Visitors get special access to MCAS

  Winter visitors and Yuma residents got a lesson on the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and its history Tuesday when the base opened its doors for the first of its three scheduled public tours this winter.

  The tour included a guided bus trip around base that provided spectators a history of the air station and explanations of what they were seeing.

  Many of the people on the tour are winter visitors, said Cpl. Tim Stewman, a combat correspondent with the public affairs office on base. He said the base offers the tours in the winter due to the area's population growth, which often includes retirees and veterans.

  "It's nice to have people come see what we do," said Cpl. Daniel Wallace, a motor transport operator of the Seven-Ton Truck, also known as the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement. He answered questions from the crowd about the truck's purpose and its weight of 22,000 pounds when the buses stopped on the flightline.

  In addition to the Seven-Ton Truck, spectators were able to walk around and ask questions about the aircraft and vehicles provided in the static display, which included an F-5 jet, an AV-8B Harrier, a P-19 crash/fire/rescue vehicle, an M1123 up-armored Humvee and a search and rescue helicopter.

  "We enjoy it. It gives the public insight on what we do," said Cpl. Kenneth Rich, a crew chief driver of the P-19 fire rescue vehicle.

  During the tour, visitors learned of a special visit Tuesday by Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, when they saw his flag flying with four stars from the Headquarters Building and his jet on the flightline.

  For many visitors on the tour, this was their first time on base, and they found it to be a good experience.

  "I think it was a good tour," Sandy Mayfield, a winter visitor to Yuma and resident of Poulsbo, Wash., said. "It is always pretty interesting to see what they do."

  The tour started out on the south side of the base at Gate 4, where spectators were able to see Marines as they practiced martial arts training for the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. It then proceeded into the main base area where buildings that house the flight squadrons and the base operations could be seen.

  Visitors also saw the commissary, the exchange, the civilian and military post office and other various buildings that make up the air station. 

  Mayfield's husband, Tom, said he felt the stop at the flightline was the best part of the tour.

  "I have grandboys, and I had to take pictures of the airplanes to send back to them," he said. "I think it (the tour) is a great idea."

  Barbara and Bill Mead, winter visitors who started coming to Yuma in January, were also first-time visitors to the base and were meeting friends for the tour.

  "I have been a fan of the military," Barbara Mead said. "I've always been interested in seeing the base."

  "We are here to support our Marines," said Bill Mead.

  Mead and his father-in-law were civilians who worked on fighter aircraft before their retirement. He said he was surprised to see the F-5 on the flightline, because it was one aircraft he used to work on.

  As the tour concluded, visitors were treated to a military working dog demonstration.

  "I liked the dog demonstration," Joseph Evelich, 15, from Yuma, said. He came to the tour with his father and stepmother who are visiting from Connecticut. "I think it was awesome."

  "I think it is great they have these tours," Joseph's father, Neil Evelich, said. "I really thought it was excellent. It is nice to see what is going on on base and that they are taking care of military families."

  For those who missed the November tour, two additional public base tours are scheduled for Jan. 27 and Feb. 10.