MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY -- Editor’s note: Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s history information was taken from MCLB Albany’s base guide.
March 1 marks the 64th anniversary of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.
The base was commissioned as the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies, March 1, 1952. Then-Brig. Gen. Raymond P. Coffman assumed command and a small contingent of Marines established headquarters in temporary buildings aboard the depot.
Today, Col. James C. Carroll III is the commanding officer of MCLB Albany.
“For the past sixty-four years, Marines, Sailors and civilian-Marines have provided outstanding support to the Marine Corps and the surrounding community,” Carroll said. “This last year was no exception. As we celebrate our anniversary, I ask you to reflect upon the successes we have accomplished together. Personally, I want to thank each of you for a job well done. Keep up the great effort and let’s win to the end.”
Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley, commander, Marine Corps Installations East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, also congratulated base Marines, Sailors and employees for their support to the Corps as well.
He highlighted several of MCLB Albany’s accomplishments this past year in a message released, Feb. 26.
“Once again, this award-winning installation continued to play a vital role in supporting our warfighters and by every measure, remains the home of Marine Corps operational logistics,” Weidley said. “Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany became the second Marine Corps installation within the Department of the Navy to achieve Voluntary Protection Program status, and is on track to become the first installation to achieve the Secretary of the Navy's mandated net-zero energy goals by 2017. (This will be done) through the implementation of America's first Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System, a state-of-the-art Ground Source Heat Pump System.
“Additionally, MCLB Albany's canine Marines made national news when one of their own, Pablo, received the American Kennel Club Humane Funds Award for Canine Excellence for the Uniformed Service K-9 Division,” he continued. “The 9-year-old Belgian Malinois and former explosive detection dog was retired and adopted by his (former) handler at a touching ceremony December 15, 2015.
“Lastly, MCLB Albany coordinated and provided critical support in preparation for Tropical Storm Erika when Federal Emergency Management Agency officials pre-staged approximately 75 trailers on the installation,” he said.
These were just a few of the many accomplishments MCLB Albany employees achieved throughout the past year.
These accomplishments, like so many in the past, are now in MCLB Albany’s history in Southwest Georgia.
A large oak tree located outside Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s Main Gate is affectionately known as “Dubber’s Oak.” The historical landmark is named after Col. A.E. Dubber, who from March 1951 to July 1955, was in charge of planning and construction of the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies, Albany, Georgia. He was insistent that the construction of the depot be aligned on this oak tree.
Since being commissioned as Marine Corps Depot of Supplies, March 1, 1952, the depot’s name changed two more times before it became MCLB Albany, Nov. 1, 1978.
The commandant of the Marine Corps directed the base’s commanding general, Jan. 17, 1990, to also take on the responsibilities of commander, Marine Corps Logistics Bases, which placed MCLB Albany; MCLB Barstow, California and Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Florida, under this single commander.
On Oct. 4, 2005, the Marine Corps regionalized all installations and the organization here was divided into a base command with a colonel as its commanding officer and Marine Corps Logistics Command headed by a commanding general. Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany became one of seven regional installations reporting to Marine Corps Installations East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Marine Corps Logistics Command became a separate tenant with its headquarters here and subordinate maintenance centers (now known as production plants) in Albany; Barstow, California, as well as the Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, Florida.
An integrated workforce of military and civilian men and women accomplish the base’s mission of supporting its organizations that help sustain Marines around the world.