Bowling at Gitmo, Lanes Paved in Marble
By Tracey Eaton (The Cuba Money Project)
HAVANA TIMES – The US government continues to pour money into the US Naval Base at Guantanamo, Cuba (AKA: Gitmo) even as the federal deficit threatens to hit $1 trillion in 2019.
A drop of the money – $174.89 million- has gone to Islands Mechanical Contractor Inc. in Middleburg, Florida, from 2008 to 2018. See interactive graphic.
One of company’s latest contracts is for $430,644 to install a fire suppression system at the bowling alley at the base. The project is scheduled to be done by March 15, 2019.
Another whopping $2,937,527 went for bowling alley repairs.
A Navy website states:
Marblehead Lanes Bowling Center provides fun and exciting recreational programming for all base residents. The courteous, friendly professional customer oriented staff actively organize and advertise bowling programs such as: Fun Leagues, cash leagues, tournaments, and Bowling Party packages. Also available Cosmic Party Package, you can request your favorite songs and music video and watch it on the big screen while having fun bowling. Lockers are available for rental. Marblehead Lanes Bowling Center is comprised of twenty eight Qubica AMF pinsetters and synthetic approaches and lanes. It boasts of having a state-of-the-art Qubica BES X Ultimate and Conquer Pro scoring system.
About 11,200 U.S. military personnel are stationed at Guantanamo, according to the American Services Press Service. An article entitled “Deploying to Guantanamo” stated:
This is not your typical deployment location in the war on terror. Troops here get to scuba dive in their off time and have an assortment of restaurants and bars to unwind in at the end of long days spent guarding enemy combatants.
“Gitmo” also is loaded with morale, welfare and recreation facilities and opportunities. Service members can rent boats and fishing equipment, become certified in scuba diving, or spend their time off snorkeling and watching the vast array of aquatic wildlife that fills the crystal-clear waters of the bay and surrounding Caribbean Sea.
Aside from water sports, the base features a golf course — troops generally play with hot-pink balls because white balls are too easy to lose in the gray desert landscape — a brand-new miniature golf course, several gyms and outdoor sports fields, and two outdoor movie theaters. Considering the year-round warm weather and scant rainfall — it rains only about three to five times a year here — movies rarely are canceled.
The fact that there are high-crime cities in the US does not negate the sacrifice if not physical danger military personnel face during their assignments in Guantanamo. They still deserve a bowling alley.
” the guys who put their lives on the line every day” ,,,,, who are you kidding? They are safer in Guantanamo than if they resided in many US cities including Detroit and Baltimore.
I granted you that they will not easily contact PTSD in Guantanamo – maybe just severe sunburn.
What is the point of this article? Is it meant to criticize the US for spending money on extending creature comforts to our military personnel in Guantanamo? The day after Veterans Day, Tracey wants to take a shot at the very people who guarantee his rights to take shots at people? If he gets heartburn about the government deficits, I am sure that there is enough waste in other areas of government to satisfy his budget-conscious urges. The guys who put their lives on the line every day deserve to distract themselves during their free time. If Scuba lessons solve the problem, I am all for it. Anything is better than sending them home suffering from PTSD. We have recently seen the consequences that can occur when that happens. I think Tracey’s not-so-veiled criticism of Navy personnel going bowling is unfair and inappropriate. I hope that he would rethink what he has written.