U.S. Army Pacific breaks ground on command, control facility

By U.S. Army PacificApril 10, 2012

U.S. Army Pacific breaks ground on command, control facility
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U.S. Army Pacific breaks ground on command, control facility
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4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Left to right: Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific; U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye; Robert King, president Niking Corporation; Col. Douglas Mulbury, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, Douglas Guttormsen, commander, U.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii (April 9, 2012) -- U.S. Army Pacific held a groundbreaking ceremony April 9 to inaugurate the new command and control facility operational headquarters.

The completed project will consolidate command and control, and supporting functions from 12 separate pre-World War II buildings and temporary trailers.

"Welcome to historic Fort Shafter, where today we break ground for the Pacific's region's newest command and control facility," said Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific. "Those of you that have visited our headquarters over the years may have noticed that my office is located in building T-100. The 'T' stands for temporary. Seventy years later I think it's safe to say our government got more out of these temporary facilities than we ever bargained for."

"Our Army of the 21st century are revising the requirements of mission command and construction of this facility couldn't be timelier. Modern operations are a network centric, collaborative enterprise requiring infrastructure unknown during WWII," said Wiercinski.

"Ladies and gentlemen, mahalo [thank you] once again for being here! It is my distinct pleasure to introduce a warrior and patriot for over 70 years, the honorable Senator Daniel K. Inouye."

"The first time I visited Fort Shafter was June 1947. I was just retired from the Army," said Inouye. "When I saw the office [building T-100], I was taken back because this was the Office of the Supreme Commander of the victorious Army of the Pacific. I was expecting something a little bit more."

Following Senator Inouye's comments the official party moved to the groundbreaking sight and Robert D. Presser and Lehua Presser conducted the Hawaiian blessing.

"It is an honor for me to be here this morning to conduct this blessing on this fabulous facility for the United States Army Pacific," said Presser. "May good fortune be upon this place."

Immediately following Pressers Hawaiian Blessing he instructed the official party to break the ground.

The ceremony concluded with the symbolic breaking of the ground by the official party and the playing of the Army Song.

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