United States Marines Span Colorado River, 1951

39 images. United States Marines Span Colorado River, 17 October 1951. Sergeant Joe B. Braswell (Texas); Private First Class Virgil Lienann (Van Neter, Iowa); Major George W. Torbert; Captain Fred L. Magoon; Major William C. Hess; Captain Arthur E. Probst; Lieutenant A.D. Dinnison.; Caption slip reads: "Photographer: McCarty. Date: 1951-10-16. Assignment: Marines span Colorado River. 27/27: Marines inflate rubber pontoon in preparation for erection of balk. Float will carry up to 18 ton capacity. 29/30: Stationery[sic] pier from which fixed bridge is to be erected over Colorado River. 33/34: Members of First Fixed Bridge Company prepare to install panel at 200 foot mark of fixed bridge over river. 35/36: SSgt. Joe B. Braswell of Grand Prairie, Texas, directs dozer in movement of fixed bridge over Colorado River. Bridge slides on rollers from pressure of dozer, extending over river. 37: Crane on pontoon raft aids in erecting second pier for fixed bridge. Raft carries crane on all water installation assignments. 38: Fixed Bridgemen tighten sway brace over 1st pier during spanning of Colorado River. --- Bailey Bridge is an English design. 39: Photographer get shot of bridge just before it reaches 2nd pier. 40: Laying balk for tank ferry. 49: Pinning balk for erection of tank ferry (floating bridge)."; Caption slip continues: "47: Ferrying boat raft into locking position. 48: Spanning far-side of Colorado River (pinning balk). 51: Laying last few feet of fixed bridge -- men work in foreground (night problem) laying bridge under total darkness. 45: Pfc. Virgil Lienann of Van Meter, Iowa, pins balk under total darkness. 52-53: Floating bridge complete. Truck- jeeps-crane, etc. make safe crossing under total darkness (one phase of the training)".; Caption slip continues: "63/64: Floating pontoon ferry floats truck & semi with bulldozer across Colorado River. 57/58: Major Geo. W. Torbert, engineer officer & Task Force C.O.; Capt. Fred L. Magoon, commanding officer of First Fixed Bridge Company; Major William C. Hess, commanding officer of 1st Floating Bridge Co. going over construction plans. 101-65-66: Completion of fixed bridge. Truck crosses safely-- bridge capacity -- 31 tons; will carry more through. 55-56: Floating foot bridge -- plywood construction -- spun glass honeycomb filler -- takes 30 minutes to construct. 320 fwwt across river. 61-62: Construction floating foot bridge".; Caption slip continues: "54: Capt. Arthur E. Probst ; Lt. A.D. Dinnison, exec. officer of Fixed Bridge discuss their problems at 'Camp Cactus'. 146: Floating partly finished pontoon into position in total darkness. 149-144-143: Construction pontoon section -- the boys are 'pinning Balk' in total darkness. 59-60: Major Hess checks balk pins on floating bridge. 50: Floating pontoon section partly completed into bridge. 67-68: Bridge completed -- convoy crosses with approx. 90 tons with no strain. -- F.B. ... used 75 tons material used to cross Colo. River; Crane, 22 tons; dozer, 16 tons"