Pacific Bachelor Quarters Demolition on Kwajalein Island

Kwajalein Island, Marshall Islands - Members of the 7th Dive Detachment from the 29th Engineering Battalion "Topographic" demolished the decrepit Pacific Bachelor Quarters (PBQ) on July 7, 2006 using 168 sticks of dynamite. The demolition was a much-anticipated event on Kwajalein and was preceded by a two-day evacuation of the downtown area, covering 76 facilities including Café Pacific, the post office, and the hospital.

A large group of onlookers gathered around the perimeter of the approximate 681-foot evacuation zone throughout the afternoon and cheered when the detonation occurred around 4:05 PM. As planned, only the first floor was destroyed with the second and third floors simply falling one story in height. The structure was partially lowered so that it could be safely demolished with the heavy mechanical equipment on-island.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Kwajalein
• Atoll
• Pacific
• Bachelor
• Quarters
• PBQ
• BQ
• demolition
• dynamite
• explosion
• building
• implosion
• marshall
• islands

[HomeInNetherlands]

I lived in the PBQ from 89-94

[Sweebi23]

im in this video! -- ohhh snappp

[nickma71]

If the camera had just panned left, I could have been on youtube.

[nerblebun]

For a building being demolished....they sure left a lot of it standing. lol

[SeidWindR]

I helped place the explosives and of course cleaned up the mess. Wish I could go back.

[nerblebun]

Lived in the PBQ when I first got to Kwaj in 91. I miss the Island and the gentle Marshallese people but not the politics on Kwaj.

[peepingtomas]

I was there in '77 and '78 ( Class of '80) Would love to take a little Kwaj vacation!

[1fieryhabanero1]

Cool seeing the Rich...I heard it was torn down...Memories. Worked at that snakbar when I was in HS out there.Check out my senior picture in the 76 Ekatak..the long haired guy whith the cross in the background.Yukwe!!!

[aguajulie]

so, did they build new b q 's?  i'm thinking of teaching there next year and am curious where i'll be living? :) your website is wonderful too!!!