MTMC gives space to some displaced Pentagon workers
The employees, from several different Pentagon offices, are in full-work spaces that include personal computers and phones.
"It is a very logical action," said Bob Hardiman, director, Personnel & Logistics.
"We have some space available and we want to get as many displaced employees as possible back to work, as soon as possible."
The Pentagon workers include employees from the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Assistant Secretary of the Army Manpower & Reserve Affairs. Both offices are in areas adjacent to the Pentagon area hit by a terrorist plane crash Sept. 11.
"We are re-establishing operations and connecting with our contacts," said Lt. Col. Robert Michaud, who works in the prepositioning division of the Deputy Chief of Staff Logistic's Office.
Michaud and his coworkers in the logistics office say they were very lucky in the incident. They moved from another Pentagon office Aug. 10. That office was devastated by the terrorist incident.
"We had been looking on the Internet at the plane crash in New York on USA Today," said Michaud. "When we felt the building shake we cleared the area. At first we thought it was a bomb."
After evacuating the building, Michaud helped with crowd control and volunteered for a search and rescue team.
John Kern, Michaud's division chief, said he is concerned for his team's personal welfare.
"My goal is to make sure the people are taken care of emotionally," said Kern. "People are taking it pretty well."
Kern has a unique perspective of the Pentagon blast.
He was selected as part of an official assessment Sept. 12, a day after the blast, to review a part of the building that is closed. With the building's lights out, Kern walked through familiar but dark corridors.
"I walked from the 7th to the 2nd corridor on 'D Ring,' " said Kern, "on Levels 1, 2 and 3."
Their logistics office has been lucky, said Kern. The office is dry and free of smoke damage that is apparent in other areas.
How could he maneuver in some of the darker areas?
"I have been in the Pentagon 19 years," said Kern. "I know it."
What about his old office?
"The walls have been blown out," said Kern. "People would have been hurt."
Nelson Chandler, Chief, Transportation & Distribution Division had a close look at the plane impact.
"I felt a great big bang and the building shook," said Chandler.
Looking out his corridor window, Chandler saw flames and sparks and "solid black smoke."
Chandler verified that all people were out of the office - then had the presence of mind to lock the door.
How does he feel about his office move a month earlier?
"Twice lucky," said Chandler. "If we had been in the old office, it is likely we would not be here now."
Robin Baldwin rushed up and hugged the employees.
A former member of the office, Baldwin now works at MTMC Headquarters on the Full Service Moving Project.
"It's so good to see you," said Baldwin.
Among those she hugged was Don Stump, a former Special Forces soldier with Vietnam service.
Stump, who has several Purple Hearts, said the crash felt like "a big bomb blast with an earthquake."
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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