Sailors from Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point (NHCCP) recently repaired a dock on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point (MCAS), providing a huge morale boost for base residents and outdoor enthusiasts.

When Hurricane Florence slow-rolled ashore into North Carolina in September 2018, the storm caused millions of dollars of damage to operational and support facilities on the air station.

Almost a year later the base continues to make repairs to its damaged buildings, but there are numerous smaller "non-essential" areas yet to be repaired such as the dock at Ordnance Point, which is one of only two boat ramps on the air station.

Ordnance Point dock is located across from major base housing areas and is close to a major highway, making it an attractive destination for recreational boaters, kayakers, fishermen, or anyone wanting to enjoy the beautiful marshland scenery of Slocum Creek. 

“Hurricane Florence destroyed the dock’s support structure and decking leaving behind a mess of broken boards, exposed rusty nails and large gaps in the dock,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Huenefeld, NHCCP’s command career counselor. “The damage was so bad, the dock was basically unusable and with Memorial Day quickly approaching, boaters would be unable to launch their boats.”

Huenefeld also heads up the NHCCP’s Sportsman Association, a group he established for NHCCP Sailors and their families to get to know the outdoors in Eastern North Carolina. “We try to educate our staff on all the wonderful outdoor activities available in this area to include hunting, fishing, hiking, archery, skeet … you name it.”

Huenefeld enlisted the NHCCP Sportsman’s Association to take action to repair the dock. The task was huge as the old dock needed demolition, money needed to be raised to buy wood to build the new dock and manpower was needed to do the job.

“Apart from being frequent users of the boat ramp/dock, we have several members of the association who have a wealth of experience and knowledge in framing, woodworking and construction, so this was a project we could really make happen,” Huenefeld said.

Over the course of only one week, the association, and other enlisted associations within the command, raised more than $1000, purchased the materials and supplies, gathered volunteers and formulated a plan to rebuild the dock and have it operational before Memorial Day. 

Demolition of the old structure began May 18, and construction of the new dock began bright and early at 6:00 a.m., May 19. Captain Reginal Ewing, Petty Officer Jonathan Randall, Petty Officer Austin Jensen, Hospital Corpsman Chad Newcomer, Hospital Corpsman Sandoval Ear, Hospital Corpsman Tracy Williams and Hospital Corpsman Anthony Stammen, along with several family members, braved the steamy hot marshes of Slocum Creek and completed the project by 7:00 p.m. And apart from a few pinched fingers and minor scratches, the dock was rebuilt exactly as it was before the storm and was again safe for boaters.  

“As Sailors, we take care of Marines," said Huenefeld. "But we also try to give back to the community and this was a great way for us to show the Marines of Cherry Point that not only do we take care of their healthcare, but we are also part of this great community and are willing to pitch in wherever we can."

For more news from Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, visit www.navy.mil/.