuelers) would be undermanned,” said Pungsujarit. “We help out the platoon, and basically, the brigade.

“They would have to do a lot more work, but since the waterdogs are helping out, I think it’s good for them, too,” he said.

“I feel good that I am helping out, even if it is just a little,” said Pungsujarit.



Twisting a knob on a fuel tanker, Pfc. Javanti Banks, a water purification specialist (waterdog) with 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, allows fuel to flow from the truck to a collapsible fuel tank at Forward Operating Base Normandy near Muqdadiya, Iraq, June 29. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Spc. Ismael Gonzalez, a water purification specialist (waterdog) with 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, turns a wheel to allow fuel to flow from a fuel tanker to collapsible fuel tank at Forward Operating Base Normandy near Muqdadiya, Iraq, June 29. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 215th BSB, FOB Normandy, heroes, Iraq, Muqdadiyah, photos, US Army, Waterdogs