F A L L 2 0 0 6

Builder Wa r r i o r sMake a Wo r l dof Difference

Humanitarian Seabees:

Builder Wa r r i o r sMake a Wo r l dof Difference

Humanitarian Seabees:

ALSO INSIDE:

RADM Greg ShearNamed 41st NAVFACCommander & Chief of Civil Engineers

ALSO INSIDE:

RADM Greg ShearNamed 41st NAVFACCommander & Chief of Civil Engineers

NAVAL FACILITIES

ENGINEERING COMMAND

Greg Shear

REAR ADMIRAL, CEC, USN

COMMANDER & CHIEF OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

John E. Roark Jr.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

James D. Fairbanks

FORCM (SCW), FORCE MASTER CHIEF

PETTY OFFICER OF THE SEABEES

Virginia Bueno

PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Whit DeLoach

PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

FIRST NAVAL CONSTRUCTION DIVISION

Robert L. Phillips

REAR ADMIRAL, CEC, USN

COMMANDER

Albert Garcia III

REAR ADMIRAL, CEC, USNR

DEPUTY COMMANDER

Jerry B. Major

CMDCM (SCW)

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF

Calvin O. Foster

CMDCM (SCW)

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF (RESERVE)

Daryl C. Smith

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

STAFF

Raina T. Williams

Public Affairs Specialist

EDITOR

Regina Adams

Mass Communication Specialist

and Senior Chief Petty Officer (SW/AW)

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

The staff of Seabee Magazine would like towholeheartedly thank the active duty andreserve officer and enlisted personnel as wellas the civilians who provided submissions. Welook forward to your ongoing contributions aswe continue to tell the Seabee story.

QNEXIS, INC.

Strategic Marketing and Communicationswww.qnexis.com

Liz Dunn

Editorial Copy and Content Management

Luisa Palting

Graphic Design, Layout and Production

Kurt Nguyen

Project Management

HUMANITARIAN SEABEES:

BUILDER WARRIORS MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

3 USNS Mercy’s NMCB 40 crew improves health and living

conditions in Southeast Asia

6 NMCB 40 Seabees complete needed repairs to Chittagong Medical

College Hospital in Bangladesh during USNS Mercy’s 72-day voyage

7 During Mercy’s port call in Tarakan, Indonesia, NMCB 40 Seabees

partner with Military Sealift Command civil service mariners to

improve local high school

8 Seabees from NMCB 1, along with Philippine SeaBees, complete

educational civic action project during CARAT 2006

10 Local Ethiopian government aided by NMCB 5 Seabees in aftermath

of devastating flood

11 NMCB 7 Seabees construct school dormitories in Dikhil region of

Africa

12 Habitat for Humanity gains three homes built by NMCB 3 Seabees

13 In recognition of U.S. military support of earthquake relief,

President of Pakistan presents Star of Sacrifice to

Rear Adm. Michael A. Lefever, Combined Disaster Assistance Center

AMPHIBIOUS CONSTRUCTION BATTALION DEPLOYMENT14 ACB 2 securely transports Missile Defense Agency’s $1.6 billion

Sea-Based, X-Band Radar from Texas to Alaska

NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERINGCOMMAND LEADERSHIP CHANGE16 RADM Greg Shear becomes Commander and

Chief of Civil Engineers

(This page) The Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) passes the USS Arizona Memorial as she prepares to moor at NavalStation Pearl Harbor. Mercy is back home in San Diego, Calif., after completing a humanitarian and civic assistance deployment to Southeast Asia.Mercy’s crew of 15 Seabees from NMCB 40 assisted local communities bybuilding and repairing infrastructure and hospital facilities, as well as installingequipment and other resources.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist James E. Foehl

FALL06

A W A R D S and C O M M E N D A T I O N S31 Seabee instructor named Army Engineering

School Instructor of the Year

32 Navy League honors Seabees for individual

achievement

N E W S B R E A K33 NAVFAC-built U.S. Marine Corps Museum

dedicated at Quantico

33 NMCB 74 Seabees deploy to Naval Air Station

Whidbey Island

34 Seabee Betty honored by friends and family at

U.S. Navy Seabee Museum

34 30th NCR raises command flag at

CBC Port Hueneme

35 Swimming pool at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait,

doubles as reenlistment site

36 20th Annual Seabee Days celebrated on the

West Coast

F I N A L W O R DRear Adm. Robert Phillips, 1st Naval Construction

Division, shares his insight on the role of today’s

Seabees

(Cover) Builder Constructionman Joshua Harriman, NMCB 1, assists aPhilippine Navy SeaBee with squaring off a wall during a construction project atthe Mabanengbeng Elementary School in San Fernando, Philippines, in August2006. The civic action project was part of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readinessand Training (CARAT) 2006, an annual series of bilateral maritime training exer-cises between the United States and six Southeast Asian nations designed tobuild relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participatingforces. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

NEW SEABEE REGIMENT AND BATTALION 18 U.S. Navy approves establishment of 25th Naval Construction

Regiment and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11

19 Seabee hero Marvin Shields honored through NMCB 11 establishment

GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR20 NMCB 40 Seabees complete bridge repair project in Fallujah, Iraq

21 Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) extends care to the

homefront

24 Purple Hearts: Seabees salute and remember fellow Builder Warriors

killed and wounded in action in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom

HURRICANE RELIEF ANDRECONSTRUCTION25 A New Day at Gulfport

26 Naval Facilities Engineering Command at forefront of

Hurricane Katrina response

27 Officer In Charge of Construction (OICC) Katrina provides unified

effort for repair and rebuilding

27 CBC Gulfport continues to improve with help from Gulf Coast

Seabees

TRAINING28 NMCB 3 tests combat skills proficiency during Operation Bearing

Duel

30 Reserve Seabees to benefit from high-tech training facilities at

12 Readiness Support Sites

D E P A R T M E N T S

FA L L 2 0 0 6 1

SEABEE MAGAZINE2

L E T T E R S

Dear Reader:Over the past few issues, we’ve showcased many facets of Seabee life. In this issue, we continue this effort by reporting more groundbreaking events that highlight the undy-ing Seabee spirit and chronicle Navy history.

Humanitarian efforts are a cornerstone of Seabee missions, and in this edition we feature the charitable endeavors of several construction battalions around the world.We also tell the story of NMCB 40 Seabees who traveled on the USNS Mercy to assist localcommunities in the ports of call. Soon to be headquartered at CBC Gulfport, Miss., anew Seabee Regiment and Battalion will be established and is detailed in this issue. “ANew Day at Gulfport” chronicles how NAVFAC and the Seabees have helped rebuild theGulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

On October 27, after three years as Chief of Civil Engineers, Rear Adm. Mike Loose relinquished command of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command to Rear Adm. Greg Shear. Rear Adm. Loose is slated to be assigned as the Director,Material Readiness and Logistics (N4), and will be responsible for the strategic planningfor all Navy Fleet readiness and logistics programs. We wish the best of success to RearAdm. Loose and his family as he continues to serve his Navy and our nation in thesechallenging times. Rear Adm. Shear is a Seabee Warfare Officer who has ably led Seabeesat the battalion and regimental levels, and we look forward to working with him on themagazine.

We continue to encourage your stories, comments and candid feedback so that wemay continue to provide a well-rounded account of the Seabee story. Send us your storyideas and photos*:

E - m a i l : s e a b e e m a g a z i n e @ n a v y. m i lVo i c e : (202) 685-9108 or DSN 325-9108F a x : (202) 685-1484 or DSN 325-1484.

Thank you for your continued interest and for all you do. S i n c e r e l y,E d i t o r, S e a b e e M a g a z i n e

* Pre f e rred format for photo resolution is 300dpi at 5x7 inches minimum.

Editor’s note: As we have updated the look and feel of S e a b e e Magazine over the past year, the production

process has also been streamlined resulting in the elimination of a Winter 2006 issue. The next issue of S e a b e e

Magazine will be Spring 2007, beginning our annual quarterly schedule.

Fall 2006

MILITARY RECIPIENTSUnits or organizations with Seabees assigned are authorized no-cost distributions of S E A B E E M a g a z i n e(ISSN 1546-8429). Send requests by mail or fax on officialletterhead signed by the commanding officer or officer incharge, citing number of unit personnel, to the editor at themagazine’s postal address or fax number shown below.

CIVILIAN SUBSCRIPTIONSPaid subscriptions to the official magazine of the U.S. NavySeabees, S E A B E E Magazine, are available from theSuperintendent of Documents, P. O. Box 371954,Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954, or call (202) 512-1800 and askfor the publications order desk. The best method forobtaining a paid subscription is to point your Web browserto http://bookstore.gpo.gov and enter the Search termSEABEE. This returns a means to enter your subscriptionvia a secure credit card transaction. Current subscriptionprices are $25 per year or $7 per issue FPO/APO/domesticand $36 per year or $9.80 per issue foreign.

POSTMASTERSend address corrections to the Editor at the magazineaddress shown below.

AUTHORIZATIONThe Secretary of the Navy has determined this publicationis necessary in the transaction of business required by lawof the Department of the Navy.

EDITORIALSEABEE Magazine (formerly Beeline) is scheduled quarter-ly (except for combined or other special issues) by theNaval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) PublicAffairs Office from the historic Washington Navy Yard, “theQuarterdeck of the Navy.” Our readership consists ofActive and Reserve Seabees and CEC officers and theirfamilies, as well as veterans, retirees and the general public. Letters and electronic mail are welcome on allSeabee-related topics and, if published, are subject to edit-ing for length and clarity. Written and photographic submissions that show Active and Reserve Seabees are strongly encouraged. We prefer to receive all written and photographic submissions by e-mail toseabeemagazine@navy.mil. Film or digital images shouldinclude captions and be unmodified; digital files shouldmeasure at least 300dpi at 5x7 inches. All submissionsmust include the author’s full name, rank/rate, postaladdress, duty contact telephone number(s) and e-mailaddress. Submissions by regular postal mail are stronglydiscouraged due to security precautions that may damagefragile contents. If necessary, send all postal mail to:

NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMANDAttn: Editor, SEABEE Magazine (Code PA)1322 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Suite 1000Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5065

Contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of theDepartment of Defense, the Navy, NAV FAC, the CivilEngineer Corps (CEC) or the U.S. Navy Seabees.Inclusions of or references to any product or service in edi-torial content do not constitute endorsement by the U. S .N a v y, NAV FAC, the CEC or the Seabees. All trademarks,service marks or other symbols, names, images or logos areand remain the sole property of their respective owners.Military address corrections, story and photo submissions,and requests for writer’s guidelines may be sent to the mag-azine’s postal or e-mail address. Paid-subscriber addresscorrections must be sent to the GPO address above.

CONTACTSE-mail: seabeemagazine@navy.milVoice: (202) 685-9108 or DSN 325-9108Fax: (202) 685-1484 or DSN 325-1484

To learn more about the Seabees and Seabee opportunities, discover us on the Internet atwww.seabee.navy.mil. For information on Navy careers,see www.navy.com. To learn more about the technical CivilEngineer Corps and the global activity of the NavalFacilities Engineering Command, we invite you to visit theNAVFAC Web site at www.navfac.navy.mil.

STAY NAVY. STAY SEABEE.

F R O M T H E E D I T O R

T O T H E E D I T O R

Dear Madam, My name is Lt. Cmdr. Bas van den Akker, Royal

Netherlands Navy. In September 2005, the Dutch navyfrigate HNLMS Van Amstel participated in the relief effortsin the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

I was one of the team commanders who went ashoreand worked on various sites around Gulfport/Biloxi. I wassurprised to see my name in your Seabee Magazine, Winter2006 that I found on the Internet! On page 10, the Dutchassistance is mentioned and I am quoted twice on the samepage. For me, and I am sure for all the sailors on HNLMSVan Amstel, our presence in the aftermath of Katrina in

that devastated area had been a short but very intense period of time. Seeing theimpact of nature on such a large scale and the people and their towns that have beenvictim of this force of nature, is something one doesn’t soon forget. We still hopevery much that we have been able to make a little difference for those people.

I have seen the Seabees at work in many places around the world already:Bosnia, Iraq and last year in your home country in Gulfport. I have always beenimpressed by the capabilities and the efficient way of operating of the Seabees – amilitary engineering company that is, in my opinion, not matched anywhere in theworld.

Best regards,Bas van den AkkerLt. Cmdr., Royal Netherlands Navy

FA L L2 0 0 6 3

A small girl proudly holds a souvenir of her visit to a medicaloutreach project at the Batakte Health Center in Kupang,Indonesia, as part of the Military Sealift Command hospital shipUSNS Mercy (T-AH 19) visit.Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Don Bray

Builder 1st Class Jay Drummonds, NMCB 40, takes a measure-ment during a construction project at the Gunungsitoli GeneralHospital at Nias Island, Indonesia. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph Caballero

Builder 3rd Class Adam Kortmeyer, NMCB 40, constructs a foun-dation brace for a project at the Zainoel Abidin hospital in BandaAceh, a coastal city in Indonesia. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1s t Class Michael R. McCormick

Utilitiesman 2nd Class Robert Allain, NMCB 40, digs a trench toreplace a water pipe during a construction project at the ZainoelAbidin hospital.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1s t Class Michael R. McCormick

Builder Wa r r i o r sMake a Wo r l dof Difference

Humanitarian Seabees:

SEABEE MAGAZINE4

U S N SHumanitarian

After more than two months ofhumanitarian assistance inSoutheast Asia, the U.S. hospi-

tal ship USNS Mercy returnedto her homeport in San Diego,

Calif., in late September. In complement tothe ship’s health-based services, Mercy’s crewof 15 Seabees from Naval Mobile ConstructionBattalion 40, based out of Port Hueneme,Calif., assisted local communities by buildingand repairing infrastructure and hospital facil-ities, as well as installing various pieces ofequipment throughout the region. Workingwith Military Sealift Command’s civil servicemariners, U.S. Navy construction forces per-formed nearly 200 infrastructure repairs andcompleted 35 construction projects to improvebasic health and living conditions duringMercy’s 72-day voyage.

(Right) Chief Construction ElectricianMichael Gallagher, NMCB 40, levels outfreshly poured concrete for a driveway at alocal school in Tarakan, Indonesia.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist

1st Class Troy Latham

(Center) Seabees assigned to NMCB 40help locals construct a fence outside D r. Dan’s Bairo Pite Clinic in Dili, Timor Leste. Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist

Don Bray

FA L L2 0 0 6 5

Humanitarian Seabees

M e r c ySeabees

1 San Diego, CA USA April 2006

2 Pearl Harbor, HI USA May 2006

3 Guam US Territory May 2006

4 Manila Republic of the Philippines May 2006

5 Zamboanga Republic of the Philippines May – June 2006

6 Jolo Island Republic of the Philippines June 2006

7 Tawi-Tawi Republic of the Philippines June 2006

8 Republic of Singapore (Logistics) June 2006

9 Chittagong Bangladesh July 2006

10 Simeulue Indonesia July 2006

11 Nias Island Indonesia July 2006

12 Banda Aceh Indonesia July 2006

13 Tarakan Indonesia August 2006

14 Kupang West Timor August 2006

15 Dili East Timor August – September 2006

16 Darwin Australia September 2006

(Above) Builder 2nd Class Shane Murray andBuilder 3rd Class Bradley Beeler, NMCB 40, putlife saving skills to use as they prepare anaccident victim for MEDEVAC to the MedicalTreatment Facility aboard USNS Mercy.Photo by Construction Chief Michael Gallagher

The Military Sealift Command (MSC) Hospital ship USNSMercy (T-AH 19), shown off the coast of GunungsitoliCity, provided humanitarian and civic assistance to thepeople of this small Indonesian island. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Chief Edward G. Martens

Seabees Improve LocalMedical Center inBangladesh

By Mass Communication

Specialist 2nd Class

Erika N. Jones

Seabees of Naval MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB)40 offered a helping hand to thehospital staff and patients of theChittagong Medical CollegeHospital in Bangladesh by com-pleting many needed repairs inJuly.

The Seabees, deployed withthe U.S. Navy hospital ship USNSMercy (T-AH 19), made numer-ous improvements at the facility,replacing ceiling fans, repairingair conditioning units, buildingcabinets and painting the pedi-atric ward complete with muralsof animals and flowers.

Moslehuddin Ahmed, proj-ect management specialist withthe Office of Population, Healthand Nutrition, part of the U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment at the AmericanEmbassy, observed the work per-formed by the Mercy team.

“I think this is a very wonder-ful experience here and the peo-ple are really appreciative,” saidAhmed.

As part of a civic action team,15 Seabees from NMCB 40deployed with Mercy on her five-month humanitarian assistancemission to South and SoutheastAsia, as well as the Pacific Islands,

where the team provided basicconstruction, utility work, com-munity relations and construc-tion training to host nation peo-ple.

“This is pretty exciting andI’m glad we could help,” said Ens. Brian Christner, officer incharge of the team. “Probably thegreatest thing we got out of this isfriendship — the biggest accom-plishment we could ever achieve.”

The Seabees’ efforts arein conjunction with the workp e r formed by Mercy’s medicalc r e w, which treated tens ofthousands of patients duringthe deployment.

“To be able to help people inneed by improving living condi-tions and overall quality of lifehas been a learning and hum-bling experience that I will never forget,” said Builder 3r d

Class Todd Beeler, NMCB 40.

SEABEE MAGAZINE6

USNS MercyC h i t t a g o n g

( Top) Builder 3r d Class Russell Reed, NMCB 40, oper-ates a router while building cabinets for theChittagong Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2n d Class

Erika N. Jones

(Above) Builder 2nd Class Shane Murray, NMCB 40,paints cartoon characters in the pediatric ward atthe Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class

Michael R. McCormick

(Right) Builder 2n d Class ShaneM u r r a y, NMCB 40, receives helpfrom a local girl while painting thepediatric ward at the ChittagongMedical and College Facility.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist

2nd Class Erika N. Jones

Seabees and MarinersBuild New Hope

By Mass Communication

Specialist Seaman Ryan Clement

The sound of school bells rangthrough the air as Seabees fromNaval Mobile ConstructionBattalion (NMCB) 40 andMilitary Sealift Command (MSC)civil service mariners from USNSMercy stepped out of vehiclesonto the grounds of Hang TuahSenior High School in Tarakan,Indonesia. Students poured fromclassrooms, huddled together,pushing through the crowd tocatch a glimpse of the Americanswho had come to help them.

C a r rying painting supplies,cement mix, basketball hoopsand air conditioning units, theSeabees made their way throughthe crowd to begin a six-day com-munity relations project at theschool.

NMCB 40, homeported inPort Hueneme, Calif., deployed a15-man civic action team (CAT)with U.S. Naval hospital shipUSNS Mercy (T-AH 19) to pro-vide basic construction, utilitywork, community relations andtraining to host nation people.Mercy’s civil service engineeringdepartment sends personnelashore to collaborate with theSeabees and aid with complexelectrical repairs.

During the six days theSeabees were at the school, theypoured a concrete slab for a bas-

ketball court, paved a 200-footsection of road alongside theschool and repainted the school’sauditorium.

Ens. Brian Christner, officerin charge of the CAT, said it was aterrific opportunity to work forthe people of Tarakan.

“The people here are great,”said Christner. “It makes our job apleasure when the people are thisfriendly and appreciative of whatwe do.”

The Seabees and marinersalso tackled major heating prob-lems in the school by installingeight air conditioning units andtwo fans in various classrooms.

“The teachers here havebeen having a lot of trouble run-ning their computers because it’sso hot and humid, so the air con-ditioners will be greatly appreciat-ed,” said Yusmini Yunus, principalof Hang Tuah.

The mariners also spent aday working on the school’s lan-guage lab equipment.

“I think that we were able todo some things for the teachersand students that will make theirlives a little bit better,” said DanielZelenka, Mercy’s first assistantengineer. “Schools here go with-out many things that we take forgranted, such as basic amenitiesat home.”

Educating the children is atop priority to the people ofTarakan, said Yunus.

“It is the way these kids willcarve their future, so the fact thatthe Navy is willing to come hereand help us says a lot about thequality of people in America,” shesaid. “We are forever grateful, andwe just hope you guys are able tocome back in the future.”

NMCB 40 also teamed upwith local construction workerson some of the jobs performed atthe school and made lifelongfriends in the process, accordingto Christner.

FA L L2 0 0 6 7

USNS Mercy I n d o n e s i a

Members of NMCB 40 remove a frame from a concrete slab that will be made into a basket-ball court for the Tarakan School in Indonesia.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Erika N. Jones

Humanitarian Seabees

U.S., Philippine NavySeabees Build SchoolAddition During CARAT

By Mass Communication

Specialist Chief Petty Officer

Steve Carlson, Commander

Task Force 73 Public Affairs

Twenty-three Seabees from NavalMobile Construction Battalion(NMCB) 1, based in Gulfport,Miss., along with 32 SeaBees from the Philippine Naval Construction Brigade, c o mp l e t -e d construction of a new 800-square-foot, two-room addition atthe Mabanengbeng ElementarySchool in the Philippines, in mid-August.

The $25,000 civic action proj-ect began July 23 as part of thePhilippines phase of exerciseCooperation Afloat Readinessand Training (CARAT) 2006.

“ We feel honored to havebeen able to provide the studentsand teachers with much-neededclassroom space, in conjunctionwith the Philippine SeaBees,” saidthe project’s Officer in Charge,Constructionman Master ChiefDana Mitchell, NMCB 1.

The elementary school wasalso the Seabees’ ‘home awayfrom home’ for almost a month.The Sailors set up cots in class-rooms and lived on the jobsite forthe duration of the project.

“I am extremely humbled tohave worked on such a fine proj-ect, one that will serve the chil-dren of this town for generations

to come,” said NMCB 1 Builder2n d Class Darby McCuller, jobsupervisor for the project. “I wasextremely impressed with thework of my whole crew, especiallyour junior guys — for five ofthem it was their first deploy-ment. Everyone stepped up bigtime and worked in harmony withour Filipino counterparts.

“In my six-year Navy career,this is one of my proudestmoments,” added McCuller.

The school was originallybuilt in 1976, with an additioncompleted in 1984. More than120 children, ranging fromgrades one to six, attend the ele-mentary school. Due to lack ofspace, grades one and two werecombined, forcing 38 childreninto one classroom.

“This project is a godsend,”said head teacher OrlandoMendoza Cardinez. “Because ofthe crowded conditions, manyof our children were placed inan environment that was notconducive to learning, especial-ly in the early years of develop-ment,” Cardinaz said. “I am soproud of the United States Navyand my own country ’s navy fortheir wonderful effort. We willnever be able to repay theirg e n e r o s i t y. ”

CARAT is an annual series ofbilateral maritime training exer-cises between the United Statesand six Southeast Asia nationsdesigned to build relationships

and enhance the operationalreadiness of the participatingforces.

The Philippines phase is thelast of the 2006 series that alsoincluded exercises with Brunei,Indonesia, Malaysia, Singaporeand Thailand.

SEABEE MAGAZINE8

P h i l i p p i n e s

(Above) NMCB 1 participates in the traditional ‘firsthandshake’ with their Filipino SeaBee counterpartsduring a welcome ceremony held at theMabanengbeng Elementary School, San Fernando,Philippines.

(Middle row, left) Builder 2n d Class ArmandoCamerota, NMCB 1, tightens tie wire while working ona reinforced concrete project. While deployed to thePhilippines, Seabees constructed two classrooms forthe Mabanengbeng Elementary School

(Middle row, right) Builder Constructionman JoshuaHarriman, NMCB 1, works hand in hand with hisFilipino counterparts to lay blocks on a project site inSan Fernando, Philippines.

(Bottom) Local Filipino children watch Seabeesattached to NMCB 1 take measurements and attach c-channel framing strips, while constructing two newclassrooms at the Mabanengbeng Elementary School.

Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 3r d Class Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

FA L L2 0 0 6 9

(Above) Builder ConstructionmanApprentice Devin Hennigan, NMCB 1,shows some Filipino children their photos at Mabanengbeng ElementarySchool, San Fernando, Philippines. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class

Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

Humanitarian Seabees

Seabees Help FloodVictims With Temporary Shelter

By Mass Communication

Specialist (DV) Chief

Robert Palomares, Combined

Joint Task Force –

Horn of Africa Public Affairs

Seabees from Naval MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB)5, assigned to Combined JointTask Force – Horn of Africa(CJTF-HOA) at Camp Lemonier,Djibouti, assembled tents with theEthiopian National DefenseForce (ENDF) in August to houseapproximately 6,000 people left

without homes due to floods inDire Dawa, Ethiopia.

The Seabees were part of acooperative effort, which includ-ed the ENDF and the U.S. Agencyfor International Development(USAID), to help the local gov-ernment provide shelter andother assistance to the flood vic-tims.

Additional services and items,such as food, mattresses, watertreatment materials, and suppliesto improve sanitation conditions,were provided through partneragencies, including CARE, Pop-ulation Services International and

the International Rescue Com-m i t t e e .

C m d r. Paul Va n d e n b e r g ,CJTF-HOA, and Glenn Anders,U S A I D ’s mission director, metwith the mayor of Dire Dawa andother officials to make recom-mendations for additional assis-tance. A medical clinic was alsoset up at a nearby school to pro-vide emergency care to victims.

CJTF-HOA medical profes-sionals assisted local healthcareworkers, as well as provided edu-cation and counseling on basichealthcare.

SEABEE MAGAZINE10

E t h i o p i a

(top) A team of Seabees assigned to NMCB 5, attached to CJTF-HOA, sets up tents to house approximately 6,000displaced victims of a devastating flood that hit Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, in late August. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Chief Robert Palomares

(below) Seabees from NMCB 5, CJTF-HOA, joined a multi-national humanitarian effort following 15 days of heavyrain that washed away roads and homes in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. U.S. Navy photo

Seabees Act asAmbassadors ofCompassion in Dikhil Region

By Mass Communication

Specialist Jeffrey J. Pierce,

NMCB 7 Public Affairs

Seabees from Naval MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB)7 offered a helping hand to thechildren and parents of theDikhil region by constructing aschool dormitory facility earlierthis year.

As part of their mission forthe Combined Joint Task Force,Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) siteat Camp Lemonier in Djibouti,these Seabees were dispatched tohelp the local citizens in the townof Dikhil.

“Now the kids will be able tolive in a safe environment rightnext door to the school itself,”said Utilitiesman 1st Class (SCW)James L. Penney. “This facility willhelp alleviate the cost and burdenon the town for the care andhousing of the school kids.”

Before the dormitory facilitywas constructed, children fromfamilies all around the regionwere required to walk for manymiles or be housed by friends andfamily for months at a time toattend the school in town. Nowthe children will be togetherunder the care and supervision ofschool officials throughout theschool year, allowing the childrento form relationships in a new way.

NMCB 7 Seabees erected sep-arate dormitories for the boysand girls, as well as a shower facil-ity for both structures. They completed the foundations, walls,windows and doorways, with onlythe lighting and finishing itemsremaining for fit and inspection.The project was completed inearly July as NMCB 7 neared theend of deployment.

“Helping to build communi-ty is what it is all about,” saidNMCB 7 Chaplain Lt. MartieJohnson. “In my short time here,I have watched the people ofDikhil embrace our Seabees andtheir work. It is amazing to seethe effect of mutual cooperationand support between our Seabeesand the people of Dikhil. I thinkall parents love and care about

their children and education. Ithas been a special treat to be partof the bond developed betweenthe mayor, the Djiboutian armyand our Seabees.”

Utilitiesman 2nd Class JosenerJean Louis, who was born in Haitiand speaks both French andEnglish, is one of the critical com-ponents of the success in Dikhil.Project site leader Penneyremarked, “We are certainly hereto get this construction projectdone, and it is just as importanthow we achieve it. We are here tomake a connection with thehearts and minds of Djiboutianpeople, and Jean Louis, without adoubt, has been invaluable in ourability to do that.”

FA L L2 0 0 6 11

Construction Electrician 2nd Class Eric Lawrence, NMCB 7, assists his battalion in construct-ing a dormitory in Dikhil, Djibouti. The dormitory provides a safe, sanitary and comfortableplace to live during the school year.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul D. Williams

Horn of Africa

Humanitarian Seabees

SEABEE MAGAZINE12

Seabees Demonstrate“Can Do” Spirit atCesar Chavez Volunteer ProjectBy Mass Communication Specialist

1st Class Carmichael Yepez,

NMCB 3 Public Affairs

It was a clear and sunny day at theVilla Cesar Chavez constructionsite. Ten Seabees from NavalMobile Construction Battalion(NMCB) 3, Port Hueneme, Calif.,and a group of civilian volunteerskept a constant rhythm poundingnails while completing a roof on one of three Habitat forHumanity homes built inOxnard, Calif., this summer.

Volunteering is nothing newfor Steel Worker 3r d C l a s sAnthony Munkholm from NMCB3’s Charlie Company. At six feet,five inches, he was chosen tohand up plywood sheets to work-ers on the roof.

“I’ve volunteered to do trailclean-up projects before,” saidMunkholm, as he lifted a largeplywood sheet, “but this is thefirst time I’ve volunteered in abuilding project. It feels great todo something like this, becauseyou are actually building a housethat you know a family is going tobenefit from.”

After NMCB 3 arrived backhome from their deployment inIraq, the officers and chiefs con-tacted Habitat for Humanity tooffer their assistance. Habitatinformed them about the CesarChavez project and the Seabeeswent to work. They helped dig

the trenches and pour the con-crete slabs. A few months later,Habitat contacted the Seabeesand requested volunteers forroofing and sheet rock work.

“Because of the short notice,I wasn’t sure about the responsewe would get,” said Lt. GuyThomson, community relationscoordinator and chaplain. “WithNMCB 3, I was impressed with theamount of volunteers who signedup. It demonstrates the “Can Do”spirit of the Seabees. It is a greatway for them to implement theirSeabee skills to impact the com-munity.”

Ernie Robb, a native ofVentura County, Calif., and aretired Army battalion mainte-nance officer, also helped out.He was there with a group of volunteers mostly in their 70s and80s, working alongside theSeabees.

“After I retired, I neededsomething to do, so I have been volunteering with HabitatVentura County for the past nineyears,” said Robb.

He was overcome with emo-tion as he described how he hadalso served in the military andknew what it meant to help thosein need. In a voice that wouldthin out as he tried to maintainhis composure, Robb added howhe enjoyed volunteering in thecommunity and working with theSeabees.

“We love working with youguys. When we needed help, they[the Seabees] poured concrete

for us. I like to volunteer becauseI like the friendship with the guysI work with and the fact that I cangive something back to the com-m u n i t y,” Robb added as hepaused for a few seconds to wipethe tears from his eyes.

For Builder 2nd Class DarrenRempp, this is his second volun-teer housing project. The experi-ence he has gained as a Seabeeallows him to provide the expert-ise necessary to ensure the job isdone right.

“I just like building stuff,”said Rempp. “We can do almostanything they ask us to do. If theyneed us to do concrete, we’ll doit. If they need us to put up sheetrock, we’ll do it. Pretty much any-thing they ask us to do, we knowhow to do it.”

Habitat forH u m a n i t y

Builder 3r d Class Howard Hart,NMCB 3, swings a hammer to set anail into a 2’ x 4’ on the roof of ahome in Oxnard, Calif. Hart and fel-low members of NMCB 3 volun-teered to help build three homes fora Habitat for Humanity project uponreturning from deployment to Iraq. U.S. Navy photo

FA L L2 0 0 6 13

Lefever, DisasterAssistance CenterPakistan Honored atEmbassy

By Lt. Justin T. Cole, Chief of

Naval Personnel Public Affairs

Pakistani President Perv e zMusharraf presented the Sitara-i-Eisaar Medal, or Star of Sacrifice,to Rear Adm. Michael A. Lefeverat a ceremony held at thePakistani Embassy in Washington,D.C., on September 22 in appre-ciation for U.S. military supportin earthquake relief. Lefever ledthe Combined Disaster AssistanceCenter (DAC) in Pakistan duringthe relief efforts from fall 2005until spring 2006.

Lefever commanded Ex-peditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1when the earthquake struck inOctober 2005 and receivedorders from the Department ofDefense to head the disasterrelief efforts. He led a group thatincluded more than 1,900 service-men from 62 different com-mands and all four U.S. services.

“This award really representsall of the hard work that theSoldiers, Sailors, Airmen andMarines of the Combined DAC in Pakistan performed,” saidL e f e v e r. “The dedication thatthese young men and womenshowed was truly inspiring. Allthey wanted to do was assist thoseaffected by this disaster in whatev-er way they could. Their dedica-tion was amazing, and I am hon-ored to be associated with them.”

With winter fast approach-

ing, Lefever received orders fromthe Secretary of Defense toextend relief efforts until spring,turning a normal six-monthdeployment into a nine-monthhumanitarian mission.

“This really is the most per-sonally and professionally reward-ing experience of my life. Wewere able to help an importantfriend in the global war on terror,and more importantly, we wereable to save lives,” Lefever said.

During the award ceremonyat the Pakistani Embassy inWashington, D.C., Musharrafexplained the scope of work doneby the military that helped somany of his countrymen.

“They said we would have alarge famine, but because of theefforts of these men, we had nofamine. They said we wouldexperience an epidemic of dis-ease, but because of their dedica-tion, there was no epidemic.When winter came, they said wewould freeze from the snow.Well, we had yards of snow, andbecause of these men andwomen, we did not freeze,” hesaid.

Also receiving the medalwere leaders of every service that participated in the reliefefforts, including Naval MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB) 74.

“I am very proud to be associated with the Seabees ofNMCB 74 and the quality of workthey bring to the table,” saidLefever. “At its core, they weredoing exactly what we are trained

to do in the Navy. On shortnotice, we established a com-mand center and immediatelybegan providing aid to thoseaffected by the devastating earth-quake in Pakistan.”

President Musharraf thankedthe international community fortheir support. While he praisedLefever for the contributions ofall of the American servicemen,he said Pakistan still has a longway to go.

“This is a great and formida-ble challenge to the governmentand the people of Pakistan. Butwe will convert this challenge intoan opportunity — an opportunityto rebuild and grow strongtogether,” he said.

All of the awardees expressedtheir gratitude to Musharraf forhosting them during the ceremo-ny, but it was clear that the realreward was helping the people ofPakistan.

“The best part of my job isknowing that everything we didmade a difference,” said Lefever.“Seeing the appreciative looks onthe faces of the citizens ofPakistan affected by this tragedyis why we are in this business. Wemay not know when or where thenext natural disaster will takeplace, but we can be confidentthat the proud men and womenin the U.S. military will do every-thing we can to make the world abetter place.”

P a k i s t a nPresidential Honor

Humanitarian Seabees

SEABEE MAGAZINE14

ACB2

I N SUPPORT OF

THE OFFICE OF

THE SECRETARY

OF DEFENSE AND MISSILE

DEFENSE AGENCY (MDA),

US STRATEGIC COMMAND

(USSTRATCOM) HAS ISSUED

A REQUEST FOR FORCES

(RFF) FOR THE SEA-BASED,

X-BAND RADAR TRANSIT FROM

THE GULF OF MEXICO TO THE

VICINITY OF ADAK, ALASKA TO

SUPPORT FIELDING OF THE

BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE

SYSTEM (BMDS). MILITARY PERSON-

NEL ARE BEING REQUESTED TO FILL

AN ‘IMMEDIATE MISSION NEED‘.

ACB 2 STANDS UP SECURITY

FORCE TO TRANSPORT

SEA-BASED, X-BAND RADAR

By Ed Quinones, Maritime Prepositioning Officer, ACB 2

mphibious ConstructionBattalion (ACB) 2 an-

swered this call, culminating inthe successful completion of aseven-month deployment. Thish i g h - v i s i b i l i t y, stand-alone mis-sion required ACB 2 to stand up aNaval Security Force that wouldassume all responsibility for thesecurity of Missile DefenseAgency's, $1.6 billion, Sea-Based,

X-Band Radar (SBX), to include360-degree layered defense dur-ing its voyage from CorpusChristi, Texas, to Adak, Alaska.

The SBX is a high-tech, oneof a kind, fifth generation semi-submersible oil drilling platform.It is twin hulled, self-propelledand stable in high winds and tur-bulent sea conditions. The SBXis 240 feet wide and 390 feet long;

it towers more than 280 feet fromits keel to the top of the massive,e i g h t - s t o ry tall X-Band RadarDome and displaces nearly50,000 tons. Larger than a foot-ball field, the main deck housesliving quarters, workspaces, storage, power generation, abridge and control rooms, whileproviding the floor space and infrastructure necessary to

A

FA L L2 0 0 6 15

support the radar antenna array,command control and communica-t ion suites , and an In- fl ightInterceptor Communications SystemData Terminal.

Although shipboard security isnot a primary mission area for ACB 2,in a period of just under two monthsa highly efficient, 35-member securityteam detachment was stood up, com-pleting training in all required mis-sion areas in preparation for thisshort-fused tasking. The team,Detachment Sierra, was comprised ofBoatswain’s Mates, Enginemen, SteelWorkers, Equipment Operators,Construction Mechanics, anElectronics Technician, a HospitalCorpsman and a Gunner'sMate, representing each com-pany within the Battalion.Each member attendedS h i p ’s Reaction Force,Basic/Advanced andArmed Sentry Course.

Each member alsocompleted six differentsmall arms and crew-s e rved weapons qualifi-cations.

“Being comfortablewith the weapons was themain goal during the intensetwo months spent training forthis deployment,” said Gunner’sMate 2n d Class (SW/AW) CarlosGomez who served as Det Sierra’ssole Gunner.

The SBX voyage began inCorpus Christi, Texas, where shewas lifted aboard the MV BlueMarlin, a semi-submersible heavylift vessel. The MV Blue Marlin isthe same vessel that carried the USSCOLE after it was attacked inOctober 2000. Although the SBX isself-propelled, it rode aboard theMV Blue Marlin to save time on thetrip and avoid wear and tear on thevessel. The massive size of the MVBlue Marlin, measuring 736 feetand with a beam of 206 feet, madeit impossible to transit to PearlH a r b o r, Hawaii, via the Panama

Canal, and was therefore requiredto transit around South America.

The MV Blue Marlin/SBX trans-port, which logged nearly 15,000 nau-tical miles, commenced in November2005 and ended with its arrival inPearl Harbor in January 2006. The52-day transit through the Gulf ofMexico, Caribbean, Atlantic andPacific Oceans included two cere-monies celebrating the crossing ofthe Equator and then the Straight ofMagellan transit through the south-ernmost tip of South America.

“Our mission of providing 360degree, layered defense for the SBXwas extremely challenging, when youconsider the limited personnel andthe 12-hour watches we manned 24hours a day,” said Boatswain’s Mate 1s t Class (SW) Arthur McIntee,Det Sierra’s Leading Petty Officer.

Once in Pearl Harbor, SBX wasoffloaded where she began minormodifications, post-transport mainte-nance and routine inspections beforecommencing self-transit to its home -port of Adak, Alaska.

Although it will reside in Alaska,

the SBX will be capable of movingthroughout the Pacific Ocean to sup-port both advanced missile defensetesting, as well as defensive opera-tions. This significant national assetwill provide missile tracking, discrim-ination and hit assessment functionsto the Ground-based MidcourseDefense element of the BallisticMissile Defense System. It will sup-port interceptor missiles located inAlaska and California (if required) todefend against a limited long-rangemissile attack on the United States.In time, the SBX will support defensefrom missiles that may be usedagainst our homeland, deployed

forces, allies and friends.The Seabees from ACB 2

proved once again thatSeabee “Can Do” is much

more than just a catchphrase. Throughout thislong and dedicated mis-sion support, ACB 2 pro-vided unparalleled serv-ice critical to integratingthis vital system into ournational defense capabil-ity.

“Det Sierra is withouta doubt the most motivated

Det in the ‘Phib,’” said SteelWorker 2nd Class (SCW) James

Ockwood. “Every person on-board has given 110% commitment

to this mission. “During this deployment, we

have experienced every kind of chal-lenge and never once did we falter.Everyone is honored to be given theopportunity to serve our great nationby protecting a matter of nationalsecurity.”

ACB2

(Above) The heavy lift vessel MV BlueMarlin sits moored in Pearl Harbor,Hawaii, with the Sea-Based X-Band Radar(SBX) aboard after completing a 15,000-mile journey from Corpus Christi, Texas. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist

2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley

SEABEE MAGAZINE16

Rear Admiral Wayne “Greg” Shear,CEC, USN, relieved Rear Admiral

Michael K. Loose, CEC, USN, asCommander, Naval Facilities EngineeringCommand (NAVFAC) and Chief of CivilEngineers in a change of command cere-mony held at Admiral Leutze Park,Washington Navy Yard, on October 27.

Rear Adm. Shear previously served asD i r e c t o r, Ashore Readiness Division(N46) Staff of the Chief of Naval

Operations and Deputy Commander,Navy Installations Command. As NAV-FAC commander, Shear will head theglobal engineering and acquisition com-mand and lead some 500 active andR e s e rve Civil Engineer Corps officers,17,000 civil servants and contractors. Forthe past two years, NAVFAC has been onan accelerated structural, functional andprocess-driven transformation to providemore effective and efficient products and

s e rvices to Navy and Marine CorpsWarfighters, the Fleet and their families.

Rear Adm. Loose is slated to beassigned as the Director, MaterialReadiness and Logistics (N4) and will beresponsible for the strategic planning forall Navy Fleet readiness and logistics pro-grams.

“It’s a high privilege to assume com-mand of such a tremendous organization.Under Rear Adm. Loose’s leadership,

Naval Facilities Engineering Command

RADM Greg Shear Assumes Helm as 41st Commander and Chief of

Gets New

C h i e f o f N a v a l O p e r a t i o n s , Adm. Michael G. Mullen looks on as Rear Adm. Greg Shear, CEC, USN, relievesRear Adm. Michael K. Loose, CEC, USN, asCommander, Naval Facilities EngineeringCommand and Chief of Civil Engineers in achange of command ceremony held atAdmiral Leutze Park, Washington NavyYard, on October 27. Photo by NAVFAC HQ Public Affairs

By Mass Communication Specialist and Senior Chief Petty Officer

(SW/AW) Regina Adams, NAVFAC Headquarters

Public Affairs and Communications

FA L L2 0 0 6 17

Rear Adm. Greg Shear

B orn in Norfolk, Va., and raised in Pompano Beach,Fla., Rear Adm. Greg Shear graduated from the U.S.

Naval Academy in 1979 with a degree in Naval Architectureand was commissioned an Ensign in the Civil EngineerCorps. In 1984, he received a Master of Science, Securityand Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Upon graduation from Civil Engineer Corps OfficerSchool in Port Hueneme, Calif., Rear Adm. Shear wasassigned to Public Works at the Naval Weapons StationYorktown, Va., and then as Public Works Officer, NavalHospital Beaufort, S.C.

After graduate school in Colorado, he served as Aideto the Commander, Naval Facilities EngineeringCommand. In 1985, Rear Adm. Shear joined Naval MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB) 5 where he served asO f f i c e r-in-Charge, Detail Subic Bay, Philippines, CharlieCompany Commander and Air Detachment Officer inCharge in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. While in PuertoRico, he redeployed as Officer-in-Charge of detachmentsto Puerto Cortes, Honduras and Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

After leaving the Seabees, Rear Adm. Shear served atthe Civil Engineer Corps Officer School as an instructor inthe Facilities Management Division. In 1989, he wasassigned as Resident Officer-in-Charge of Construction,Puerto Rico Area. In 1993, he graduated with distinctionfrom the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport,R.I., and was assigned to U.S. Strategic Command at OffuttAir Force Base, Neb., as Chief, Engineering Branch. RearAdm. Shear commanded NMCB 1 from 1996 to 1998.NMCB 1 received the Atlantic Fleet “Best of Type” and thePeltier Award for outstanding military engineering serv i c-es for Fiscal Year 1997.

Rear Adm. Shear subsequently served as the ExecutiveOfficer at Naval Facilities Engineering Command,Southern Division in Charleston, S.C., and theC o m m a n d e r, 30th Naval Construction Regiment, PearlH a r b o r, Hawaii, and Vice Commander, Third NavalConstruction Brigade. While with the Seabees, Rear Adm.Shear served on a temporary assignment as Commander,U.S. Support Group, East Ti m o r, reporting to U.S. PacificCommand. In 2004, he served as Deputy Commander forEngineer Operations, Naval Facilities EngineeringCommand.

Rear Adm. Shear is a Seabee Wa rfare Officer, a regis-tered professional engineer in the Commonwealth ofVirginia, a member of the Navy Acquisition ProfessionalC o m m u n i t y, and a member of the Society of AmericanM i l i t a ry Engineers. His personal decorations include twoLegion of Merit medals, two Defense Meritorious Serv i c eMedals, three Meritorious Service Medals, two NavyCommendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal andvarious unit awards.

NAVFAC reshaped and aligned, reduced costsand continued to deliver outstanding facilitiesplanning, engineering construction and special-ized acquisition services,” said Rear Adm. Shear.

“Our mission is straightforward – ensure success of our supported commanders in theNavy and Marine Corps – at headquarters, ateach Region, at each installation. That is why weexist. We will measure our effectiveness throughtheir eyes,” Shear said.

LeaderRear Adm. Greg Shear, CEC, USN, gives his remarks as the newCommander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Chief ofCivil Engineers. Photo by NAVFAC HQ Public Affairs

Civil Engineers

P R O F I L E

On July 18, the U.S. Navy approvedthe establishment of the 25th NavalConstruction Regiment (NCR) andNaval Mobile Construction Battal-ion (NMCB) 11 which will be head-quartered at the ConstructionBattalion Center (CBC), Gulfport,Miss.

The establishment becameeffective Oct. 1 with commissioningslated for October 2007. The addi-tional force structure is requireddue to the increased demand forthe Seabees’ unique skills to sup-port the Global War on Terrorism,while continuing humanitarianrelief and other constructionefforts around the world.

“The significant impact theSeabees are having around theworld in the Global War onTerrorism and a wide range ofother missions will be enhanced bythese additional units, allowing usto contribute on an even broaderscale wherever needed,” said Capt. Doug Morton, Chief of Staff,1st Naval Construction Division(NCD).

C u r r e n t l y, two out of threeactive duty Seabee battalions aredeployed to the Central CommandArea of Responsibility whereSeabees operate under combat con-ditions. The new battalion will helpreduce the stress on active dutySeabees, which will help improve

retention, recruiting and overallcommunity health.

NMCB 11 will include 579active duty members. The 25th NCRwill contain 81 active duty, 16 civilians and 34 reservists. Bothunits will begin receiving initial personnel in April 2007.

The 25th NCR and NMCB 11trace their histories back to WorldWar II.

The 25t h NCR was formed April 1, 1944, and was charged withplanning, training for, and execu-tion of all projects in which Seabeeswould be involved for the landingsat Omaha and Utah Beaches.Seabees under the 25th Regimentwere responsible for the rehabilita-tion of captured ports; manningand operating rhino ferries; man-ning the phoenixes, pier heads andwhale bridges while in tow acrossthe channel; installing fuel facilitiesat Omaha, Cherbourg and othercaptured ports; and installation andmaintenance of sunken pontooncauseways at Omaha and UtahBeaches. After the assault operationwas successfully completed, threebattalions from the 25th Regimentopened the ports at Cherbourg andLe Havre.

The 11th Naval ConstructionBattalion was commissioned on July 27, 1942, and served on Tutaila,American Samoa, New Caledonia,

Auckland, Banika, Los Negros, andLuzon, Philippines. It was disestab-lished on December 1, 1945.

On September 14, 1953,NMCB 11 was commissioned andsent to Cubi Point, Philippines, forthe following two years. In 1955,the battalion was sent to Kodiak,Alaska, and Kwajalein. From 1961to 1965, the battalion won theEfficiency Award four times.

In 1966, the battalion deployedto DaNang East to build MonkeyMountain Road, the To u r a n eBridge and the main hospital. In1967 at Dong Ha, less than 10 milesfrom the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ), the battalion became thenorthernmost Seabee battalion inVietnam. The battalion experi-enced the large ammunition explosions when the base ammuni-tion supply point was hit onSeptember 3, 1967. In 1968, the battalion was deployed toQuang Tri.

NMCB 11 was also the battalionof Construction Mechanic 3rd ClassMarvin Shields, who was killed onJune 9, 1965, while serving as amember of Seabee Team 1104 atthe Battle of Dong Xoai. Shieldswas posthumously awarded theCongressional Medal of Honor.The battalion was disestablished onDecember 20, 1969.

SEABEE MAGAZINE18

11NEW SEABEE REGIMENT AND BATTALION ESTABLISHED

By Daryl Smith, Public Affairs Officer, 1st Naval Construction Division

U n v e i l e d

FA L L 2 0 0 6 19

With the establishment of Naval MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB) 11 comes furtherrecognition of a Seabee who defied his youth withbravery and heroism during the Vietnam War — 2 6 - y e a r-old Construction Mechanic 3r d Class Marvin Shields.

In June 1965, Shields’ unit (Seabee Team 1104,under the original NMCB 11), along with ArmySpecial Forces and South Vietnam DefensePersonnel, cameunder attack by 2,000Viet Cong at theBattle of Dong Xoai.The young petty offi-cer, who had joinedthe Navy primarily tobuild things, soonfound himself fight-ing in heavy combat.

Although greatlyoutnumbered, themen withstood intense, close-range combat foralmost three hours. Early in the battle Shields waswounded, but he continued to supply his fellowAmericans with needed ammunition. When theenemy forces launched a massive attack at closerange with flame throwers, hand grenades andsmall-arms fire, Shields stood his ground alongsidehis shipmates and Army counterparts. Wounded asecond time in the assault, Shields neverthelessignored the mortal danger and helped a more crit-ically injured soldier to safety while under intenseenemy fire.

For four more hours, Shields and the otherskept up a barrage of fire that held the enemy at bay.When the compound commander, 2nd Lt. CharlesQ. Williams, asked for a volunteer to help him takeout an enemy machine gun emplacement that wasendangering the lives of all Army and Navy person-nel in the compound, Shields volunteered. Armedwith a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, Shields and the Green Beret commander advanced on

the enemy emplacementdespite heavy fire fromseveral enemy positions.Having successfully elimi-nated the machine-gun nest, the two menattempted to return tothe relative safety of thecompound. But theyoung Seabee’s luck hadat last run out. He wasstruck a third time, and

this wound proved fatal. For his intrepid actions, Marvin Shields was

posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor – “Hisheroic initiative and great personal valor in the face ofintense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest tradi-tions of the U.S. Naval Service.”

Not only was he the first Seabee to receive thenation’s highest award, but he was also the first Navyman to be so decorated for action in Vietnam.

Sources: History of the Seabees, Dr. Vincent A. Transano,1997; Proceedings, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas J. Cutler, USN (Ret.),July 2004.

“His heroic initiative andgreat personal valor in theface of intense enemy firesustain and enhance thefinest traditions of the

U.S. Naval Service.”

M arvin Shields, A Seabee Hero

FA L L2 0 0 6 21

Seabees Lead the Way in Post-Deployment Health Process

By Cmdr. Debra Couture, MSC, Medical Planner,

1st Naval Construction Division

Once again, the Seabee “Can Do” attitude has led the way. The NavalConstruction Force (NCF) has piloted the electronic completion ofthe Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) program.

A component of the force health protection program, the PDHRAextends the continuum of care for service members’ deployment-relatedhealth concerns. The PDHRA provides education, screening, assessmentand access to care for a wide variety of questions and concerns that youmay have about your health after you return from deployment. The pro-gram provides for a second health assessment using DD Form 2900 duringthe three- to six-month time period after return from deployment.

Deployment-related health concerns may not be noticed immediatelyafter deployment. After service members return home and settle back intolife and work, things may not seem quite right. Concerns may be mild ormore troublesome, affecting you or your family. This program providesthe opportunity to access care once back from deployment.

The following circumstances are all considered types of deploymentand require military personnel to complete the PDHRA: ■ Troop movement resulting from a JCS/Combatant Command

Deployment Order■ Land-based operations for 30 continuous days or more outside the

Continental United States (CONUS) without a fixed military treat-ment facility (MTF)

■ Personnel called to active duty for 30 days or more in support of anamed contingency at a location not serviced by a fixed MTF

■ Personnel aboard surface ships for 30 continuous days or more indirect support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom

■ Other deployments/exercises as directed by the deploying authority.

GLOBAL WAR on TERROR

GWOT UPDATE

(Left) Seabees from NMCB 40 prepare a site for bridge construction in Fallujah,Iraq. The new bridge will replace one damaged during fighting that was formerlyused heavily by Iraqi citizens. NMCB 40 is deployed providing support toCoalition Multi-National Forces throughout Iraq. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John P. Curtis

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SEABEE MAGAZINE22

FA L L2 0 0 6 23

Mandated in March 2005, the NCF and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force(MEF) served as the first PDHRA implementation sites. Navy MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB) 7, CBC Gulfport, Miss., was the first battalion scheduled to use the program. However, due to HurricaneKatrina, CBC Gulfport had lost its MWR facilities and did not have comput-ers available. Displaying true military teamwork, the Navy EnvironmentalHealth Center (NEHC) donated 10 laptops. More than 400 members ofNMCB 7 completed the PDHRA in a three-day timeframe.

NMCB 1 completed the assessments in March 2006, with more than450 personnel completing the PDHRAs in only two days, setting the Navystandard. NMCB 27 has recently completed PDHRAs.

To facilitate the web-based completion of the PDHRAs, NEHC donated15 computers to the NCF for use in Kuwait. With the assistance of Capt.Bradley Spangler, 22nd NCR, and his IT staff, computers were up and run-ning at Camp Moreell, Kuwait, in April 2006. NMCB 22 and 133 were thefirst two battalions to use the web-based system at Camp Moreell. NMCB 7,25 and 40, as well as the 9th NCR, are scheduled to complete the programover the next few months.

To date, four active duty and three reserve battalions have completedthe PDHRA since July 2005. As battalions approach the deployment cycle,each is collaborating with NEHC staff and working with command leader-ship to ensure the process works, and that the assessments are completedon schedule.

The NCF contact for PDHRA issues is Cmdr. Debra Couture,debra.couture@navy.mil. Additional information is also available on theofficial website of Force Health Protection & Readiness Deployment HealthSupport Directorate, https://fhp.osd.mil.

Additional sources — Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC),www.pdhealth.mil.

GLOBAL WAR on TERROR

(Left) Steel Worker 3rd Class Robert Sprague, NMCB 40, ties together rebar beforea concrete placement on the bridge project in Fallujah, Iraq.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John P. Curtis

SEABEE MAGAZINE24

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy andposthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed inaction or die of wounds received in action.

Purple HeartsThe following Seabee was killed in action* while deployedto Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom…

CE2 Charles V. Komppa, NMCB 18(October 28, 2006)

The following Seabee was wounded in action* whiledeployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom…

EN1 Troy DeVault, NMCB 25 * At time of publication

Navy Seabee Reservist Remembered in Iraq

By Marine Staff Sgt. Jim Goodwin,

Regimental Combat Team 7 Public Affairs

Construction Electrician 2nd Class Charles V. Komppa

Sailors and other U.S. service members rememberedConstruction Electrician 2nd Class Charles V. “Chuck”Komppa on October 28, during a memorial service at thebase chapel in AlAsad, Iraq.

Just two monthsinto an Iraq deploy-ment, Komppa, aNavy Reservist withthe Fort Lewis, Wa.-based Naval MobileConstruction Battal-ion (NMCB) 18, was killed in action October 25 whiles e rving in Iraq'swestern Al AnbarProvince. Komppawas serving with theb a t t a l i o n ’s Detach-ment 0618, b a s e do u t o f B i l l i n g s ,Mont.

Komppa was adedicated Sailor,v e ry “intelligent,v e ry knowledgeable of his rate as an electrician,” saidM a s t e r-at-Arms 1s t Class Richard Starks during the service.

It was the 35-year-old’s first deployment to Iraq.

As an electrician for the Navy, Komppa spent hisdays conducting electrical assessments and repair proj-ects throughout western Al Anbar Province. At the timeof his death, he was about to begin an electrical assess-ment in Haditha, Iraq, a Euphrates River city northwestof Baghdad.

“Chuck loved the military. He loved the job that hewas doing,” said Starks, NMCB 18, during the service.

“He knew the jobthat he was doingwas going to makethe lives of otherssafer and improvetheir standard of liv-ing greatly.”

Komppa serv e dfive years active dutyin the Navy as amachinist’s mate andwas discharged in1995. He rejoinedthe Navy as aR e s e rvist after theattacks againstAmerica September11, 2001, but thistime as a construc-tion electrician.

Starks also saidthat Komppa was adevoted husband

and father. Komppa is survived by a wife and twochildren.

Construction Electrician 2nd Class Charles V. “Chuck” Komppa, NMCB 18, ismemorialized three days after he was killed in action in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province.U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Goodwin

FA L L2 0 0 6 25

GulfportA New Day at

How NAVFAC and theSeabees have helpedimprove conditions sinceHurricane Katrina

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen greets EquipmentOperator 1st Class Anthony Alicea, NMCB 133, after an all handscall at Construction Battalion Center (CBC) Gulfport, Miss.Mullen discussed topics particular to Seabee units and theirfamilies assigned to the Gulf States region after HurricaneKatrina struck the area one year ago. He thanked the units fortheir dedication following the storm and subsequent deploy-ments in support of the Global War on Terror.Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Equipment Operator 3rd Class Paul Johnson, NMCB 74, uses a front end loader to move piles ofdebris collected from the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. NMCB 74 joined volunteers from the surround-ing community and across the nation in a continuing effort to clean up and rebuild the Gulf Coastregion following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rob Wesselman

See stories on following pages

SEABEE MAGAZINE26

Katrina: NAVFAC atForefront of Response to 2005 Hurricane

By NAVFAC Headquarters

Public Affairs & Communications

Besides the half million citizensalong the Gulf Coast impactedby Hurricane Katrina, thou-sands of Navy personnel, mili-

t a ry and civilian, retirees and theirfamilies were personally affected atmany levels — physically, financiallyand emotionally. More than 18,000Navy families assigned to Navy basesin Louisiana and Mississippi weredirectly impacted by the aftermathof Katrina’s devastating force. ManyNavy families lost everything theyh a d .

“The Navy is going to reachout and touch them…to make sure

those families get back on theirfeet,” stated Chief of NavalOperations Admiral Mike Mullen.

Heeding his call and that of a nation in dire need of help, nearly every component command of the Naval Fac-ilities Engineering Command( N AV FA C ) from the Pacific to theAtlantic — and some 3,000 Seabeesbased in Gulfport, Miss., and PortHueneme., Calif., — quickly res-ponded to help families get back tobase housing or find temporaryshelter, and of great importance,ensure that Navy bases were up andrunning.

Under the leadership of theFederal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA), and within fivehours after Hurricane Katrinamade landfall, NAVFAC sent disas-ter assessment teams to GulfCoast installations: ConstructionBattalion Center (CBC), Gulfport,Miss., Naval Stations Pascagoula,Miss., and Mayport, Fla., and NavalAir Station Meridian, Miss.; StennisSpace Center, Miss.; and Kessler

Air Force Base, Miss. In less thanfive days, the teams assessed morethan 750 buildings for damage.Many of the buildings were dam-aged on a large scale or totallydemolished.

Members of the NAV FAC disaster assistance team relied onvaluable lessons learned inresponding to damaging effects ofHurricane Ivan at historic NavalAir Station Pensacola, Fla. Ivan wasa Category 3 Hurricane and causedmore than $600 million in damageto the base.

Restoring essential base func-tions, such as communications,p o w e r, water and other critical utilities, as well as removing debris,was also a main concern in theNAVFAC effort. NAVFAC directedconstruction of a 7,500-person tent

city for recovery personnel, award-ed a Base Operating Service contract valued at $75 million toprovide galley services, laundry,showers and minor construction,and dispatched numerous much-needed generators to critical areas.

“I am extremely proud of ourCivil Engineer Corps officers, civil-ians and contractors who workedexhaustively to help others affectedby Katrina,” said Rear Adm. MichaelK. Loose, former NAV FAC Com-mander and Chief of CivilEngineers. “I’m amazed that despiteso many of them personally losinge v e rything they had to Katrina, theycarried on heroically, ignoring theirown needs to help others.”

With the goal of putting businesses to work right away in ther e c o v e ry efforts, NAV FAC hasawarded more than $250 million incontracts, many of which havebeen directed to small local businesses. Since Katrina, the con-tractor workforce has grown tothousands of employees, countlessfrom towns affected by the storm.

Using NAV FA C ’s emergencyconstruction capabilities contract,the command awarded more thanseveral hundred million dollars fora myriad of general constructionrepair work, aeration of stagnantw a t e r, unwatering and repair ofpumping stations, mortuary affairs,generator support, removal/disposal of spoiled food, wastemanagement, construction ofshower facilities and dry in/dry outof facilities.

N AV FAC awarded innovative“turn-key” contracts to small disad-vantaged businesses to assess andremediate more than 5,000 hous-ing units of mold infestation toready them for occupancy.

Turning to the recently pub-lished Navy Ashore Vision as itsg u i d e, NAV FAC base develop-

ment planners created a recapital-ization plan that will result indemolishing badly damaged build-ings on affected Navy installations,and reusing buildings where eco-nomically feasible, and realigningbuilding occupants.

F i n a l l y, NAV FA C ’s Naval Facili-ties Engineering Support Center(NFESC) engineers prepared moor-ing plans for all ships not able tomaneuver out of Katrina’s stormtrack. As a result of their efforts, nota single craft was lost and all wereimmediately operational after thes t o r m ’s passing. Within days, NFESCpersonnel also inspected NavalSupport Activities (NSA) NewOrleans fuel pier for serv i c e a b i l i t yand functionality. Consequently,there were no pollutants releasedinto the intercoastal waterw a y, andNavy ships had a place to refuel,allowing the critically needed vesselsto remain on station and continuerelief efforts.

“ T H E N A V Y I S G O I N G T O … M A K E S U R E T H O S E

One year after HurricaneKatrina struck the Gulf Coaston August 29, Seabee unitsassigned to CBC Gulfport con-

tinued to contribute to ongoingrecovery and restoration efforts inthe region.

After the stand-down of JointTask Force Katrina in October 2005,the 22n d Naval ConstructionRegiment (NCR), led by Capt. EricOdderstol, devised a plan to returnunits to their required homeporttraining cycle in preparation for reg-ular Naval Construction Forcedeployment obligations. Each of thefour Gulf Coast active duty NavalMobile Construction Battalions

(NMCBs) has deployed in the yearfollowing Katrina. Balancing trainingrequirements and operational readi-ness with continued community sup-port has involved constant attention.

Through the homeport projectsoffice, the Seabee regiment hasreceived, processed and resourcedrequests from community leadersand organizations for projects, suchas pier demolition and reconstruc-tion, construction of temporary hous-ing for relief workers and volunteers,and civic-oriented work with volun-teer fire stations, schools, the ArmedForces Retirement Home and otherDepartment of Defense installationsin the region.

Additionally, Seabees have con-tributed thousands of man-hours ofvolunteer time in the communityduring off-duty hours.

“If the project serves the commu-nity and aids those affected by thestorm, we do everything that we can tohelp,” explained Chief Builder CraigTr a c y, 22n d NCR homeport projects liai-son. “The kicker is, our man-days arelimited and battalion homeport train-ing has become increasingly more

complex due to the range of missionswe are expected to perform overseas.

“We don’t just train for construc-tion anymore. There are convoys,security details and other militaryrequirements that didn’t exist for[Seabees] 10 years ago,” Tracy said.

Tracy is responsible for defininghomeport project specifications anddeveloping a coherent strategy to work acommunity project from start to finish.

“Sometimes one job will have sev-eral crews, and the work may extendfrom one battalion to the nextdepending on deployment schedules— that’s just the way it has to be if wewant to get anything done,” he said.

“I know it’s not easy, but we don’ttrain for easy,” Tracy added.

Builder 1st Class Dave Franklyn isa quality control supervisor forNMCB 133, and recently returnedfrom a six-month deployment to Iraq.In homeport, Franklyn oversees workat the Volunteer Fire Department inPearlington, Miss., where Seabees arebuilding a shelter to house equip-ment and vehicles.

“Pearlington was really hit hard,”explained Franklyn. “This crew reallysees the importance of their work,and even though they are fightingintense heat and humidity, as well askiller mosquitoes and a one-hourcommute from Gulfport twice a day,they look around and see how muchtheir work is appreciated and needed.They stick with it and give it their all.”

Pearlington Volunteer Fire ChiefKen Jones could not be more appre-ciative of the talents and dedicationof the Seabees.

“Without them, we would benowhere,” Jones said. “FEMA agreedto pay for materials, but we were up acreek without money for labor.

“They’ve been great — every oneof them,” remarked Jones. “It’s astro-nomical what they’ve been able to dofor us, and our community as a wholeis so grateful.”

FA L L2 0 0 6 27

GulfportA New Day at

Gulf Coast Seabees Remain Strong Community Partners One Year After Katrina

By Lt. Cmdr. Kyra Hawn, Naval Construction Force Public Affairs, CBC Gulfport

OICC Katrina Established By Jim Beltz, Public Affairs Officer,

N AV FAC Southeast Public Affairs Office

The Officer In Charge ofConstruction (OICC) Katrinawas formally established onAugust 1 to provide customers

with a unified structure for managingand coordinating the repair andrebuilding projects associated withthe Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.

The new organization, underNaval Facilities Engineering Com-mand (NAVFAC) Southeast and ledby Cmdr. Chris LaPlatney, will serve asthe lead facility engineering andacquisition authority in this effort forNavy, Marine Corps and Air Forceactivities damaged by HurricaneKatrina. It will provide forw a r d -deployed, leveraged engineering sup-port, and an on-site operational com-

mitment for reconstruction andr e c o v e ry efforts spanning the GulfCoast from Pascagoula, Miss., to PortArthur, Texas.

OICC Katrina will oversee a con-tract load of more than $370 millionper year, an increase from the histori-cal average near $130 million peryear. The majority of work associatedwith this large construction effort isexpected to take place over the nextthree years.

Projects will include utilities, bar-racks, administrative, operational andquality of life facilities. Notable proj-ects include the Ocean SciencesLaboratory at Stennis Space Center(Stennis, Miss.), the Navy ExchangeComplex, Naval Construction Train-ing Center (NCTC) Tr a i n i n gComplex, and Operational Expedi-t i o n a ry Logistical Facility atConstruction Battalion Center (CBC)Gulfport, Miss., the Aircraft Mainten-ance Facility & Repair, StudentD o r m i t o ry 9, and Training AidsFacility at Keesler AFB (Biloxi, Miss.);and Crash and Fire Rescue Stationand Harden Hangers 3 and 4, NewOrleans, La.

F A M I L I E S G E T B A C K O N T H E I R F E E T. ” – CNO Adm. Mike Mullen

Seabees Turn Wilderness

Into Bustling Tent CityBy Mass Communication

Specialist 1st Class

Carmichael Yepez,

NMCB 3 Public Affairs

Seabees from Naval MobileConstruction Battalion (NMCB) 3turned a desolate area into abustling city within 24 hours oftheir arrival to the LogisticsSupport Area (LSA) at FortHunter Liggett, Calif., in mid-August. NMCB 3 conducted athree-week field exercise (FEX)known as Operation BearingDuel to test the combat skillsproficiency of the battalion.

“It was like the woodsbloomed overnight,” said Hos-pital Corpsman 2nd Class StevenEast. “When I got here, there wasnothing but trees and grass.Now it has evolved into an effi-cient and fully capable LSA forthe Seabees.”

The first portion of the exer-cise involved setting up the LSA;by the end of the first day, morethan 50 tents were up. The com-bat operations center (COC),the brain of the operation, wasestablished the second day.Before the sun was down,Seabees were eating their firsthot meal in a makeshift galley.

Throughout the day, thesound of pounding hammers,buzzing saws and grumbling gen-erators created a symphony thatechoed throughout the camp.Seabees dug trenches, placedtactical wire and worked on con-struction projects until sundown.

Builder 2n d Class GarrettHartwire was finally able to take abreak when he was tasked towatch over the crew’s M-16 rifles.Hartwire’s face and arms weredark red from the beating sun.He sat on a makeshift seat made

out of leftover 2’ x 4’s. His eyesstared into the horizon, as hekept watch on the weapons.

“This is our second dayworking on this project,” saidHartwire. “We’re building astrongback tent [wood-framedstructure with a tarp roof] forthe dental clinic.

“ We ran into a few problemsin the beginning because the floorwas too high, so we had to lowerit,” he said. “We should have itdone by the end of the day. ”

At the other end of thecamp, Construction Electrician2nd Class Joseph Soriano directedhis crew to dig out the thickcable they had just buried. “Thetrench is not deep enough,” hesaid. “People will trip over thecable at night.”

Without hesitation the con-struction electricians pulled thecable to dig the trench deeper.The ground was as fine as babyp o w d e r, and soon the Seabeeswere engulfed in a cloud of dirt.They looked like coal miners; theirfaces were naturally camouflagedwith a mixture of dirt and sweat.

“It’s a dirty job as you cansee,” said Soriano, “but that’s theleast of our concerns. The diffi-cult part is when we run intohard ground; then it takes a littlelonger to dig.”

Earlier that day, Soriano andhis crew finished distributingpower to the entire camp. Theyspent the rest of the day diggingtrenches to bury the thick cables.

“Safety is one of our mainconcerns,” Soriano said. “That’swhy we’ve been digging trenchesall day. We don’t want anybodytripping over these cables whenit’s dark.”

Back at the dental clinic,builders were placing the lasttrusses on the roof. The sun wasno longer beating down on theirbacks – it was fading behind themountains.

“The crew is happy to finishthe job,” said Builder 3rd ClassAngela Rudy, crew leader for theproject. “The CO came by earlierto look at the project and told uswe were doing a great job. Thatmade us feel good and motivatedthe crew.”

When the sun finally disap-peared, the bustling tent city byday was now at rest. The chirpingcrickets replaced the sounds ofthe pounding hammers. Onlythe sentry watches and securityrovers kept vigil over the camp.Seabees retreated to their tentsand tucked away in their sleep-ing bags to await the next phaseof FEX.

FA L L2 0 0 6 29

(Previous page) Builder 3rd Class Antonio Gonzalez (bottom) wraps a strandof barbed wire to a stake to secure a spool of concertina wire along theouter perimeter of the Logistics Support Area (LSA).

(Left, Top to Bottom)Builder 3rd Class Cori Quillan, NMCB 3, cuts a 2’ x 4’ for the construction of astrongback tent to be used as a dental clinic.

Builder Constructionman Jonathan Cobb, NMCB 3, digs a fighting positionalong the perimeter line of the LSA.

Builder Constructionman Thomas Montalvo, NMCB 3, works on the outerperimeter of the LSA during Operation Bearing Duel.

A Seabee from NMCB 3 drives a 4K-forklift to transport spools of concertinawire along the perimeter of the LSA.Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Carmichael Yepez

TRAINING

SEABEE MAGAZINE30

New RSS Facilities Improve

Seabee SkillsBy Daryl Smith, Public Affairs Officer,

1st Naval Construction Division

Reserve Seabees will soon have accessto new, high-tech training facilities ateach of their 12 Readiness SupportSites (RSS) to help improve militaryskills. New 40’ x 80’ pre-engineeredbuildings have been constructed for every Reserve Naval MobileConstruction Battalion at a cost ofclose to $1 million each.

Facilities will be equipped with avariety of training systems designed toimprove military skill levels. Each willinclude a “smart classroom,” contain-ing 20 computer work stations andaudiovisual equipment allowingSeabees to access online courses andto participate in distance learningevents and instructor-led training. Acomplete communications suite pro-vides the capability to use the class-room as a Command OperationsCenter during Command PostExercises and other combat-relatedexercises.

An armory installed within thefacility will allow for weapons storage,which can be taken to the range for training qualifications. Up-to-datecommunications equipment will alsobe kept in the armory, providing theopportunity for reserve Seabees tobecome more proficient at battlefieldcommunications.

A simulator room will be includedin each facility to allow firearms train-ing in a safe environment. Two dis-tinct systems will be available: theBeamhit Laser Marksmanship Trainerand the Firearms Training System(FATS).

All 12 facilities will be equippedwith the Beamhit system, which allowsinstant targeting feedback to improveshooting skills. The weapon firesblanks to simulate a live-fire experi-ence and includes a laser attached tothe lower receiver of the weapon. The

laser is aimed at electronic targets,instantly registering hits and misses.

While the Beamhit system isdesigned to improve marksmanship,the FATS system is designed toimprove reaction time in realistic situ-ations. A variety of different scenarioscan be programmed into the systemand displayed on life-size screens,which tests a participant’s ability torespond appropriately. Used extensively in the law enforcementcommunity, the FATS system uses aCO2 cartridge to give the weapon arealistic feel when fired. Simulationscan also be tailored to represent theactual deployment environment. Forexample, a digital photograph of thedeployed site can be projected as thebackground for the simulation.

“This system provides a safe envi-ronment to teach escalation offorce…when to shoot and when not toshoot,” said Cmdr. George Steffen,Assistant Training Officer for the 1st

Naval Construction Division (1NCD).Two of these mobile (FATS) systemswill be shared among the differentRSS sites, with priority given to thoseunits getting ready to deploy.

Due to the fact that reserve battal-ions are comprised of numerousdetachments spread out over a widearea, Cmdr. Steffen sees the new facil-ities as excellent tools to bring person-nel together to practice commandand control, as well as military skills.The 1NCD Training Department willsoon be developing a comprehensiveemployment plan to help ensure max-imum use of these new facilities.

“ We will provide the guidanceand the way ahead to make sure thatall 12 sites are going down a line ofprogression that we want to see,”Cmdr. Steffen said. “This is the waveof the future, and soon our guys aregoing to be very plugged in.”

Reserve Seabees with NMCB 14 inJacksonville, Fla., now benefit fromthis Readiness Support Site (RSS), ahigh-tech training facility. One of 12sites to help improve military skills,the facility is equipped with a varietyof training systems, a “smart class-room” and a communications suite. U.S. Navy photo

T R A I N ING

FA L L2 0 0 6

Seabee Shines Among Army Comrades,Takes Instructor of the Year Honors

By Mass Communication Specialist 1s t C l a s s

( S W /AW) John Osborne, Naval Personnel

Development Command

The Army named Equipment Operator 1s t C l a s s

(SCW) Deanna DeWitt, a Seabee instructor sta-

tioned at the Center for Seabees and Fa c i l i t i e s

Engineering Detachment, on Fort Leonard Wo o d ,

Mo., Engineering School Instructor of the Ye a r.

This honor, which came on the heels of being

named Instructor of the Month and Instructor of the

Year for the 1st Engineer Brigade, has put Dewitt in

the running for the U.S. Army Training and

Doctrine Command Instructor of the Year next

M a r c h .

Several factors make DeWitt’s recent award an

even more impressive accomplishment. She has

only been in the Navy six years, having departed

for boot camp three days after her high school

graduation; she has deployed twice to the Middle

East; and she is instructing on an Army base sev-

eral hundred miles away from the nearest fleet

concentration area.

Despite all she had going for her, the award

still came as a surprise.

“When the Army came in to evaluate me while

I was instructing, they pointed out several things

that I did wrong,” she said. “Some of it was out of

my control, but several things weren’t, so I was

convinced I would not win. When they told me I

won, I didn't know what to say, but it's a great feel-

ing and I am very honored.”

And it was a sense of honor that prompted the

2 5 - y e a r-old to join the service in the first place. Her

first choice was to follow in the footsteps of her

other family members and join the Marine Corps,

but the recruiter would not offer her the Marine

equivalent to an equipment operator (EO). Not to

be deterred, she went next door to the Navy's

recruiter and got her wish.

“I’ve always loved working outdoors and when

I was a Sea Cadet as a teenager, I had a Reserve

EO as an instructor and he turned me onto it,” she

said. “When I’m working on a piece of equipment,

it is the most relaxing feeling in the world. It’s also

rewarding to watch a project go from nothing to

something and know you had a direct influence.”

Instructing also give DeWitt that same reward-

ing feeling.

“When you take a student straight out of boot

camp who doesn’t know anything about the equip-

ment and see them graduate in eight weeks with

an understanding and respect for that piece of

equipment, it is very satisfying,” she said.

As much as she loves her job, she admits it

can be dangerous, and teaching her students

properly so that they do not hurt themselves or

their shipmates is what she considers her greatest

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y.

“As an instructor, I often have to get my stu-

dents over their fear of the equipment, but at the

same time I have to make them understand that

there are so many things in this job that can get

you hurt,” said DeWitt, who has earned her Master

Training Specialist and taught more than 1,000 stu-

dents since becoming an instructor in May 2005.

“As instructors at EO ‘A’ School, it’s our job to

familiarize the students with the equipment and

teach them the basics of operation, but above all

we teach them how to do everything safely,” she

said. “I always tell my students that in the field the

working environment can change without warning,

but your rules of safety must always stay in place.”

For anyone who wants to become an equip-

ment operator, DeWitt said there are certain quali-

ties they must have.

“I want to see an EO that is not afraid to get on

a piece of equipment and not afraid to get dirty, ”

she said. “They have to be willing to do whatever

is asked of them, regardless of the circumstances.

“There are several types of EOs, and on a proj-

ect you never know what you may have to do, so

you have to be able to handle change,” she added.

Regardless of how the competition turns out

for her in March, DeWitt said she is in the Navy for

the long haul.

31

>

Cmdr. Louis Cariello, USNNaval Mobile Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 1

JOHN PAUL JONES AWARD FOR INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIPThis award for inspirational leader-ship is presented to a Navy of f i c e rwho has made an outstanding con-tribution to the high standards ofleadership traditional in the navals e rv i c e .

As commanding officer of NMCB 1,

Cmdr. Louis Cariello prepared and

directed contingency construction

operations by 680 Seabees at 12

deployment sites on four conti-

nents. His training and situational

awareness ensured that each of his

movement teams in Iraq, which

were attacked six times during

security escort missions, moved

safely through the kill zone, alerted

adjacent and higher units to prevent

further attacks, and successfully ral-

lied to complete the assigned mis-

sions. Stateside, with his own unit

and their families affected by

Hurricane Katrina, Cariello crafted

recovery teams for critical roadway

restorations, debris clearance,

municipal utility and school repairs,

contingency shelter construction

and delivery of fuel and water sup-

plies, and created a battalion Task

Force Recovery to identify and

address the needs of the Seabees

and their families.

Capt. Jacob Urban, USMCNaval Mobile Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 1

GENERAL HOLLAND M. SMITH AWARDFOR OPERATIONAL COMPETENCEThis award for operational compe-tence is presented to a Marine Corpso fficer who has made an outstandingpersonal contribution that hasadvanced the readiness and compe-tence of the naval service in thecourse of actual operations.

As the officer-in-charge of a large

Seabee detail at Forward Operating

Base Kalsu and Camp Gannon,

Urban led his team on vital mission

support projects that enhanced II

MEF (Forward) and Army National

Guard 155 Brigade Combat Team

c o u n t e r-insurgency efforts. Under

the constant danger of indirect fire

and ground attack, his detail con-

structed new helicopter pads and

an aviation fuel storage and distribu-

tion system, expanded a detention

facility, constructed a hardened gal-

ley facility, and made significant

force protection enhancements.

Upon returning to the states, he

coordinated disaster response mis-

sions in support of federal, state and

county relief efforts in the wake of

Hurricane Katrina.

Lt. Cmdr. William Mock, USNNaval Mobile Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 27

ADMIRAL BEN MOREELL AWARD FOR LOGISTICS COMPETENCEThis award for logistics competenceis presented to a Navy or MarineCorps of ficer who has made an out-standing personal contribution thathas advanced the logistics re a d i n e s sand competence of the naval serv i c e .

As engineer assessment team

l e a d e r, Fallujah Reconstruction

operations officer and Fa l l u j a h

Reconstruction liaison officer with

the I MEF Engineer Group during

the Battle of Fallujah, Mock laid the

foundation for the reconstruction of

the city. While under hostile fire,

he completed 43 battle-damage

assessments to acquire critical

information about the condition of

Fallujah's infrastructure. In addition,

Mock used his collegial relationship

with the local Iraqi officials and engi-

neers to acquire information neces-

sary for the coalition forces and Iraqi

government to restore essential city

services.

Seabees Receive Navy League Sea Services HonorsBy NAVFAC Headquarters Public Relations and Communications

Three Seabees have been honored by the Navy League of the United States (NLUS) with

awards in recognition of individual achievement in specific military-related areas.

The Navy League of the United States (NLUS) is a national organization of nearly 65,000 members and more than 275 councils

throughout the U.S. and overseas. Each year, NLUS presents awards in recognition of outstanding individual achievements in

leadership, maritime affairs, scientific progress, engineering excellence, logistics competence, excellence in intelligence, and

service to community and country.

SEABEE MAGAZINE32

FA L L2 0 0 6 33

N E W S B R E A K

NMCB 74 DEPLOYS TOWHIDBEY ISLAND

By Mass Communication

Specialist 1st Class

Bruce McVicar,

Northwest Fleet, Public Affairs

Center Detachment

Seabees from Naval Mobile

Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 74 deployed to the

Naval Air Station Whidbey

Island (NASWI) Sea Plane

Base in Oak Harbor, Wash., in

November to start a six- m o n t h

deployment.

The Whidbey Island Sea

Plane Base is the detachment

site for 15 Gulfport, Miss.-

based Sailors who were

selected by their commanding

officer to deploy.

“The unit sent a solid

c r e w. It will be challenging

here because the rest of the

battalion is deployed to Iraq

and Guam,” said Steel Wo r k e r

1s t Class Don Farwell, NMCB

74 Whidbey Island detach-

ment's petty officer in charge.

Major projects expected to

be completed include the con-

struction of several pre-fabri-

cated buildings on the NASWI

flight line.

“The Seabee detachments

build critical facilities for oper-

ational commands deploying

to the Middle East. Three

Flightline Pre-engineered

buildings (PEB) were con-

structed for the Electronic

Attack Wing and Patrol Wi n g

squadrons. Three additional

PEBs are being finished by

NMCB 74, including one to

support the EA-18G transi-

tion,” said Cmdr. Scott Smith,

NAS Whidbey’s public works

o f f i c e r.

“These projects could not

have been completed through

contract methods given cur-

rent budget constraints. Their

‘Can Do’ attitude has gained

base-wide respect and recog-

nition,” said Smith.

“The unit is excited about

finishing the first project and

starting up the next,” said

Steel Worker Constructionman

Thaddeus Newton.

“Continuous construction

is the main focus of the

Seabees. The primary pur-

pose for our visit here is to

complete the buildings on the

flight line,” said Fa r w e l l .

The Seabees are also

planning to build magazine

storage lockers on NASWI, as

they show off one of the myri-

ad of skill sets they bring to

the table. They will also par-

ticipate in annual flood train-

ing, provide disaster recovery

support and complete general

maintenance repairs.

President George W. Bush speaks at the dedication ceremony of the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va.,on November 10, 2006. One of the latest engineering accomplishments undertaken by the Naval Facilities EngineeringCommand (NAVFAC), the museum is situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to the Marine Corps base at Quantico and is a last-ing tribute to U.S. Marines past, present and future. Department of Defense photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen, U.S. Air Force

N AV FAC-Built Marine Corps Museum Dedicated

SEABEE MAGAZINE34

By Linda Wadley,Naval Facilities

Expeditionary LogisticsCenter Public Affairs Office

It was a dream come true for

Debbie Peredo, daughter of

Vicenta Chargualaf Pe r e d o ,

known as ‘Seabee Betty, ’

when she and 11 family

members visited her moth-

er’s memorial at the U. S .

Navy Seabee Museum in

Port Hueneme, Calif.

For more than 50 years,

Seabee Betty served the

Seabee battalions in Guam,

hosting hundreds of fiestas,

attending official functions

and fostering goodwill

among the Navy and Guam

c o m m u n i t i e s .

“I made a point that one

day I was going to come

back and see my mom’s

photos on the wall,” said

Peredo who first visited the

museum in 1989. “I’m here

today with my children and

grandchildren. I have one

son, Jacob Tenorio, and my

fiancé, Joe Lujan, and a son-

in-law of mine who is on duty

with the military, Hospital

Corpsman Elvin Reyes, so I

have three more of my family

to fulfill my dreams.”

Seabee Betty, who died

in June 2003, was recog-

nized throughout her service

to the military by U.S. presi-

dents, Chiefs of Naval

Operations, U.S. senators

and military officials. In

1985, she joined ranks with

actor John Wayne as the

only other civilian to be

inducted into the Seabee

Museum.

Capt. Kelly Schmader,

commanding officer, Naval

Facilities Expeditionary

Logistics Center, who hosted

Peredo for the museum tour,

said that even though his

seven deployments never

took him to Guam, he felt he

knew Seabee Betty.

“If you didn’t know

about Seabee Betty, then

you weren’t a Seabee. Her

kindness and work are leg-

endary among the Seabees.

She was truly a wonderful

person,” Capt. Schmader

s a i d .

Peredo, who has a

wealth of memorabilia from

Seabee Betty’s honors and

life with the military, said she

plans to share some of these

items with the museum for

future exhibits.

“It is a great honor to

see my mom’s exhibit here

and I’m very impressed.

This is something to savor

that she is part of this military

museum. She is totally hero-

ic for me,” Peredo said.

Peredo, along with her

eight brothers and sisters,

grew up helping her mother

prepare the house and food

for the fiestas that became a

tradition for their family and

the Seabees.

“I know I’m never, ever

going to catch up to mom,

but I would love to one day

just be able to take care of

the Seabees the way she

could,” said Peredo whose

goal is to continue her moth-

er’s legacy by hosting the

Seabees for one of her

mother’s famous

“Chamorro” fiestas. “She

has done three and four

every year. I want to try and

do at least one,” she said.

3 0T H NCR OFFICIALLYR E LO C ATES TO CBCPORT HUENEME

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 1s t Class (SW/FMF)

Chad V. Pritt, 30t h N a v a lConstruction Regiment

Public Affairs

Seabees from the 30th Naval

Construction Regiment

(NCR) officially raised the

command’s flag over their

new headquarters building

at Construction Battalion

Center (CBC), Naval Base

Ventura County, Port

Hueneme, Calif., mid-sum-

mer, heralding in a new era

of Pacific Fleet Seabee

command and control.

The 30th NCR staff

moved from Pearl Harbor,

Hawaii, to be near its six

subordinate commands,

five of which are located at

CBC Port Hueneme. Naval

Mobile Construction

Battalions (NMCBs) 3, 4, 5

and 40 and Underwater

Construction Team (UCT) 2

are currently stationed at

CBC Port Hueneme, while

Construction Battalion

Maintenance Unit (CBMU)

303, which has detach-

ments throughout the West

Coast and Hawaii, is head-

quartered in San Diego.

“This will move us clos-

er to our subordinate com-

mands,” said Commander,

30th NCR, Capt. Kate

Gregory. “It will provide us

better command and con-

trol, as well as unity of com-

mand.”

The staff of the 30th

NCR is relatively small,

about 46 officers and enlist-

ed, but that doesn’t mean

all personnel have made

the move to Port Hueneme.

About 10 Seabees stayed

N E W S B R E A K

CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN GATHER TO HONOR‘SEABEE BETTY’ AT SEABEE MUSEUMEXHIBIT HONORS LEGEND WHO SUPPORTED

GUAM’S SEABEES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS

Debbie Peredo (center) completes a lifelong dream with hervisit to the Seabee Betty Exhibit at the U.S. Navy SeabeeMuseum with her children, grandchildren and family mem-bers. Capt. Kelly Schmader (center left), commanding officer,NFELC, hosted the visit. Pictured (left to right, front row)Jason Quidachay, baby Janelle Tenorio, Jazzmin Quidachay,Valentina Garcia, Jaylene Quidachay, Javin Reyes; (left toright, back row) Franklin Perez, Jay Tenorio, Capt. Schmader,Debbie Peredo, Joyce Tenorio, Janna Reyes and Arlene Perez.U.S. Navy photo

(continued on following page)

FA L L2 0 0 6 35

A REFRESHING NAVYREENLISTMENT

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 1st Class (SW)

Palmer Pinckney IINMCB 5 Public Affairs Office

Construction Mechanic

2n d Class Christopher

Shamrell (right), joined by

enlisting officer Lt. Michael

O’Beirne (left), decided to

reenlist in one of the only

cool places in the Middle

East – a swimming pool at

Camp Arifjan, Ku w a i t .

Shamrell, assigned to

NMCB 5, was deployed at

the time to Southwest Asia in

support of the Global War on

Terrorism, Operation

Enduring Freedom and

Operation Iraqi Fr e e d o m .

N E W S B R E A K

behind in Pearl Harbor due

to operational commit-

ments, as well as the cost

and inconvenience of relo-

cating everyone at once.

“It provides a smooth

transition to the organiza-

tions we support in Pearl

Harbor,” Gregory said.

“They’ll still have a face on

the island to talk to.

Leaving folks behind is a

good transitional tool.”

Most personnel who

moved to Port Hueneme

from Pearl Harbor have less

than a year and a half

aboard the command. The

remainder of the personnel

in Pearl Harbor will leave at

their planned rotation date,

allowing their relief to report

directly to Port Hueneme.

The move is expected to be

complete by the end of

summer 2007.

The 30th NCR has been

planning its move off the

island since before getting

the official notice from the

Office of the Chief of Naval

Operations (OPNAV) in late

February. This preplanning

has allowed the regiment to

efficiently execute the move.

“Commodore Blount

and everyone on the staff

did a great job minimizing

disruption to our folks here

and in Port Hueneme; most

importantly to our battal-

ions,” said Gregory, who

relieved Capt. Michael L.

Blount as the commodore

of the 30th NCR in May.

As the commander of

all Naval Construction

Forces assigned to the

Pacific Fleet area of respon-

sibility, the 30th NCR will still

maintain ties to Comman-

der, U.S. Pacific Fleet

(COMPACFLT).

“[The move] shouldn’t

affect our relationship [with

PACFLT] at all,” Gregory

said. “We have a good

communications plan in

place with PACFLT, and it

should be seamless with

them and the other units we

support.”

The relocation of the

regiment to Port Hueneme

has been bittersweet, as the

command says “Aloha” to

its island host.

“It’s impossible to repli-

cate the sense of cama-

raderie and Aloha tradition,”

Gregory said. “As eager as

we are to move to Port

Hueneme, we will always

remember and cherish our

Hawaiian history.”

Moving is not new to

the 30th NCR, which moved

many times during the

island hopping campaign of

World War II, and later dur-

ing the Vietnam conflict.

During its history, the 30th

NCR has been stationed on

Saipan, Guam and Danang,

Republic of Vietnam. The

latest iteration of the com-

mand, formerly 3rd Naval

Construction Brigade,

began its tour in Hawaii in

1992. It officially became

the 30th NCR in 2002 after

the realignment of all Naval

Construction Force units

under the 1st Naval

Construction Division.

( 3 0t h NCR continued from p. 34)

SEABEE MAGAZINE36

CBC PORT HUENEMEHOSTS 20TH ANNUAL SEABEE DAYS

Seabees at CBC Po r t

Hueneme, Calif., celebrated

the 20t h Annual Seabee Days

weekend this past summer

as the community was invit-

ed aboard for a first- h a n d

look at the Navy’s construc-

tion engineers. Seabee

Days highlights the mission

and accomplishments of the

men and women of the

Naval Construction Force.

Seabee Days featured

demonstrations of Seabee

construction skills, static

displays of construction

equipment, weapons and

field camp construction,

hands-on demonstrations

and displays. The event

kicked off with a full dress

military parade of nearly 800

Seabees accompanied by

the Marine Corps Air Ground

Combat Center Band, fol-

lowed by a formation fly- o v e r

of Navy E-2C Hawkeye early

warning aircraft. The public

was also invited to tour a

Whidbey Island class dock

landing ship and an Austin

class amphibious transport

dock ship.

N E W S B R E A K

(Top) Seabee Days 2006 kicked off with nearly 800 Seabeeson hand for the military parade.

(Above) Seabees in a High Mobility Multi-purpose WheeledVehicle (HMMWV) demonstrate its functionality to thecrowd.

(Left) Seabee Days 2006 visitors at Port Hueneme, Calif.,enjoyed Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2’s dive tank.U.S. Navy photos

F I N A L W O R DBy Rear Admiral Robert L. Phillips, CEC, USN

Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division

ooking at what Seabees are doing around the world today, it’s apparent that there hasnever been a better time to be a Seabee. Your skills and abilities have never been morein demand or more appreciated.

This issue of S e a b e e Magazine highlights a number of humanitarian missionsin which Seabees have contributed. From the Detachment aboard the USNSMercy which improved medical facilities at 16 different locations to Seabees help-

ing build a tent city for 6,000 flood victims in Ethiopia, there is no doubt that these and manyother efforts are making the world a better place. By showing America’s compassion and gen-e r o s i t y, you are helping resist the influence of terrorism and giving people in every corner ofthe globe a chance at a brighter future.

Your participation in joint exercises and direct support to operations aroundthe world also strengthen bonds with our friends and allies. Seabees in Iraq,Afghanistan and Kuwait are providing invaluable infrastructure support and theatersecurity in that dynamic region. Others in the Horn of Africa, South America andthroughout the Pacific region demonstrate the “Can Do” spirit daily.

Your contributions have not gone unnoticed. Seabees continue to receive acco-lades from the Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps andCombatant Commanders. The President of Pakistan recently recognized Seabeesupport provided following the earthquake that struck in October of last year.

Not only have Seabees received acclaim from the highest levels, but we are nowbeing provided with more resources to help meet the increased demand for Seabees.

Recognizing the need for an expanded force structure to meet mission require-ments, the Navy approved the establishment of a new battalion and regiment.

NMCB 11 and the 25th NCR will be commissioned next year in Gulfport. The fact that the Seabeesare growing speaks volumes about how Defense Department leaders understand your value intoday’s changing world.

The increased role for Seabees as an important part of the Navy’s operational strategy has alsoresulted in a recent influx of about $400 million in funding over and above our regular budget. Thismoney will be used for new force protection vehicles, construction equipment, communication gearand personal protective outfitting. While it may take a few months to procure and field the variousitems, you can rest assured that all hands are working to push these items to the proper locations asquickly as possible.

This funding couldn’t have come at a better time. Over the past year or so, we’ve taken a hardlook at what’s in our Tables of Allowance (TOAs). We’re making changes that improve our readi-ness by shedding what we don’t need, shaping the TOAs to get the right gear and replacing equip-ment that is antiquated.

While we remain encouraged by the many positive changes in the Naval Construction Force,we also recognize the human cost of our support in the Global War on Terror. As of the time thatI write this note, we have lost 14 dedicated Seabees to combat in Operations Iraqi Freedom andEnduring Freedom. Our hearts go out to all the families and friends, and we honor those who havemade the ultimate sacrifice in defending our nation. Seabees have always been a tight-knit group,and each one of these losses hits us hard.

But we always take care of our own. Navy Casualty Assistance Call Officers help comfort thefamilies and ensure that they rapidly receive all appropriate military benefits. Our Seabee Chaplainsoffer their services as well, and a Civil Engineer Corps Flag Officer participates in every funeral.Fellow members of each individual’s unit, their Ombudsmen and other families also providetremendous support in a variety of ways. For example, members of NMCB 25 recently volunteeredto help the family of HM2 Jaime Jaenke finish constructing the horse stables she and her family hadstarted building before her deployment to Iraq.

There is no way we can fill the void left in the lives of those who have lost a loved one. But wecan promise to always remember them, to honor their service to their country and to support thefamilies in whatever way we can. These great Americans died in the defense of our nation. We areblessed to have known them, and we cherish their memory. We pay them the greatest tribute by con-tinuing to demonstrate compassion, courage and commitment to our mission as Seabees.

L

NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND

SEABEE MAGAZINE (Code PA)

1322 Patterson Avenue, SE

Suite 1000

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5065

Seabee Magazine wantsto hear from you! We are always looking for stories to share with our growing readership

about Seabees’ duty in support of the Global War on Terror, individual

augmentees, exercises and operations, technological advancements,

individual/team awards and achievements, unit homecomings, unique

hobbies, volunteer work, etc.

Send your articles and story tips via e-mail to seabeemagazine@navy.mil.

Stories should be reviewed by leadership for accuracy, security, policy

and propriety. Photo resolution must be 300 dpi at 5” x 7” minimum.

Awards must be accompanied by an official citation and may be

e-mailed to the address above or faxed to (202) 685-1484.

Show us the Seabee “Can Do” spirit, and we'll feature it in the

pages of Seabee Magazine!