SUMMER 2007

	 	 	 Seabees Break Ground on

	 	 	 State-of-the-Art Museum

MRAPs Dig 

 Into Iraq

INSIDE:
SUMMER2007 

SEABEE MAGAZINE TEAM

Virginia Bueno

PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS 

DIRECTOR

Whit DeLoach

PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS 

DEPUTY DIRECTOR 

NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND

Daryl C. Smith

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

FIRST NAVAL CONSTRUCTION DIVISION

Liz Dunn

Editorial Copy and Content Management

Luisa Palting

Graphic Design, Layout and Production

Kurt Nguyen

Project Management

Qnexis, Inc.

Strategic Marketing and Communications

www.qnexis.com

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

FIRST NAVAL CONSTRUCTION DIVISION

Richard E. Cellon

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)

Seabee Magazine thanks the active duty,

reserve officer and enlisted personnel, as

well as the civilians, who provide

content for the publication. We look

forward to your ongoing contributions

as we continue to tell the Seabee story.

FEATURESSeabee Armored Vehicles 2007

4 Seabee Convoy Security Team makes inaugural Cougar run in 

Al Anbar Province

6 1NCD, NFELC track and deliver armor solutions to Seabees on the 

ground

6 30th NCR’s ‘Monster Garage’ keeps Marines in the fight

7 Armor upgrade rush order ‘no sweat’ for Maintenance Center Albany

Global War on Terror

8 NMCB 28-built COP Timberwolf provides security and quality of life 

to Marines in Al Anbar Province

9 Seabees, Soldiers and Marines pitch in to create SWA-hut living 

spaces in Baharia

10 Lioness Program helps bridge the cultural and gender gaps in Iraq

11 3rd NCR Seabees leave their mark after eight-month deployment

12 NMCB 4 makes ‘lots’ of critical improvements at Camp Ramadi

13 NMCBs 26, 133 deliver for ’Bees, troops and NAVFAC

14 Purple Hearts: Seabees salute fellow Builder Warriors

Highlights

15 Seabees break ground on world-class 

museum in Port Hueneme, Calif.

16 RDML Garcia tapped for second star, 

CAPT Giorgione to receive first star

16 RADM Cellon relieves RADM Phillips as Commander, 1NCD

17 NAVFAC marks 165th anniversary in August

28 Mobile Utilities Support Equipment (MUSE) techs keep Guam’s 

back-up power at the ready

Battalion Updates

18 ACB 1 supports humanitarian efforts in Guatemala during 

Project Handclasp

20 NMCB 25 Seabees have family ties in Kuwait

21 Five NMCB 133 Seabees rescue Kuwaiti victims from massive 

traffic accident

22 Comprehensive construction tasking completed during 

UCT 2 Philippines deployment

23 Seabees from NMCB 133 partner with Belize Defense Force 

to provide humanitarian aid

24 NMCB 133 mission to Djibouti relives Hurricane Katrina experience

24 Elementary school science fair recruits NMCB 4 judges in Guam

25 NMCBs 4, 74 conduct joint blast in Guam

Profile

26 Seabee features LT Allen Willey whose professional and 

personal life brought him to Basrah Children’s Hospital in Iraq

(Cover) EO3 Jacob Stahl, a member of

NMCB 4’s Convoy Security Element, prepares to mount out with the Mine Resistant

Ambush Protected (MRAP) Armored Vehicle

at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, in May. The MRAP

or “Cougar” is currently being used in

Operation Iraqi Freedom. The V-shaped

hull assists deflection of explosive blasts

away from the vehicle’s capsule, while the

ballistic glass with gun ports allows the

passengers to engage insurgents’ ambush

attempts without leaving the safety of

the cab.

Photo by MC2 (AW/SW) Ronald Gutridge 

(This spread) As the sun rises over Puerto

Quetzal, Guatemala’s largest Pacific Ocean

port, an Improved Navy Lighterage System

(INLS) Causeway Ferry continues deployment in support of Exercise Humanitarian

Support Over-the-Shore (HSOTS) 2007.

ACB 1’s recent deployment in Guatemala

for HSOTS 2007 represented the first time

that INLS had been deployed away from

homeport in support of an exercise or

operation.

Photo by YN3 Jessica Bidwell

(photo illustration)

SUMMER 07

Training

29 NMCB 133 completes pre-deployment training phase

30 NMCB 1 sharpens contingency operations skills during Khaki FEX

31 Convoy simulator develops NMCB 1 Seabees’ tactical skills

32 Fort Hunter Liggett hosts Fighting 40’s Ops FEX

34 ACB 2, CBMU 202 exercise ship-to-shore movement of critical cargo

DEPARTMENTS

Awards & Commendations

35 2006 Moreell Medal awarded to NAVFAC Southwest CEC Officer

35 NMCB 133 earns Peltier Award, NMCB 25 receives Perry Award

36 2006 Stethem, Combs and Shields Awards announced

37 Seabee receives Fort Leonard Wood Joint Service NCO honor

Newsbreak

37 Seabees from NMCB 4 pitch in during school recycling drive in Guam 

38 NMCB 40 Seabees volunteer at Boy Scout Winter Camp

39 Spirit of competition is alive and well for NMCBs 26, 133 in Kuwait

40 Battalions, individuals win 2006 CHINFO awards

40 Seabee reunions posted for all eras

FINAL WORD

RADM Robert L. Phillips, CEC, USN, Commander, 1NCD, delivers his ‘final’ message 

to the readers of Seabee Magazine
B R I C K S & M O R T A R

As the largest Navy ground force deployed to Iraq, the 

Seabees continue to be on the receiving end of more than $400 million 

in updated expeditionary equipment, approved by the U.S. Congress 

in late 2006. In this issue, we provide a closer look at how the newly 

modernized tactical vehicles — the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected 

(MRAP) vehicles, in particular — have integrated with convoy security 

teams, from the perspective of the 30th NCR on the ground in Iraq. 

We also provide a rundown of all the new vehicles, construction equipment and gear aiding the Naval Construction Force in the Global War 

on Terror. 

The subject of our Profile presents the situation in Iraq from a different angle. Seabee LT Allen Willey, CEC, formerly resident in charge 

of construction for the Basrah Children’s Hospital, a pediatric oncology 

facility which will specialize in treating and perhaps even curing the 

disease which nearly killed his son several years ago, shares the story 

of his family’s journey that led him to this mission halfway around the 

world.

We also feature ACB 1’s involvement in Guatemala with Humanitarian Support Over-the-Shore (HSOTS) 2007 and Project Handclasp, 

a program which accepts and transports educational, humanitarian 

and goodwill material overseas on a space-available basis on U.S. Navy 

ships. Seabees not only built and repaired numerous structures during this mission, they created and solidified relationships between the 

people of Guatemala and the United States.

We highlight several milestones in this 

issue. Seabees broke ground on a state-ofthe-art museum in Port Hueneme, Calif., 

dedicated to honoring the extraordinary 

accomplishments of the Builder Warriors 

and CEC officers. In addition, the Naval Facilities 

Engineering Command celebrated its 165th anniversary. From humble 

beginnings in 1842 as the Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks to presentday NAVFAC with more than 75 locations worldwide, this proud legacy 

is paving the way for an even greater future. We also welcome

RADM Richard Cellon as the new 1NCD Commander.

Remember to send us your Seabee news and Profile subjects, as well 

as photos*, comments and candid feedback so that we may continue to 

provide a well-rounded account of the Seabee story. Contact us via...

E-mail: seabeemagazine@navy.mil

Voice: (202) 685-9126 or DSN 325-9126

Fax: (202) 685-1484 or DSN 325-1484.

Thank you for your continued interest in Seabee! 

 

 Sincerely,

 Seabee Magazine Team 

* Preferred format for photo resolution is 300dpi at 5x7 inches minimum. 

Seabee Magazine

Summer 2007

MILITARY RECIPIENTS

Units or organizations with Seabees assigned are 

authorized no-cost distributions of SEABEE Magazine 

(ISSN 1546-8429). Send requests by mail or fax on official 

letterhead signed by the commanding officer or officer in 

charge, citing number of unit personnel, to the magazine’s 

postal address or fax number shown below.

CIVILIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS

Paid subscriptions to the official magazine of the U.S. 

Navy Seabees, SEABEE Magazine, are available from 

the Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, 

Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954, or call (202) 512-1800 and 

ask for the publications order desk. The best method for 

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SEABEE. This returns a means to enter your subscription 

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prices are $25 per year or $7 per issue FPO/APO/ domestic and $36 per year or $9.80 per issue foreign.

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Send address corrections to the magazine address 

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EDITORIAL

SEABEE Magazine is scheduled quarterly (except for 

combined or other special issues) by the Naval Facilities 

Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Public Affairs Office 

from the historic Washington Navy Yard, “the Quarterdeck 

of the Navy.” Our readership consists of Active and 

Reserve Seabees and CEC officers and their families, as 

well as veterans, retirees and the general public. Letters 

and electronic mail are welcome on all Seabee-related 

topics and, if published, are subject to editing 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 to seabeemagazine@navy.mil. 

Film or digital images should include captions and be 

unmodified; digital files should measure at least 300dpi at 

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send all postal mail to:

NAVAL FACILITIES 

ENGINEERING COMMAND

Attn: SEABEE Magazine (Code PA)

1322 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Suite 1000

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5065

Contents do not necessarily reflect 

the official views of the Department of 

Defense, the Navy, NAVFAC, the Civil 

Engineer Corps (CEC) or the U.S. Navy 

Seabees. Inclusions of or references to 

any product or service in editorial content do not constitute endorsement by 

the U.S. Navy, NAVFAC, the CEC or the 

Seabees. All trademarks, service marks 

or other symbols, names, images or 

logos are and remain the sole property of 

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corrections, story and photo submissions, and requests for writer’s guidelines 

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AUTHORIZATION

The Secretary of the Navy has determined this publication 

is necessary in the transaction of business required by law 

of the Department of the Navy.

To learn more about the Civil Engineer Corps and 

the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit 

www.navfac.navy.mil.

Stay Navy. Stay Seabee.

Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007

T

he U.S. military’s newest response in the battle against roadside improvised explosive 

devices (IEDs) is a state-of-the-art vehicle known by three names — Cougar, JERRV, 

and MRAP. Cougar was the commercial name given by the manufacturer. Although 

the Cougar is actually a specific vehicle, people often use the name when referring to a 

variety of similar mine-resistant vehicles. Because its first use in Operation Iraqi Freedom 

was primarily for ordnance disposal missions, the military named them Joint Explosive

Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicles (JERRVs). With expanded use in other types 

of missions by various services, and with a variety of specialized vehicles using the same type 

of protective features, the military began using the name MRAP — Mine Resistant Ambush Protected — Vehicle to refer 

to this entire class of vehicles and for consistency among all branches of the military. While known by three different 

names, all mean the same to our service members — unparalleled protection.

Seabee Magazine:

I felt it was important to point out a technical error in the GWOT Update section 

in the Spring 07 issue of Seabee Magazine, 

in the article titled, “Seabees Repair 

Runway at Logistics Hub.” 

In the cutline next to the photo, the 

word “cement” is used twice when the 

material being discussed is actually concrete. Portland cement is a powder that 

when combined with sand, aggregate 

and water produces concrete in its plastic or “wet” state. After the wet concrete 

hydrates (i.e., dries) it hardens into a 

solid rigid material, which in the case of 

the article is a concrete runway. Portland 

cement, by itself, has minimal structural 

value.

Considering the professional expertise 

of the readership of Seabee Magazine, 

good technical review of all articles is 

important. 

For additional information, visit the 

Portland Cement Association website at 

www.cement.org.

Best regards,

CDR John J Sullivan Jr., CEC, USN (Ret.)

Director, Federal Infrastructure Markets

Portland Cement Association

500 New Jersey Ave., N.W., 7th Floor

Washington, DC 20001

Seabee Magazine:

Terrific magazine [Fall 2006]! It is a 

great issue for all to read on the Internet. 

Best regards,

Scott Williams

Secretary/Treasurer

MCB 2 Reunion Association

Editor/Publisher, SEABEES Newsletter

Dear Editor,

We are new subscribers to Seabee

Magazine, [and have received] two issues 

— Summer and Fall 2006. Any chance of 

becoming bimonthly?

Great magazine! 

Thank you.

Al Secinaro

Suzanne Spirito

Pupil Services Department

Charles E. Brown Middle School

125 Meadowbrook Rd.

Newton, MA 02459

Note: While the Seabee Magazine Team is encouraged by positive feedback, we plan to keep the publication on a quarterly schedule. 

(From left to right) An excavator, water distributor, front-end loader, skip loader and forklift are staged in Port Hueneme, Calif., in April

awaiting transport to Seabees deployed to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations. The Naval Facilities Expeditionary

Logistics Center (NFELC) is hands-on with this high-priority 1NCD project to up-armor existing Seabee construction equipment. 

Photo by Jim Cencer, NFELC

M A I L C A L L
Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 

A

Seabee Convoy Security Team 

(CST) in the Al Anbar province of 

Iraq has added a robust mechanical feline to its repertoire of vehicle types.

The Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal 

Rapid Response Vehicle (JERRV), better known by CSTs as “Cougar,” is the 

U.S. military’s newest response in the battle 

against roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq.

Different variations of the Cougar 

began arriving in Iraq in the late fall of 

2004 as part of an accelerated Department 

of Defense acquisition program. Reports 

from the war-torn region said the heavyweight trucks had saved many American 

lives. The armored, wheeled trucks feature 

a V-shaped bottom designed to deflect the 

upward explosive power of roadside bombs 

that have accounted for the majority of U.S. 

casualties in Iraq.

Seabee CSTs traveling from Camp 

Fallujah were the first naval construction 

units to receive the new heavily armored 

vehicles, known to ward off fatal energy produced by the IEDs favored by insurgents.

“Not only are they safer, but they feel 

safer,” said Steelworker 1st Class Jesus Llamas, 

a member of Naval Mobile Construction 

Battalion (NMCB) 28, one of two Seabees 

chosen to accompany the first two JERRVS 

from Port Hueneme, Calif., to Camp 

Fallujah. “The Cougars will help us better 

accomplish missions because we feel safe 

and have a better sense of security.”

While the Marines have had experience 

with Cougars for nearly three years, Seabees 

are getting their first opportunity with the 

heavily fortified vehicles.

“The first six Cougars are being flown 

in from the states and the rest will be 

shipped within a few months,” said Chief 

Construction Mechanic Mark Loegering, 

manager, 30th NCR Civil Engineer Support 

Equipment. “By August, we expect to have 

60 JERRVs to replace our Humvees.”

According to Loegering, the $700,000 

machine seats up to eight plus one additional person in the turret. The plan is for 

the 40,000-pound JERRV to replace the 

low-to-the-ground, flat-bottom Humvee traditionally used as a convoy asset.

“This is another strong step in a direcAl Anbar 

Seabees

integrate Big C into Convoy Securi

atty Team

tion to change the course of this war forever*,” said CAPT Kate Gregory, commodore 

for the 30th NCR. Gregory is responsible 

for providing combat construction for 

the Second Marine Expeditionary Force 

(II MEF) in the Al Anbar Province.

“Keeping our forces safe so that we can 

complete missions quickly and efficiently is 

key to our winning here in Iraq,” Gregory 

said. “These vehicles are proven safer and 

better capable to ensure our success as we 

support operations in this province.”

Seabees who have operated the vehicles 

admit they are a welcomed addition to 

the CSTs.

“I felt extremely safe traveling in 

the Cougar,” said Electronics Technician 

2nd Class Nicolle Dupepe, NMCB 28. “When 

you’re operating a vehicle designed specifically to survive an IED blast, you don’t mind 

traveling these roads.”

“These vehicles provide unmatched 

protection capabilities for combat engineers 

and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) 

teams by withstanding both armor-piercing 

and anti-tank mine blasts,” Maj. Gen. William 

D. Catto, then commander, Marine Corps 

Systems Command, told the House Armed 

Services Committee during a June 15, 2006 

hearing in Washington, D.C.

The Seabees’ inaugural mission for the 

Cougar was a trip from Camp Fallujah to 

Al Taqaddum, providing security for tractor trailers hauling building materials. The 

mission was completed without incident and 

began a new era for the Seabees in Iraq. 

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist 

(SW/AW) Shane Montgomery

30th NCR Public Affairs

BU3 Marsha Helgerson, NMCB 4’s Convoy

Security Element, mans the 240B 7.62mm

Machine Gun in the top turret on the Mine

Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Armored

Vehicle at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, in May. 

Photo by MC2 (AW/SW) Ronald Gutridge 

The MRAP program should be 

considered the highest priority 

Department of Defense acquisition 

program, and any and all options to 

accelerate the production and fielding 

of this capability to the theater should 

be identified, assessed and applied 

where feasible.”

— Defense Secretary Robert L. Gates, in a May 2 memo to the Army and Navy secretaries

“
I

n their own version of ‘Monster 

Garage,’ Seabees of the 30th Naval 

Construction Regiment (NCR) provided the Second Marine Tank Battalion 

(2nd MTB) with an armor upgrade 

in May to help keep gunners safe during their 

operations in the Al 

Anbar Province of 

Iraq. 

On a tank 

crew, the ‘Loader’ feeds ammunition into the 

machine gun and is often exposed to small 

arms fire from opposing forces. To stay safe, the 

Loader has to close the tank’s access hatch. But 

if he does that, he can no longer do his job.

“[The new armor] lets us leave the hatch 

open,” said Staff Sgt. Ceasare Williams, 2nd MTB. 

“This allows the Load-er to stay in the fight.”

“It will also help 

[protect us 

against] IED 

(Improvised 

E x p l o s i v e 

Device) shrapnel,” 

added Sgt. Brad Nevitt, 2nd

MTB, as he referred to the IEDs 

often placed in the road by insurgent 

forces.

The 2nd MTB, Marines Bravo Company, 

Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 6, realized 

this risk to the Loader was a critical issue when 

they arrived in-country. The battalion held a 

series of brainstorming sessions and eventually 

settled on an idea they thought would provide 

some protection to the Loader. 

The Seabees’ heavy machine shop, more 

commonly referred to as the ‘Monster Garage,’ 

took 2nd MTB’s idea of a protective shield, finetuned it and built four prototypes for installation. 

“We took their base premise — the hinged 

windows — and had to find a way to put rectangular windows on a round frame,” explained 

Steelworker 2nd Class Philip Moran, who led the 

project for the Monster Garage. “We wanted it 

to be simple but effective, and meet the tank 

battalion’s goals.” >

Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007

What do you do when one extra order increases your scheduled workflow for 

one month by more than 71 percent? 

You “get ’er done!” 

That’s the situation Maintenance Center 

Albany (MCA) faced when the order came 

in to perform armor upgrades and repaint 

23 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements 

(MTVRs) for the Seabees. 

It had to be done on top of the scheduled workflow of processing 32 Marine 

Corps MTVRs during the same month. 

Management and workers at MCA rose 

to the challenge and 55 MTVRs were finished and shipped or scheduled to ship back 

to war zones during February. 

When the vehicles arrived at MCA, they 

were first upgraded with air conditioning. 

From there, armor kits were installed and 

a sturdier suspension to support the extra 

weight was added. 

Then it was off to the paint shop. The 

green paint on each of the massive vehicles 

had to be stripped by hand before the new 

tan paint could be applied. The armor/

suspension work was performed in a shop 

with only one shift, so those workers put in 

12-hour days to meet the need. 

All Seabee vehicles required the armor/

suspension upgrade, air conditioning and 

paint. Twenty-one were configured for cargo 

and two left MCA as troop carriers. 

“The relationship between the Marine 

Corps and the Navy is vitally important,” 

said Col. Kevin McCutcheon, commander, 

MCA. “This is well known [Department of 

Defense-] wide. It’s in our ethos. The Navy 

leveraging our vehicle-armoring efforts to 

safeguard its construction battalions is simply another example of the vitality of the 

Navy-Marine Corps Team.” 

ARMORED VEHICLES improvE

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle

With a V-shaped hull and raised chassis, this vehicle is 

specially designed to deflect bomb blasts, especially those 

resulting from the current IED threat. It is both a Command 

and Control vehicle for Convoy Security Teams, as well 

as a Crew Transport vehicle.

M 1NCD has purchased over 100 MRAPs, of which 30 have

been received in Iraq with an additional 30 in transit

Medium Tactical Vehicle REPLACEMENT (MTVR)

Truck Armor

M 1NCD and NFELC have delivered 50 Level I armored MTVR

variants (cargo trucks and tractor trailers) to theater

M	 Additional trucks are also being armored and are en-route

to the CENTCOM AOR for Seabee use

M	 Include both the cargo-carrying variant and the dump truck

configuration

HIGH-MOBILITY MULTIPURPOSE WHEELED VehiclE

(HMMWV)

M	 20 Level II Armored HMMWVs have been delivered to the

Seabee Readiness Groups in Gulfport and Port Hueneme

for homeport training

M	 Seabees are expected to receive an additional 60 Level I

Armored HMMWVs in the next 60 days for use in the

CENTCOM AOR, as well as other locations as required

by the current threat environment

Construction and Maintenance Equipment (CME)

M 1NCD and NFELC are working to acquire armor kits for

existing Seabee equipment to improve force protection

for Seabees operating construction equipment outside of

Forward Operating Bases in the CENTCOM theater

M	 NFELC has been tracking new armor solutions through

three separate actions, which in total are providing

installed armor solutions on more than 60 pieces of construction equipment

M	 To date, more than a dozen vehicle types have been completed, including excavators, front-end loaders, forklifts,

water trucks and cranes; 15 of these vehicles are complete

and due to arrive in theater immediately, and an additional

2 dozen are near completion or in the process of being

deliveredΩ

M	 An existing Army armoring facility in Arifjan, Kuwait, has

been contracted to armor graders, rollers and bulldozers;

this newly armored equipment has been or will soon be

delivered to Seabees in the field

seabee safety By Daryl C. Smith, Public Affairs Officer, 1NCD 

Rush War Order Pushes Maintenance Center Albany Shops

By Art Powell, MCLB Albany, Ga.

The 1st Naval Construction Division (1NCD), working in conjunction with Naval Facilities Expeditionary 

Logistics Center (NFELC), is aggressively pursuing 

more than $100 million (this fiscal year alone) in contracts and sourcing specific Civil Engineering Support 

Equipment (CESE), both tactical convoy vehicles and 

select construction equipment, for up-armor solutions.

It was important that modifications not 

be made to the tanks themselves, as military 

regulations generally discourage permanent 

changes to high-end equipment. Instead, 

the new shield, composed primarily of ballistic-grade glass and steel, is designed to fasten 

through existing bolt holes in the tank.

The Marines were appreciative of the 

Seabees’ work and quick completion of the 

upgrade.

“I am amazed at the ingenuity and work 

ethic of your Sailors,” wrote Marine Capt. 

Timothy Doran, commanding officer of 

2nd MTB, in a letter to the 30th NCR. “I 

honestly cannot find an expression of our 

gratitude that can equal the effort put forth 

by those folks.”

Seabee Monster Garage Turns Marine Force Protection Idea

By EACS Jay Buermann, 30th NCR Public Affairs

into Reality

t Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle

MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLE REPLACEMENT (MTVR) TRUCK ARMOR t

HIGH-MOBILITY MULTIPURPOSE WHEELED VEHICLE (HMMWV) t

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT (CME) t
NMCB 4

Navy Reservists with Naval Mobile 

Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28, 

Delta Company, finished building 

Southwest Asia (SWA) huts for and with 

the Army’s 5th Battalion, 7th U.S. Cavalry, at 

Baharia near Fallujah earlier this year. 

SWA huts are pre-constructed living 

spaces, shipped to the building site and put 

together in a short amount of time. The huts 

arrive in a kit and are partially constructed at 

NMCB 28’s Builder’s Shop at Camp Fallujah 

by one crew and then transported to the 

Army camp at Baharia for complete assembly 

by a second team of Seabees and Soldiers.

“What would take days if we were building from scratch takes only hours working with these pre-fab huts,” said Chief 

Steelworker Gerald Ramaeker, project manager. “Unlike in the civilian world, where you 

usually have weeks to plan for a project like 

this, the biggest credit to the Seabees is our 

ability to change and adapt on a minute-byminute basis, because planning often happens while the job is already in motion.”

Ramaeker was impressed by his crew, 

which completed eight SWA huts in 12 days. 

The job included more than construction. 

With the buildings being constructed at two 

different sites, several Seabees were tasked 

with loading and moving walls, floors and 

trusses from one site to the next. 

Builder 2nd Class DeWayne Ruff spent 

several days loading lumber and parts on 

trucks, which would then be carried to their 

final destination. 

“I learned so much,” Ruff said. “It was 

my first time to use a forklift, balance a load 

and strap it down. I’ll never call the movers 

again.” 

While other branches of the military 

work with the Iraqis to eliminate the insurgency here, Seabees are in their midst 

repairing and rebuilding the country’s 

roads and buildings.

“We’re glad to be doing what we’re 

doing,” said Construction Electrician 

2nd Class Sean Phelan. “The work gives us 

a great sense of pride, and it gives us a 

chance to hone our skills and bring the 

benefits home to our civilian jobs.”

LT Ivan Cavenall, officer in charge of 

NMCB 28 Delta Company at Camp Knott, 

was pleased with the leadership among 

all three branches involved. 

“The opportunity to work with our 

fellow Marines and Soldiers has been 

great,” Cavenall said. 

SUMMER2007 

Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction 

Battalion (NMCB) 28 finished construction of a combat outpost for 

Marine Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 

2 and Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 

2nd Marines (W/1/2) in Iraq’s Al Anbar 

Province in late April.

When the Marines asked for help, 

NMCB 28 was ready to respond. These 

combat outposts, or ‘COPs’ as they are better known, help bring stability to regions 

plagued by Iraqi insurgents. They serve as a 

staging point for regular patrols and weapons cache sweeps, and allow the Marines to 

respond quickly to any situation that might 

arise. COPs also afford Marines the ability to 

eat, sleep and work in relative safety.

COPs are usually constructed by Marine 

Combat Engineering Battalions, but due 

to resource limitations at the time, NMCB 

28 got the call to support. Adding to the 

uniqueness of this mission was the fact that 

the Seabees were only given 48 hours to plan 

and stage prior to the start of the mission. 

NMCB 28 pulled together a detachment of 39 personnel for the mission, led 

by LT Mike Wilkinson, CEC. Within those 

48 hours they prepared a camp layout, 

pulled 12 truckloads of material together, 

staged 24 pieces of equipment and began 

the mission. 

“A lot of planning goes into this type 

of operation,” said Wilkinson. “NMCB 28 

personnel from all departments and companies pulled together to help get us out to the 

project site.”

Arriving at the site, now called COP 

Timberwolf, Marines provided security and 

commenced offensive operations while the 

Seabees wasted no time getting to work 

establishing a camp perimeter and performing berming operations.

According to Wilkinson, the location 

was ideal from a security aspect, but ground 

conditions made it difficult for construction. 

“We had to change the camp layout 

a few times to adjust for rock deposits that 

made it impossible to excavate or do any 

grading and leveling,” he said.

As force protection construction was 

completed, the Seabees’ focus shifted to 

quality of life issues including berthing and 

other relative creature comforts. Marine 

Capt. Adan Maldonado, RCT 2’s engineering officer, commented that NMCB 28 

“provided the warfighter with what was needed to succeed, sometimes even before we 

anticipated that we needed it.” 

NMCB 28’s Commanding Officer, 

CDR Craig Scharton, knows projects such 

as COP Timberwolf are a prime example of 

what Seabees were designed to do. 

“The construction of combat outposts 

is a quintessential way in which our Seabees 

are supporting the warfighter,” Scharton 

said. “In the case of COP Timberwolf, we 

have gone from basically a bare spot on the 

ground to a fortified and hardened base 

camp in a short time period. 

“This allows the Marines to maintain a 

presence and help promote law and order 

in a forward area, while having a relatively 

secure place to live with at least a minimal 

amount of creature comforts for health and 

welfare,” he added. 

GWOT 

update

GLOBAL WAR on TERROR

Kuwait

(From left to right) SW2 Matthew Williams, UT1 Michael

Mason and SW1 Lee Hanna, NMCB 26, work on the roof

of the Aviation Maintenance Hangar on Camp Buehring in

Kuwait. The Aviation Maintenance Hangar was completed

in late April for the Udairi Airfield, enabling maintenance

personnel an enclosed space to protect them against the

heat and sandstorms. Members of NMCB 26 were attached

to Detail Camp Buehring with NMCB 133.

Photo by BU1 Matthew Parry 

Ramadi

CM3 (SW) Sean Kelly, NMCB 4, performs

preventive maintenance on a five-ton truck

at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, in April.

Photo by MC2 (AW/SW) Ronald Gutridge

Seabees Build Command Outpost in Al Anbar Province

By LT Jeffery Moore and LT James Barlow, NMCB 28 Public Affairs

Seabees Build Quality of Life Improvements in Baharia

By EO2 (SCW) Lori Roberts, 30th NCR Public Affairs

 Seabee Magazine

NMCB 28

NMCB 28

NMCB 26

NMCB 133
The 3rd NCR moniker 

is “The Leaders.” 

During its second 

mobilization to Iraq, the regiment lived up to its name.

The regiment provided 

extensive general engineering and construction support, as well as comprehensive construction material procurement and distribution, for 

1st Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) 

during Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07 and 

06-08. Through the efforts of their dedicated 

subordinate units, the Seabees from Naval 

Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs) 18, 

25, 40 and 74, as well as the Soldiers from 

the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (ECB) 

(Heavy), the 321st Engineering Battalion, and 

the Marines from the 9th Engineer Support 

Battalion (ESB) provided a myriad of support 

to Iraqi Security Force (ISF) and Coalition 

Force (CF) basing, convoy security operations, general engineering and mobility support. The 3rd NCR planned and executed 

more than 200,000 man-days of new construction and convoy security missions in support 

of stabilizing and securing Iraq.

“The Seabees are undoubtedly a 

well-led and highly proficient ‘Can Do’ 

group of professionals,” said Col. B.D. 

Beaudreault, commanding officer of the 

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) 

Special Operations Capable (SOC). “I 

would like to extend our deepest thanks 

to our brothers-in-arms, our fellow soldiers 

of the sea. The 15th MEU looks forward to 

the opportunity to serve alongside you in 

the future.”

The 3rd NCR initiated, developed and 

implemented two successful new programs 

during tenure in Multi National Force – West 

(MNF-W). Seabee Military Training Teams 

were formed and sent to the Iraqi Army 

to train its engineers in basic construction 

skills. In addition to this effort, the regiment 

formed a ‘Monster Garage’ at Camp Fallujah, 

a team of Seabees utilizing skills and ingenuity to implement a variety of concepts in the 

Counter-IED fight. 

“Thanks to you and your magnificent men,” remarked Col. George Bristol, 

commanding officer, to 1st MEF (Marine 

Expeditionary Force) Headquarters Group 

(Forward). “You are on my team in any clime 

and place. If the CNO would offer me an 

aircraft carrier, a submarine or a squad of 

Seabees — the choice for me is easy.”

The need for adequate facilities to support sustainment and security of forces was 

critical in meeting the objectives of turning 

over control of the Al Anbar Province to 

Iraqi control. The 3rd NCR provided designs, 

bills of material, construction materials and 

construction of contingency operating posts 

and Iraqi Security Force bases along the 

Euphrates River from Fallujah to the Syrian 

border. Additional engineering support was 

provided in Ar Ramadi for Coalition and Iraqi 

Security Force camps, conducting repairs, 

reconstruction and retrofit of existing military facilities.

In addition to the contingency operating 

posts, the overall goal of establishing an ISF 

presence throughout the Al Anbar Province 

required the construction of 19 combat outposts and base camps to support thousands 

of ISF troops throughout the province. The 

3rd NCR was at the tip of the spear providing 

designs, Class IV materials and construction 

on the necessary infrastructure in direct support of this initiative.

“The achievement of the Soldiers, 

Marines, and Seabees attached to the 

3rd NCR is truly remarkable” said CAPT R. 

Scott Newman, commodore of the 3rd NCR. 

“Eight months ago we established the operating philosophy of urgency. We said then that 

we could make a difference. We did.”

3rd NCR deployment projects

3D MARINE AIR WING (FORWARD)

SUPPORT

Ensured the continuity of mission execution for 2nd and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing 

(For-ward) by providing maintenance and 

repair to critical runways in Taqqadum and 

Al Asad; successfully delivered airfield construction and repairs, overcoming numerous 

challenges in material quality and logistics; 

completed Al Asad Joint Repair project, in 

addition to the 4,000+ cubic meter concrete 

effort on Runway 30L on Al Taqqadum 

(opened to traffic in February 2007).

CONVOY SECURITY TEAMS

Operated four Convoy Security Teams 

simultaneously, completing convoy security 

missions throughout the Al Anbar Province; 

utilized extensively as security escorts for 

Class IV materials, equipment deliveries and 

security escort missions.

MSR/ASR ASSESSMENTS AND REPAIRS

Maintained the Main Supply Routes (MSR) 

and Alternate Supply Routes (ASR), critical 

to the execution of ground operations and 

safety of the troops conducting the missions; having routine and emergency repair 

responsibilities for the entire MNF-W area of 

operations, the regiment ensured these critical lines of communications remained open 

and serviceable. 

GENERAL ENGINEER SUPPORT

Through quality construction and project 

management, the regiment performed 

more than 220 missions, including concrete 

maintenance pads, force protection, Entry 

Control Point (ECP) improvements, guard 

towers, electrical system assessments and 

repairs, and clam shelter construction. 

10 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 11

GLOBAL WAR on TERROR

Three female Seabees from Naval Mobile 

Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28, 

along with women from other branches of the military, have become the first to 

participate in a regional program named 

Lioness, perhaps an unconventional but necessary step to winning the war in Iraq.

The Lioness Program was born out of a 

need to help make Iraqi women feel more 

comfortable during check point searches. 

Searching the local women had proved difficult since the Muslim culture dictates that 

men are not to touch or look at women they 

don’t know.

“These women have volunteered to 

execute this difficult mission because they 

recognize the importance of what the 

Lioness Program is trying to achieve,” said 

CAPT Kate Gregory, commodore for the 

30th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR), 

who is responsible for all Seabee personnel 

in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. “Through 

their personal interaction with the people 

of Iraq, they help win the hearts and minds 

of the country. All of the women from each 

branch of service who volunteered for this 

program should feel proud that their accomplishments are contributing to our overall 

success in this fight.”

To strengthen the fight on the war, 

Lioness was implemented at tactical control 

points along the Iraqi borders and other strategic locations to stop insurgents from using 

female smugglers for transporting funds 

or weapons in support of actions against 

Coalition Forces. The program was designed 

to hinder those efforts by having female service members search Arab females.

Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Sandra 

Ersoff, a Lioness volunteer who served in the 

Haditha area of Iraq, said her experience 

with the Muslim women was usually very 

positive. 

“I found the Iraqi women to be friendly 

and understanding of the circumstances,” 

Ersoff said. “Although some women were 

reserved, I exchanged greetings and smiles 

with the majority. Like mothers around the 

world, Iraqi women were receptive to my 

interaction with their children. I truly believe 

my presence had a positive effect on the 

female community of Haditha.”

Each Lioness Task Force consists of a 

30- to 45-day rotation that provides female 

volunteers of different military branches and 

various occupations the opportunity to train 

and work with the Marine infantry force. 

The training curriculum consists of a Marine 

Corps Martial Arts Program refresher course, 

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) identification, Rules of Engagement, Cultural 

Familiarization, Search Techniques and other 

military instruction. In addition, the participants are familiarized with and afforded the 

opportunity to train with various weapons.

Private 1st Class Brittany Cummins, 

Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 

(MWHS), understands the value, professionalism and caring female service members 

bring to this effort. 

“This is definitely an extremely important mission,” Cummins said. “We can’t win 

the hearts and minds if we don’t show respect 

for the culture.”

“These women of NMCB 28 have stepped 

up to offer their skills and abilities to a critical 

part of the security mission,” said CDR Craig 

Scharton, commanding officer of NMCB 28. 

“Their senior levels of experience and maturity were critical factors to ensuring success 

in a job that requires situational awareness, 

cultural sensitivity and keen judgment.”

The Lioness Program is facilitated by Marine Regimental Combat Team 

2, deployed with the Secondary Marine 

Expeditionary Force in support of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom.

A Band of Sisters: Female Seabees Help Win the Hearts and Minds of Iraqi People

By YN2 Judith Owen, NMCB 28 Public Affairs

3rd NCR Sets Milestones on Deployment	 	 	 	 By YN2 Class Monte L. Tolar, 3rd NCR

NMCB 74

“If the CNO would offer me 

an aircraft carrier, a submarine 

or a squad of Seabees — 

the choice for me is easy.”

— Col. George Bristol, Commanding Officer, I MHG (FWD)

Marines and Sailors attending the Lioness Program aboard Al Asad, Iraq, receive a refresher course in the Marine Corps Martial Arts

Program in late March.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. James R. Richardson

NMCB 28

NMCB 40

NMCB 25

NMCB 18
LCDR Suzanne Fiori (right), project

supervisor for NAVFAC’s Kuwait-based

Field Engineering Team, congratulates

crewleader BU3 Ryan Laney, NMCB 133,

for a job well done on the new post office

ramp on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The ‘Bees

of NMCBs 26 and 133 completed the

ramp in just over a month. 

Photo by MC3 Jessica A. McIver

SUMMER2007 13

What had been large lakes of mud 

due to a recent rainstorm are now 

gravel parking lots for the Camp 

Ramadi dining facility and exchange, thanks 

to the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction 

Battalion (NMCB) 4, who completed the 

work in late April.

Five Seabees graded the parking lots. A 

slope was made between the lots to create a 

drainage ditch which would move running 

water into collection ponds dug out at either 

end. Two culverts were placed to assist with 

the runoff. Before placing the gravel, the 

crew, with help from the Army’s 1-3 Brigade 

Troops Battalion (1-3 BTB), rolled barriers 

across the lots to keep the gravel from sinking into the mud during future rainstorms. 

As dump trucks full of gravel rolled in, 

NMCB 4 Seabees worked quickly to spread 

the gravel and complete the project.

“It’s always a pleasure working with the 

Seabees. They work too hard for their own 

good,” said Staff Sgt. Julian Nicholson, 1-3 

BTB, who oversees all projects on base for 

the Camp Ramadi Mayor’s Cell. “NMCB 4 

has come on board ready to roll. We’re glad 

to have their help.”

A line of Humvees sat parked on the 

gravel the day after NMCB 4 finished the 

lots, and Soldiers and Marines walked to 

and from the dining facility and exchange 

without worrying about keeping the mud off 

their boots. NMCB 4 is definitely improving 

the quality of life at Camp Ramadi.

“I’m glad to be out of homeport and 

actually doing my job, said Equipment 

Operator Constructionman Cordello Jordan, 

who helped complete the project for NMCB 

4. “This is what I get paid for. I’m loving it!”

(Top right) EOCN Helen Hughlett (far right),

NMCB 4, works with Iraqi civilians on a

newly constructed parking lot for the Camp

Ramadi dining facility and exchange. 

(Right) EO2 (SCW) Hayden Coleman, NMCB

4, operates a grader, spreading gravel on a

parking lot-in-progress at Camp Ramadi in

Iraq.

Photos by MC2 (AW/SW) Ronald Gutridge

12 Seabee Magazine

Seabees from NMCBs 26 and 133 place concrete to create a ramp at the post office on Camp Arifjan,

Kuwait. The ramp will aid postal workers in speeding the delivery of mail to the troops. Pictured (from

left to right) are: UT2 William Treat, NMCB 133, settling concrete with a concrete vibrator as BUCN Jesse

Johnson, NMCB 133, directs the concrete pump truck hose in order to properly place the wet concrete;

BU3 James Pulfer, NMCB 26, controls the vibrator to settle the concrete; the project crew leader, BU3 Ryan Laney,

NMCB 133, directs his crew during the placement as BUCN Ryan Canny, NMCB 133, uses a concrete rake to push

freshly placed concrete into place to be leveled. 

Photo by MC1 Nicholas Lingo

GLOBAL WAR on TERROR

NMCBs 26 and 133 Ramp Up Mail Delivery to U.S. Troops

Seabees Transform Mud Lakes to Gravel Lots at Camp Ramadi

By Chaplain (LT) Peter N. Ott, NMCB 4 Public Affairs NMCB 4

NMCB 26

NMCB133
SUMMER2007 15

Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Officer LT 

Fred Kelly was awarded the Purple 

Heart by RADM Richard E. Cellon, 

commander, Naval Facilities Engineering 

Command (NAVFAC), Atlantic, in a ceremony on January 25. Kelly, a project engineer at NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic’s Public 

Works Department in Portsmouth (Norfolk 

Naval Shipyard), Va., received the medal 

after being wounded in action while on 

his Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment 

as a Base Engineer on the Provisional 

Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.

Kelly was in a convoy conducting a mission to check a new site for the Construction 

Training Trades Center in Jalalabad City in 

October 2005 when attacked. As the threevehicle convoy was approaching the outskirts 

of town and about to cross a bridge, Kelly’s 

vehicle was hit by an IED hidden in the rear 

wheel of a bicycle. Smoke and fire engulfed 

the vehicle for a brief period. Kelly was temporarily deafened by the blast and received a 

cut under his eye. There were no American 

casualties, but five local Afghans were injured, 

two seriously, and one 14-year-old boy was 

killed. 

“The function of the Naval Construction 

Force, our Seabees and CEC Officers on Individual Augmentee 

as-signments, is held 

in high esteem by 

the Department of the 

Navy, and, beyond that, 

the Department of Defense,” 

said Cellon.

He also reminded those in attendance 

that the Purple Heart is the nation’s oldest military award, introduced by George 

Washington in 1782 as a ‘Badge of Military 

Merit’ and re-introduced, after 150 years 

of being forgotten, by General Douglas 

MacArthur in February 1932, out of respect 

for George Washington’s memory and military achievements.

“It’s an honor and privilege to receive 

this award,” said Kelly. “I’m thankful for my 

life and the lives of all those in my convoy. 

All in all, it was a rewarding experience in 

Afghanistan. I wouldn’t change anything.”

14 Seabee Magazine

Purple

Heart

The Seabees’ “Can Do!” legacy was officially honored in March 

during a groundbreaking ceremony in Port Hueneme, 

Calif., for the new U.S. Navy Seabee Museum. 

 Scheduled to open in 2009, the 35,000-square-foot 

museum will be a world-class facility dedicated to honoring and commemorating the extraordinary accomplishments of the Seabees and 

Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers.

Held on the new museum site, the groundbreaking was accomplished in genuine Seabee-style by setting aside the traditional golden 

shovel and, instead, literally breaking the ground with a front-end 

loader operated by Equipment Operator Constructionman (SCW) 

Crystal Epling, who recently returned from serving in Iraq with Naval 

Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4. 

The legendary image of a Seabee driving a bulldozer created 

an atmosphere of enthusiasm and excitement for the hundreds of 

invited guests, including local government officials, members of the 

Board of the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation, donors to the capital fundraising campaign, local business and community leaders, and 

Seabee veterans.

Established in 1947, the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum is the second 

oldest of 12 official U.S. Navy museums, all of which are operated and 

maintained by the Naval Historical Center. 

The current Seabee Museum has been located in the same 

Quonset huts for more than 50 years. While the facility provides nostalgia for many Seabees, since it was never designed for or intended 

to be a museum and lacks proper environmental controls, the entire 

collection is in constant danger of loss or damage. 

In a valiant effort to preserve the Seabee “Can Do!” legacy, 

retired RADM Benjamin Montoya led the CEC/Seabee Historical 

Foundation in a $12 million capital fundraising campaign in 2001 

to construct a new, state-of-the-art museum facility complete with 

appropriate storage and updated exhibitions.

The new museum will feature comprehensive exhibits, as well as 

a retail shop, meeting space, memorial garden, and an archive which 

will house all of the operational records of the Seabees since World 

War II. There are also plans to develop extensive outreach programs 

to educate students and the public about the Builder Warriors. 

In addition, the new facility will be located outside the gate in 

Ventura County, Calif., making it more easily accessible to all members of the community.

“The Seabee Museum is a true gem among the Navy’s museums, 

with a great collection of artifacts, and an expert and knowledgeable 

staff,” said CDR Jeremy Gillespie, director of Navy Museums. “The 

new U.S. Navy Seabee Museum facility will allow the Navy to showcase 

the Seabee story as it deserves to be told for the education and benefit 

of both our Sailors and the American public.”

Seabee Museum

Groundbreaking

Shows “Can Do” Spirit

EOCN (SCW) Crystal Epling, NMCB 4, operates a front-end loader during the groundbreaking of the new Seabee Museum in Port

Hueneme, Calif. Scheduled to open in 2009, the 35,000-square-foot museum will be a world-class facility dedicated to commemorating

the accomplishments of the Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers.

Photo by MC2 Jason R. Williams 

Charles V. Komppa Wing Dedicated at Navy Operational Support Center Billings

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 18 salute as Delisa Komppa (center right), wife of fallen Electrician’s Mate

1st Class Charles V. Komppa, escorted by Utilitiesman 1st Class J Williamson (center left), enters Navy Operational Support

Center Billings, Mont., for the first time after the dedication ceremony. Komppa was killed in action on October 25, 2006, while

serving in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province. Williamson was with Komppa when he died, and volunteered to return and finish the mission

the pair had started.

U.S. Navy photo 

RADM Richard E. Cellon (right), Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command

(NAVFAC), Atlantic, presents CEC Officer

LT Fred Kelly with the Purple Heart in a ceremony on January 25.

Photo by John Land

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic CEC Officer Receives Purple Heart

By Robin Willis, Public Affairs Officer, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic

Submitted by Naval Historical Center Public Affairs
16 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 17

OOFLAGOO PROMOTIONS

By NAVFAC Headquarters 

Public Affairs & Communications 

RDML Garcia Tapped

for Second Star

Secretary of Defense Robert M. 

Gates announced in March 

that President George W. Bush 

has nominated RDML Albert 

Garcia III, CEC, USN, for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. 

Following Senate confirmation, 

Garcia will receive his second star 

in an official ceremony later this year. 

RDML Garcia has served as deputy commander, 1st Naval 

Construction Division, Norfolk, Va., since August 2005. Prior to 

this assignment, Garcia was recalled in support of Operation Iraqi 

Freedom where he commanded Task Force Charlie of the MEF 

Engineering Group and later served as the deputy commander of the 

MEF Engineering Group in Iraq. In 2004, he assumed responsibility 

for consolidating several reserve augment units into a new command, 

NAVFAC Contingency OICC.

August 31, 1842

Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks (BuDocks) 

established, Washington, D.C.

1867

Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) established

Late 1800s

Navy yards developed on the Pacific Coast at Mare 

Island, Calif., and Puget Sound, Wash.

Treaty following Spanish-American War 

led to naval stations in Puerto Rico, Guam 

and the Philippines; Navy yards at Boston, 

Norfolk and Philadelphia soon modernized, new yard built at Charleston, SC

1911

U.S. Congress places design and construction of all naval shore stations 

under BuDocks control

1916-1918

BuDocks expends $347 million for public 

works related to World War I efforts, including 

35 naval training stations, submarine bases and 

naval air stations

 

1920s-30s

Shore establishment shrinks, CEC numbers 

greatly reduced

1940-1945

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor (December 

7, 1941), Navy’s military construction program 

explodes to global proportions, expanding far 

beyond continental United States and prewar 

possessions to Europe, North Africa, Asia and 

the Pacific

1942

Admiral Ben Moreell, Chief of the Bureau 

of Yards and Docks, creates the Naval 

Construction Force, better known as the 

Seabees; led by Reserve CEC officers, 325,000 

Seabees build bases on six continents and at 

locations throughout the Pacific during World 

War II; at war’s end, shore establishment is 

worth at least 

$6.5 billion 

1950s

During the Korean conflict, CEC officers and 

Seabees build bases throughout the Pacific to 

support United Nations troops

Mid-1960s

BuDocks is formally designated as the contract 

construction agent in Southeast Asia for the 

Vietnam War

May 1966

The Bureau of Yards and Docks is renamed Naval 

Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)

1970s

NAVFAC consolidates 13 engineering field divisions into six, and improves personnel facilities 

to support all-volunteer Navy, environmental 

protection and energy conservation

1980s

Navy Fleet increases lead to more shore facilities 

for the new ships, translating to more construction work for NAVFAC; between fiscal years 

1982 and 1985, Congress appropriates more 

than $5 billion for Navy military construction 

1988-1995

Numerous installations are slated for disestablishment through the Base Realignment and 

Closure (BRAC) Program; NAVFAC manages 

BRAC Program for the Navy and Marine Corps

2003

The U.S. invasion of Iraq, along with Coalition 

Forces, signals the start of the Global War 

on Terror, and marks yet another chapter in 

NAVFAC’s rich history of military support

October 2003 

Commander, Naval Installations 

Command (CNIC) is established

2004

NAVFAC transforms its organizational structure to better support the Navy and Marine 

Corps, and other federal clients 

NAVFAC helps Navy dispose of 72 unneeded 

bases and has an inventory of 19 closed installations 

2005

NAVFAC provides extensive support 

following Hurricane Katrina, the worst 

U.S. natural disaster to date, taking close 

to 1,850 lives and causing more than 

$81 billion in damage along the U.S. Gulf 

Coast

August 31, 2007

NAVFAC celebrates its 165th Anniversary

RADM Cellon Relieves RADM Phillips

By Daryl Smith, Public Affairs Officer, 1NCD

Rear Admiral Richard E. Cellon, CEC, USN, relieved Rear Admiral 

Robert L. Phillips, CEC, USN, as commander, 1st Naval Construction 

Division on June 29 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, 

Norfolk, Va. Rear Adm. Phillips has commanded the 1st Naval Construction Division since November 4, 2004, and retired during the 

ceremony following 32 years of service with the U.S. Navy.

RADM Cellon previously served as commander, Naval Facilities 

Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Atlantic, in Norfolk, Va. His 

other command tours included commander, NAVFAC, Pacific, in 

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from 2002 to 2003; commander, NAVFAC, 

Southern Division in Charleston, S.C, from 2000 to 2002; Naval 

Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 from 1996 to1998; 

and Naval Support Facility Thurmont, Md. (Camp David) from 1994 

to 1996. 

A native of Gainesville, Fla., 

RADM Cellon is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. 

He holds master’s degrees from 

the University of Florida (Civil 

Engineering), and the Naval War 

College (National Security and 

Strategic Studies).

Note: A detailed article on the change of command will appear in the next 

issue of Seabee Magazine.

CHANGE OF COMMAND

TURN OF THE CENTURY

1940s – 1980s

PRESENT DAY

On August 31, 1842, the Bureau of Navy Yards and 

Docks (BuDocks), under the leadership of Captain 

Lewis Warrington with six civilian employees, administered public works at seven Navy yards along the 

Eastern Seaboard of the United States. 

 Fast forward 165 years as BuDocks is now the Naval 

Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), one of five Navy Systems 

Commands reporting to the Chief of Naval Operations. Under the leadership of Rear Admiral Greg Shear, Chief of Civil Engineers, NAVFAC 

has more than 75 locations worldwide on installations throughout 

the United States, Europe, Southwest Asia and the Far East. NAVFAC 

is comprised of a team of 15,000 military, civilian and contractor 

personnel — planners, engineers, architects, contract specialists 

and many other highly trained professionals — along with unified 

Commanders and Department of Defense agencies. Strategic partners 

include the Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC), Navy 

Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and United States Marine 

Corps (USMC). 

Marking its 165th anniversary on August 31, 2007, NAVFAC’s role 

in our country’s defense of freedom continues to stand as a beacon 

of pride for people around the globe. Take a few moments and step 

into NAVFAC’s history. This proud legacy not only strengthens commitment and resolve, it paves the way for an even greater and more 

dynamic future. 

165 Years and

Counting

For more information on NAVFAC, view the Command video at https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/go/newemployees.

U.S. Navy photo

CAPT Giorgione

Selected for Flag

In April, Defense Secretary Robert 

M. Gates announced that President 

George W. Bush nominated CAPT 

Michael A. Giorgione, CEC, USN, 

for appointment to the rank of rear 

admiral (lower half). Following 

Senate confirmation, Giorgione 

will receive his first star in an official ceremony later this year. 

CAPT Giorgione recently relieved RDML Christopher J. Mossey 

as commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) 

Pacific on June 8 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Giorgione was NAVFAC 

Pacific’s vice commander from 2003 to 2004.

U.S. Navy photo U.S. Navy photo
Battalion Updates:

SEABEES AROUND THE WORLD

18

Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 19

h u m a n i t a r i a n

“If you ask a Navy Seabee serving in Joint Task Force Horn of Africa 

[or on any humanitarian mission] what it is he or she is building, 

the answer might surprise you...the Seabees would tell you they are 

building friendships. They are building trust...Trust is essential...to 

all our missions all around the globe. In the Navy, it’s a big part of 

who we are. It’s what we do.” 

— ADM Mike Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations

“Sailors Building Trust, One Person At A Time,” The Hill, May 23, 2007

Guatemala Seabees in

ACB 1 Earlier this year, Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 

1 participated in Humanitarian Support Over The Shore 

(HSOTS) 2007, a simulated disaster relief assistance 

response involving transportation of equipment from two 

engineer task forces over-the-sea to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. 

Approximately 1,300 U.S. servicemen and women, repre-

senting the Navy, Army, National Guard and Reserve forces, 

participated in HSOTS. 

As a complement to HSOTS, Project Handclasp provided 

humanitarian outreach efforts in the region. Seabees from 

ACB 1, along with service members from Naval Coastal Warfare 

Squadron 4, Naval Beach Group 1, Assault Craft Unit 1, 

Beach Master Unit 1, and the 348th Army Battalion, 

collected and delivered materials and supplies to Guatemalan 

schools, orphanages and clinics. Seabees performed their 

trademark construction services in local villages and surround-

ing areas benefiting much of the population, and winning the 

hearts, minds and trust of the people of Guatemala. 

(Left, top to bottom)

CE3 Kyle Spry, ACB 1, givesa Seabee-style piggyback ride toa

Guatemalan child in between projects in the local area.

Photo by YN3 Jessica Bidwell

Students of Escuela Maria del Socorro de Arellano say the

Guatemalan pledge of allegiance duringa donation ceremony in

Puerto San Jose.

Photo by MC3 Brian Morales

BU3 Jeremy Morgan, ACB 1, nailsa fencing board for Escuela

Maria del Socorro de Arellano in San Jose, Guatemala, one of five

elementary schools visited by service members who participated in

Project Handclasp during HSOTS 2007.

Photo by MC3 Brian Morales

(Above) Seabees from ACB 1 join together to demolisha struc-

ture that was no longer needed on the grounds of an orphanage.

Seabees saved the orphanage$10,000 in demolition cost during

HSOTS.

Photo by YN3 Jessica Bidwell

(Opposite) Chaplain Joseph Roach, ACB 1, hands out candy to

children at Hogar Miguel Magone in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Hogar Miguel Magone is one of 14 sites visited by Seabees and

other service members who participated in HSOTS 2007.

Photo by MC3 Brian Morales
20 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 21

Battalion Updates:

SEABEES AROUND THE WORLD h u m a n i t a r i a n

At approximately 5:30 a.m. 

on March 14, five members 

of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 

(NMCB) 133 were en route to the Udari 

range in Kuwait for a training exercise when 

they came upon the scene of a horrific traffic accident. The accident, involving two 

20-passenger vans and a four-door Nissan 

truck, happened only moments before the 

Seabees’ arrival.

“The air was still full of dust,” said 

Gunnery Sgt. Tom McCarty, Military Advisor 

to NMCB 133. 

Led by McCarty, NMCB 133 personnel responded immediately with medical 

care and on-scene organization. McCarty 

proudly stated, “Everywhere you looked, 

NMCB 133 folks were there. They were cutting bandages, hooking up IVs and bringing 

in MEDEVAC choppers to get the seriously 

injured to the hospitals.” 

While McCarty ensured emergency services were contacted, Hospitalman 

1st Class Charlotte Bethea immediately 

began assessing casualties and creating a 

Casualty Collection Point. With assistance 

from Utilitiesman 2nd Class Kelly Caponigro, 

Bethea began bandaging the injured and 

administering IVs as needed. 

“I was helping Doc [Bethea] as best I 

could with bandages and helping cut clothing away from the injured,” Caponigro said. 

“We were moving from body to body so fast, 

that I had to go back and retrieve supplies 

we may have left at the last [patient]. I was 

staying so busy that I couldn’t react to what 

was truly going on.” 

The number of casualties was beyond 

the medical supply capabilities of the five 

responders, but as Seabees “Can Do,” they 

adapted to the situation.

Bethea recalls how appreciative the 

injured were of their efforts. “I remember 

one of the men saying, ‘Thank you, Soldier, 

thank you, Soldier.’ Even with our lack of 

supplies, he was thankful that we were doing 

what we could for him,” Bethea said.

When McCarty discovered two men 

pinned beneath one of the passenger vans, he 

worked with Builder 2nd Class Tyler Morgan 

and Builder Constructionman Nicholas 

Condon to rescue the men. Overcoming the 

language barrier, the rescuers successfully 

organized the uninjured survivors to lift the 

van, allowing Morgan, Condon and McCarty 

to pull the two severely injured men to safety. 

Once the victims were clear of the wreckage, 

Bethea and Caponigro immediately began 

applying bandages and tourniquets. 

At this point, a third victim was discovered trapped inside the overturned van. After 

McCarty found he could not safely move the 

victim through the front window, Morgan and 

Condon smashed the rear window, crawled in 

and carried him from the vehicle. 

As the sun rose, the Nissan truck was 

discovered a short distance away with seven 

men still trapped inside. By this point, 

approximately 30 civilians had arrived on 

the scene to assist the rescuers in freeing the 

men from the truck; after several attempts, 

they were freed using the Jaws of Life. 

After a time with McCarty and the four 

Seabees as the only care providers on the scene, 

members of Camp Beuhring’s Emergency Fire 

and Medical Rescue Team arrived. Even with 

the rescue team present, Bethea, Caponigro 

and McCarty continued to assist, directly treating the injured, as well as providing medical 

supplies to the rescue team. 

“When they [the rescue team] showed 

up, they were kind of standing aside because 

they thought we were medics,” McCarty said. 

“This was because we were all so calm and 

collected. I was really proud of them.” 

Upon the MEDEVAC choppers’ arrival, 

NMCB 133 coordinated with the crew chiefs 

and rescue team to load nine of the most 

seriously injured victims. 

Reflecting on Seabee readiness and the 

team effort so evident during the rescue, 

Bethea commented, “More than anything 

else, I am so proud of the Seabees who were 

there. They stepped up and did whatever 

was asked of them without a second thought 

or hesitation.”

Tragedy Turns Trainers into Heroes	 	 	 	 By MC3 Jessica A. McIver, NMCB 133 

NMCB133

Colonel John S. Alexander (far right), USA, Commander, ASG Kuwait, presents the Army

Commendation Medal to five NMCB 133 Seabees stationed at Camp Moreell, Kuwait, for

their efforts in providing emergency medical assistance to civilian workers who were

severely injured in an automobile accident. Pictured (from left to right) are Gunnery

Sgt. Tom McCarty, HM1 Charlotte Bethea, UT2 Kelly Caponigro, BU2 Tyler Morgan and

BUCN Nicholas Condon.

Photo by MC1 Nicholas Lingo

Brothers in Arms

By MC3 Jessica A. McIver, NMCB 133

Imagine having your family’s support 

every day you serve in the Navy. Though 

many Sailors have that, few enjoy that support in close 

quarters while deployed. 

Equipment Operator 2nd Class Robert Conner and 

his brother, Equipment Operator 1st Class Jonathan 

Conner, shared the experience during their recent sixmonth deployment to Camp Virginia, Kuwait.

The brothers from Alliance, Ohio, are assigned to 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 26. 

Since NMCB 26 is a reserve battalion where assignments are based on geography, it was easy for both to be 

assigned to the same unit. 

Robert served on active duty in the Navy from 

1990-93 as a Gunner’s Mate striker, and participated in 

Operation Desert Shield.

“It has been a dream of ours to deploy together 

since I left for Desert Shield,” Robert said.

Robert, two years older than Jonathan, talked his 

younger brother into joining a reserve battalion with 

him in 2000.

“Joining gave me a good reason to visit him 

[Robert],” Jonathan said, who lives 160 miles away from 

his brother when they aren’t mobilized. 

“It’s awesome [having my brother with me on 

deployment],” Robert said. “Other than my wife, John 

is my best friend.”

This is the first time the Conner brothers deployed 

at the same time to the same location. The siblings 

previously traveled separately to Spain, with Jonathan 

mobilizing in 2001 and Robert following in 2002.

“I think having my brother around for deployment 

makes it easier,” John commented. “You always have 

someone who is there for you.”

Robert is ready to be there for his brother whenever Jonathan might need him.

“He’s better looking,” Robert joked, “but I’ve got 

the brains.” 

EO1 Jonathan Conner (left) and his brother, EO2 Robert Conner,

are both assigned to NMCB 26, and are deployed together at Camp

Virginia, Kuwait.

Photo by MC3 Jessica A. McIver

Kuwait Seabees in 

NMCB 26
22 Seabee Magazine

Battalion Updates:

SEABEES AROUND THE WORLD

Seabees from Underwater 

Construction Team (UCT) 

2 Air Detachment Bravo returned from a 

two-month deployment to the Republic of 

the Philippines in support of Operation 

Enduring Freedom (OEF). While in the 

Philippines, they completed construction 

tasking for the Joint Special Operations 

Task Force — Philippines (JSOTF-P), 

Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) and 

Exercise Balikatan 2007. 

While deployed, UCT 2 Seabees constructed critical waterfront facilities to 

aid and assist the Armed Forces of the 

Philippines (AFP) Special Operations Forces 

in ongoing counter-terrorism operations. 

The largest project was a 70’ x 16’ concrete boat ramp constructed off an existing 

pier structure. The boat ramp will allow 

AFP, JSOTF-P and NSWG to execute their 

full mission capabilities by being able to 

launch and recover several different types 

of marine craft from an isolated location in 

the Philippine Sulu Archipelago. Executed 

concurrently with the boat ramp project was 

a Mark-V Special Operations Craft mooring 

system. The Mark-V is a light-weight and 

highly mobile patrol craft approximately 

82-feet long with a 17-foot beam. The mooring system allows this craft to deploy for long 

periods of time, and also allow for maintenance and repairs in this very remote area of 

the Philippines. 

The final portion of UCT 2 Air 

Detachment Bravo’s deployment to the 

Philippines included participating in 

Exercise Balikatan 2007. Exercise Balikatan, 

which means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” is now 

in its 23rd year. 

Exercise Balikatan is an annual bilateral U.S. and Republic of the Philippines 

exercise consisting of a STAFFEX, 

Humanitarian and Civic Assistance/Civil 

Military Operations (HCA/CMO), and 

Field Training Exercise (FTX). The exercise fosters interoperability and enhances 

the AFP counter-terrorism capabilities. 

The exercise reinforces USPACOM Theater 

Security Cooperation Program (TSCP) 

goals and objectives, and ensures participation/integration of non-governmental 

organizations in 

the execution of 

CMO activities. 

The 2007 war 

games scenarios 

focused on naval 

threats, including 

ship hijackings 

and piracy, and cross-border attacks by 

Islamic extremists. 

During the Exercise, UCT 2 participated in both CMO projects, and advanced 

weapons and military tactics training sessions. The CMO projects consisted of several 

school renovations to help the local community by improving their learning environments. They worked shoulder-to-shoulder 

with other AFP personnel, and taught them 

not only how to build and work with tools, 

but how to better use their own local materials and equipment. The weapons training 

sessions helped the AFP to better understand their weapons and how to better 

employ them while moving and shooting in 

a tactical situation. 

“It turned out to be a great deployment,” said Steelworker Chief (SCW/DV) 

Brian Oliver. “We did some really good 

construction work in an interesting part of 

the world. It’s something that all of us were 

really proud to be a part of.” 

The projects were very unique for the 

Command in many different ways. First and 

foremost, the majority of the design work 

for the boat ramp and mooring system was 

performed by UCT 2. After many discussions 

with NSWG and JSOTF-P, the Command formulated a solid set of construction drawings 

and specifications for the project. Another 

unique aspect of the deployment was that 

almost half of the construction projects 

were above the water line and on dry land. 

This reiterates that the Underwater 

Construction Technicians are Seabees first, 

but also bring to the fight that combined 

capability of building and diving. They can 

build and build well, above and below the 

water line. 

“It’s great to do a variety of work,” said 

Construction Electrician 1st Class (SCW/DV) 

Adam Winters. “We were able to do some 

diving work, but surprisingly the CMO work 

turned out to be my favorite. It was not only 

great to get back into my rate a little more, but 

also have the satisfaction of seeing the kids.”

Philippines

Seabees in the

CE1 (SCW/DV) Adam Winters (right) hands UT2 (SCW/DV) Paul Oemish a rigging line for

the installation of concrete mats during construction of the boat ramp by UCT 2 in the

Philippines.

U.S. Navy photo

UCT 2 In two remote villages in Belize, Seabees from 

NMCB 133 are working hand-in-hand with combat engineers assigned to the Belize Defense Force (BDF). The 

Joint Task Force (JTF) operation provides humanitarian aid to 

economically challenged areas of Belize, specifically building six 

schools, and conducting dental and medical exercises for local 

communities. 

The BDF, headed by Brig. Gen. Lloyd Gillett, plays a key role 

in supporting the mission.

“At every project site we have eight BDF combat engineers 

assisting with the building program, but we also have BDF providing security at the different sites,” Gillett said. “In addition, we 

use it as an opportunity to train BDF soldiers in new building 

techniques.”

Seabees and the BDF exchange skills and construction techniques on the job site. The Seabees are able to teach BDF engineers how to operate certain pieces of equipment, while the BDF 

teaches the Seabees about Belizean culture. With this knowledge, 

the Seabees have built friendships with the local children who are 

always curious about the projects.

Builder Constructionman Curtis Phinisee, NMCB 133, commented on how the two elements of the JTF work together. 

“The BDF has their techniques that they show us and we 

have our techniques that we show them, so the trade is pretty 

good,” Phinisee said. “We have our part, they have their part.”

Each project is about a week ahead of schedule, which is a 

direct result of the strong team that Seabees have built with the 

BDF. Phinisee remarked on the teamwork that is evident on the 

projects. “We pretty much see everything eye-to-eye. We get in 

and help each other when needed,” he added.

The mission to build the schools will provide significant 

benefits to the children in the villages 

of Crooked Tree 

and Trial Farms. The 

Seabees are building a 

school in each village, 

where conditions are 

overcrowded at existing schoolhouses. 

The overcrowding is preventing many families from sending their children to school, according to Onesimo Pech, one of 

the teachers. “We have run out of space. In other words, all the 

classrooms are filled,” Pech said.

With the buildings completed in May, the schools will 

be able to increase enrollment in September, allowing more 

children access to education. There is a high demand for education, according to Pech, and there are lots of parents applying for 

their children to come to school.

Belize

Seabees in

Seabees and Belize Soldiers Build a Better Future	 By LTJG Paul McCord, NMCB 133

BU3 Timothy Whelehan, (front left) NMCB133, works with Belize soldiers during a concrete pour

at Crooked Tree, Belize, while curious local children look on. 

Photo by LTJG Paul McCord

NMCB133

Seabee Divers Return from the Philippines 	 	 	 	 	 By UCT 2 Public Affairs

SUMMER2007 23
NMCB 4 Blasts Rock into Gravel

By MCC (SW/AW) Steve Bansbach, NMCB 4

At Naval Base Guam’s Orote Point Quarry, Naval 

Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs) 4 and 74 

conducted a joint blast in April as part of turnover 

requirements.

Placed in holes that were drilled in a 5’x 5’ staggered pattern, 

1,000 pounds of explosive were detonated to create rock, gravel and 

sand for construction projects Seabees are completing for the naval 

base. 

Rock drillers are used to create holes within the rock, burrowing 

to the next benchmark some 25 feet down. Explosive handlers, nicknamed ‘Powder Monkeys,’ then safely place explosives inside the hole, 

preparing the rock formations for blasting. 

“These joint blasts are used so we can see how the rock breaks 

down and know what we are getting,” Chief Equipment Operator 

(SCW) Scott Baker, head blaster, said.

More than 15 personnel were on hand for the blast. Each battalion had two head blasters, two assistant blasters and four explosive 

handlers. Safety personnel and Orote Point facility managers were 

also on site.

“The whole point of blasting is to train the younger troops,” 

Equipment Operator 2nd Class (SCW) Daniel Romero said. “Blasting is 

a huge part of the Naval Construction Force. It’s almost tradition.”

After the blast, front-end loaders and bulldozers push the huge 

rocks, also called ‘Volkswagens,’ down each benchmark until they hit 

the floor of the quarry. From there they are transported to the Rock 

Crusher where the rocks will be crushed into usable material. The 

quarry also has a wash plant used to create sand. In order to segregate rocks from sand, they are fed up a conveyor belt where they are 

washed and agitated as the sand is sifted out.

During NMCB 4’s homeport, Construction Mechanic 2nd Class 

(SCW) Andrew Duchscher attended blasting school to learn how to 

safely handle explosives during his first deployment as a blaster. 

“I’m not really working in my rate this deployment, but it was 

pretty fun,” Duchscher said. “I get to blow stuff up. How cool is that!” 

SUMMER2007 25 24 Seabee Magazine

Battalion Updates:

SEABEES AROUND THE WORLD

NMCB 4

Seabees’ Humanitarian Efforts Hit

Close to Home

By Engineering Aid 3rd Class Marc N. Comaduran, NMCB 133

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa

At home and abroad, the Seabees of Naval Mobile 

Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 have demonstrated their skill and resourcefulness in all aspects of 

construction, disaster relief and humanitarian efforts. Those skill sets 

are on display in Djibouti and are vital to their mission in Africa.

The air detachment of NMCB 133, known as the ‘Kangaroos,’ 

deployed to Camp Lemonier on a humanitarian mission, and used 

the lessons and skills from their Hurricane Katrina relief operations 

to improve the quality of life in the Horn of Africa.

Utilitiesman 2nd Class Petty Officer (SCW) Bobbie Halford saw 

the Gulf Coast destruction firsthand and related her experiences to 

helping Africans in the Horn.

“Coming to Djibouti and seeing how the living conditions are 

here, I was reminded of seeing Gulfport for the first time after the 

storm,” Halford said. “I specifically remember starting our clean up 

back home and seeing how the community responded with so much 

gratitude. 

“We were there to help, and that’s just what we did. For the 

first time in my career, I felt as though my presence in the military 

was really needed and that we were really making a difference,” she 

continued. “I’ve always known that Seabees regularly get tasked with 

large-scale disaster relief and humanitarian efforts. Now coming 

here, I see so much of what we went through in the daily lives of the 

people in Djibouti.”

NMCB 133 Seabees worked daily to repair schools, drill clean 

water wells and improve roadways. In this foreign frontier, the challenges presented to NMCB 133, whether they come when putting a 

hammer to nail or putting aside a piece of equipment to take time 

to kick a soccer ball with local children, are similar to those the unit 

faced during post-Katrina operations.

For Halford, the work in Djibouti represents the best ideals of 

why she became a Seabee.

“This is my first deployment leaving my twin boys, who are 

almost three now,” she said. “Coming here and seeing the children 

and all of the people makes me wish I could help them all.

“This may very well be the most rewarding deployment I have 

ever been a part of,” Halford said.

Djibouti

Seabees in

Seabees Support Local School’s Science Fair

By MCC (SW/AW) Steve Bansbach, NMCB 4 Public Affairs

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 

(NMCB) 4 had the privilege of serving as judges for 

the Harry S. Truman Elementary School Science Fair in Guam on 

April 20, further supporting the Seabee relationship with the local 

community.

Eager to help out, NMCB 4 Seabees wanted to show they are 

here not only to complete construction projects, but also to continue the strong bond Seabees have with the people of Guam. 

“Seabees have provided services for us for several years,” said 

Elizabeth Reed, a Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) teacher. 

“They have been a big help to the community, and are very gracious 

and willing to volunteer.” 

More than 70 students entered this year’s science fair. Each 

project was graded on the originality of the concept, scientific 

method to prove the hypothesis, presentation clarity, conclusions, 

and the materials or methods used. 

“I enjoy doing these things,” Builder 1st Class (SCW) Bill 

Hillberg said. “This is a positive influence for the children of 

Guam.”

Fifth graders Britney 

Blou and Floretina Aguon 

worked on a project to see 

which contained more caffeine, Pepsi or Sprite. Both 

of them commented on how much the military helps at their 

school. 

“It is really cool to have them here. They asked good questions 

and I had fun,” Blou said. “They are really helpful for our school 

because some of us can’t really afford much,” Aguon added. 

Reed also believes the help Seabees provide isn’t just noticed 

at the school. “The military has a great impact not only here at the 

school, but in the community,” she said. “Seabees are playing a role 

in the community and doing their part to bring us all together.”

NMCB 4

NMCB133

h u m a n i t a r i a n

Seabees in Guam

(Opposite top left) A cloud of smoke and rock debris flies through

the air at Orote Point Mineral Product Facility, Guam Naval Base. 

(Opposite top right) EO3 Brandon Miller, NMCB 4, operates an

excavator, breaking larger boulders into sizes small enough to fit

in a rock crusher. 

(Opposite center) CE3 Jonathan Brace (left), NMCB 4, monitors

the primary rock crusher while CN Justin Dimmitt, NMCB 4, fills the

hopper with a front-end loader.

(Opposite bottom) CN Angel Garcia Jr., NMCB 4, “floats” crushed

rock in preparation for compaction at the Dadi Beach Road

Project.

Photos by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Rickie D. Bickle

NMCB 74
26 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 27

Christian had been exhibiting excessive 

bruising and petechiae (tiny red spots from 

shattered blood vessels) on his chest.

“You don’t live your life thinking 

about these diseases,” said Willey, formerly the resident engineer for the Basrah 

Children’s Hospital project. “The impact 

never hits you until it happens to you. And 

then, at first, you don’t believe it.”

The nightmare began in December 

2000, several days after Christmas, and it 

gave Willey a special motivation to see that 

the Basrah Children’s Hospital was built 

well.

Willey said Shereen had taken Christian 

to the doctor because they noticed the 

spots on his chest. Since it didn’t seem as 

if the child had chicken pox or measles, 

and Christian didn’t appear to be sick, 

they decided to wait until after the holiday 

to treat what they believed to be a benign 

condition.

“They took a blood sample from him, 

and the next thing I knew, I was riding 

in an ambulance to UCLA (University of 

California, Los Angeles) Medical Center 

and my son had a platelet count of eight,” 

Willey said. “A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000. He could have 

fallen off of his bicycle, bumped his head, 

and started bleeding internally. He could 

have passed away in his sleep.”

The bone marrow manufactures platelets, which circulate in the blood, forming 

clots to stop excessive bleeding. Christian 

had virtually none.

The next few years tested the Willeys, 

and their daughter Ashley (then six), as 

nothing else will. Through Christian’s chemotherapies, 24 spinal taps, countless CAT 

scans and hospitalizations, the Willey’s priorities changed rapidly and dramatically. 

Willey then found himself in a position 

he likes to call fate. As resident engineer in 

charge of the Basrah Children’s Hospital, a 

pediatric oncology facility, Willey was able 

to continue his battle against the disease 

that nearly killed his son.

Christian, now nine, has been in remission for four years, and today, the survival 

rate for ALL is 86 percent and rising.

“Basrah was chosen for this hospital 

for a specific reason,” Willey said. “In Iraq, 

the incidence of childhood cancer, most 

of it ALL, is eight times higher than in the 

west, and in Basrah that number is four 

times higher than in the rest of Iraq. One 

hundred fifty children out of 1,000 die 

before they reach five, mostly of ALL, and 

no one knows why. Diagnosed leukemia 

cases in Basrah have increased 70 percent 

since 1989.

“So this hospital project became really 

personal for me,” Willey said. “It was a 

fluke that I got that project. When I left 

Washington State where I was stationed 

P R O F I L E

with the Navy, I didn’t know what I would 

be doing, but I knew it would be in Basrah. 

I was able to give this project everything I 

knew — 20 years of construction experience. I was able to give something back.”

Willey explained that once completed 

the facility will accept referrals from clinics 

throughout Iraq for children who are diagnosed with diseases, such as ALL, that are 

beyond other clinics’ ability to treat.

“It (the hospital) will have specialists who can treat the childhood cancers 

and other conditions, such as neurological problems,” he said. “The hospital will 

have childhood cancer specialty clinics, 

capable of radiological treatments, chemotherapies, fluoroscopy, CAT scans and 

MRIs. There will be an intensive care unit 

that will treat and monitor children whose 

immune systems are exhausted by the treatments and are prone to infection because 

their bodies have lost the ability to stave off 

other diseases.”

Willey added that support functions 

will be an important part of the hospital’s 

services — support for parents and families 

who have been shattered by the diagnoses.

“Support becomes a way of life for 

the parents and the family,” he said. “In 

the States, there are groups of people who 

have had a child or a grandchild struck by 

this disease.” 

Willey noted that these groups are an 

important part of the treatment process, 

and he believes the hospital will generate 

the kind of spirit among the people of 

Basrah.

The hospital has been under construction for five years and has endured setbacks 

of funding and contractors. USACE continued the project after contractor Bechtel left 

the site, and Gulf Region South assumed 

oversight of the project. 

With three Jordanian contractors taking care of everything from equipment to 

design and construction, the site boasts 

from six to eight managers and a workforce 

that fluctuates between 400 and 550. The 

hospital should be completed by February 

2009.

Willey emphasized that while on site 

what motivated him to make the project 

succeed is the empathy he feels for the 

parents who are enduring what he, his wife, 

and son and daughter experienced.

“I want to continue to share my knowledge,” he said. “I know what this can mean 

to a family going through a tragedy. I’m 

going to go the extra mile and make every 

effort to close the gaps. We have a great 

construction team over there, and they will 

keep moving forward even though my tour 

there is finished.” 

A

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The very mention of the disease brings shudders of 

horror from parents of children two to five years old, who 

account for most of the disease’s victims. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for 80 percent of all childhood 

cancer, and also attacks adults over the age of 50.

Thirty years ago, the disease killed all but five percent of 

those who contracted it.

For Seabee LT Allen Willey, CEC, currently serving 

at NAVFAC Northwest, and his wife Shereen, the horror 

became a reality when their three-and-a-half year old son, 

Christian, received the devastating diagnosis. 

LT Allen Willey displays the photo of his wife and children on the computer in his office with Gulf Region South District, where he was

recently resident engineer for the Basrah Children’s Hospital project. 	 	 	 	 	 Photo by Betsy Weiner

Navy Officer Has Personal Reasons for Working on 

Basrah Children’s Hospital

By Betsy Weiner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region South District
28 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 29

By Petty Officer 1st Class Doug Morgan, NFELC

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command’s 

(NAVFAC’s) Mobile Utilities Support Equipment 

(MUSE) division tested and inspected emergency 

backup power critical to the disaster preparedness of many Department of Defense (DoD) 

facilities on Guam during a three-week project 

completed earlier this year.

“Guam goes through cycles of disasters and these units have 

been our lifelines,” said Mike Pangelinan, lead operator, Naval 

Computer and Telecommunications Station, on the value of the 

backup power during disasters such as Super Typhoon Pongsona 

in 2002.

Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Wright, detachment officer-incharge, and his crew of three technicians set their goals high in 

order to complete a 512-man-day tasking that encompasses rigorous 

mechanical and electrical inspections of two 2,000 kilowatt power 

generation plants, two 1,300 kilowatt power generation plants and 

one 2,500 kilovolt-amp substation. 

Through tasking as two separate teams, these well-trained 

technicians hit the pavement running determined to complete the 

recertification ahead of schedule.

Although the main power for the island originates from the 

Guam Power Authority, the MUSE power generation plants supply 

more than 6.6 megawatts of emergency backup critical load power 

to the many DoD facilities throughout the island. 

These installations include the NAVFAC Marianas, USS Frank 

Cable, Next-Generation Radar Weather Station and Commander 

Submarine Squadron 15.

Since 1992, the MUSE plants have proven reliable and trustworthy to restore power during outages of all kinds. 

Within minutes of being notified, trained operators of these 

massive machines can re-power the grid and bring life to all connected lines, from the piers of the Naval Station to the lights at the 

Nimitz Hill Golf Course — always remembering that critical loads 

come first. 

Over the years, MUSE technicians have traveled in support 

of DoD activities, contingencies and natural disasters around the 

world. Their job is to inspect, troubleshoot and operate the Navy’s 

highly technical and portable power generation plants. 

The MUSE goal is simple — to ensure that each piece of equipment in MUSE’s inventory, whether deployed or pre-staged at the 

MUSE yard, is ready to be deployed to any location around the 

world, whenever the need arises.

In order to meet that goal, MUSE teams are constantly on the 

move, ensuring that each piece of equipment receives the attention 

needed to preserve and prolong the life of these Navy assets.

Powering Up: A 2,000-kilowatt generator

from NAVFAC’s Mobile Utilities Support

Equipment (MUSE) division is inspected at

Naval Computer and Telecommunications

Main Station (NCTMS), Guam.

Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Doug Morgan

Navy MUSE Techs Ready Guam’s 

Emergency Backup Power 

TRAINING

Seabees Receive 3-Phase

Training in Homeport

A homeported Seabee battalion completes three training 

phases as it prepares for its next deployment: technical, 

military and skills attainment. The technical training phase 

emphasizes skills training by rate or trade. The military training phase is focused on combat skills. Skills attainment training (SAT) is focused on refining and rehearsing expertise 

based on the upcoming mission requirements in preparation 

for deployment.

NMCB 133 Seabees received their homeport training in 

late April. 

(Top left) NMCB 133 Seabees

perform journeyman-level welding

training as part of their homeport

technical training phase.

(Above) EOCN Noe Estradarebollar,

NMCB 133, cuts a flat-bottom

ditch with a D7 Dozer as part of

the Equipment Operator Seabee

Veteran Course.

(Left) Army and Navy Apprentice

Students place asphalt as part of

Builder Class ‘A’ School. Builder

students also receive training on

installing flooring, framing, roofing,

masonry and interior/exterior finish,

as well as other skills.

U.S. Navy photos

NMCB 133
Officers and chiefs from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 

1 recently sharpened their contingency operation skills during the 

week-long khaki field exercise (FEX), held at joint training facility 

Camp Shelby, Miss., in late April. 

“It puts the khakis in their troops’ positions,” said Utilitiesman 

Chief Tim Hittle, the R75 convoy security military operations urban 

terrain (MOUT) chief petty officer. “They set up wires, dig foxholes 

and do convoy operations so that they know what their troops go 

through.”

The rising heat and humidity made it a trying time for the 

NMCB 1 leadership early in the week; but with their ‘Can Do’ spirit, 

they pushed forward.

“It’s easy to dehydrate out here,” said Chief Construction 

Mechanic Ambrose Brown, Guam Company Alfa Four. “With all this 

gear on, if you’re not taking in fluids, it makes you very susceptible to 

becoming a heat casualty.”

Before actually starting training operations, officers and chiefs 

received a refresher on the basics of weapons familiarization, first aid 

and medical evacuation procedures.

As training was underway, the competition was not only against 

the heat and humidity of Camp Shelby, but also the khakis against one 

another. The Seabees were divided into seven teams to compete in a 

6.4-mile endurance course with each group performing specific tasks 

at different stations.

Some of the tasks included disassembling and reassembling 

weapons, mounting weapons on Humvees, entering radio frequencies 

and administering first aid. 

Mid-week, the khakis polished up on their radio skills in a communications exercise and kept watch throughout the night in patrolling exercises.

Showers and thunderstorms cooled down the field a bit as some 

Seabees drove Humvees through the Mississippi mud in convoy operations, while others slogged through the leadership reaction course.

Prior to heading back to Naval Construction Battalion Center 

(NCBC), Gulfport, Miss., the khakis concluded their FEX week with 

the engagement of targets on the Fire Arms Training Simulator 

(FATS) and a final exam. 30 Seabee Magazine

NMCB 1 Officers, Chiefs Team up in Khaki FEX	 	

By MC2 (SCW) Demetrius Kennon, NMCB 1 Public Affairs

Seabees attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 

(NMCB) 1 completed a training exercise with the Raydan Virtual 

Combat Convoy Trainer at Camp Shelby, Miss., earlier this year 

to further develop their tactical skills for the upcoming deployment to Iraq. 

Although they just recently returned from deployment in the 

Pacific, NMCB 1 eagerly took advantage of the resources of an 

adjacent unit to prepare its Seabees to meet upcoming deployment 

challenges. Much like a video game, the trainer allows service members to step into a virtual environment where they are called upon 

to respond as if in a real-life situation. 

Users are presented with various hazards, such as improvised 

explosive devices (IEDs), traffic problems and encounters with local 

nationals, where quickly distinguishing combatants from noncombatants is a lifesaving skill. Equipped with a gun turret, crew serve 

weapon and M-16s, each Humvee in the four-vehicle convoy transports the Seabees into a very realistic virtual environment.

“It was a great eye opener,” said Chief Builder (SCW) Louis 

Pambianco, one of two convoy commanders. 

Seabee battalions are generally responsible for providing 

advance base construction, battle damage repair, contingency engineering, humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery to fleet and 

unified commanders. Convoy security is vital, as civil engineer support equipment and construction materials are often required to be 

moved from one location to another. 

The training gave younger troops the opportunity to get 

their first taste of what it takes for a convoy security mission to 

be successful.

“This training was a great tool for us,” said Pambianco. “For 

many of the troops who don’t have prior convoy experience, this 

provided an opportunity for them to learn what to expect – to learn 

where their training needs to go.”

NMCB 1

(Above left) EOCS Mark Thomas (left) and CMC Ronaldo Rodriguez,

NMCB 1, use teamwork to maneuver a wooden plank during a training operations exercise at Camp Shelby, Miss.

Photo by MC2 (SCW) Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

(Above right) YNC Julie Long, NMCB 1, passes wooden planks

as team members stand by to bring her across an obstacle at the

leadership reaction course at Camp Shelby.

Photo by MC2 (SCW) Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

(Opposite, top left) LTJG Christopher Casne, NMCB 1, maintains

balance through a simulated river on the leadership reaction

course at Camp Shelby.

Photo by MC2 (SCW) Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

(Opposite, top right) YNSN Danellie Rivera, NMCB 1, connects her

headset to a radio at a field communications exercise held at NCBC

Gulfport, Miss.

Photo by MC2 Chad Runge 

(Opposite, bottom) BUCA Randy Smart, NMCB 1, scans his flanks

as the vehicle moves through the course on the Raydan Virtual

Combat Convoy Trainer earlier this year. NMCB 1 used the virtual

training exercise to provide a simulated environment for troops to

practice key skills in completing successful convoys.

Photo by MC2 (SCW) Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

NMCB 1 Takes First Steps Toward

Convoy Success

By MC2 (SCW) Ja’lon A. Rhinehart, NMCB 1 Public Affairs

TRAINING

SUMMER2007 31

Convoy

Simulator
SUMMER2007 33

(This spread)

(Top row, left) Bravo Company personnel stand security as a Seabee hastily digs a fighting position

during a three-week FEX at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., in April and May. 

Photo by LT Wallace M. Mattos

(Top row, right) Seabees from NMCB 40’s Charlie Company place triple strand concertina wire

while maintaining heightened security posture. The project was one of several permanent construction projects that NMCB 40 undertook as part of its battalion FEX.

Photo by BUC Eric Jovellanos

(Middle row, left) NMCB 40 Seabees clean their weapons prior to returning to the armory. 

Photo by LT Wallace M. Mattos

(Middle row, center) NMCB 40 Seabees launch a Bailey Bridge into position, one of several construction projects during the battalion field exercise.

Photo by MC2 Ian Lundy

(Middle row, right) Seabees from Charlie Company, NMCB 40, reconstruct a 15-ft. timber tower

after dismantling it for relocation. 

Photo by LT Wallace M. Mattos

(Bottom row, far left) EA3 Tewodros Seyoum, NMCB 40, conducts a land survey in preparation for

Echo Company’s Bailey Bridge placement.

Photo by MC2 Ian Lundy

(Bottom row, near left) Seabees from NMCB 40 place bolted fabric sections together during a

Rapid Runway Repair exercise. The training consisted of clearing the field of debris and simulated

unexploded ordnance, and filling two simulated bomb craters.

Photo by MC2 Ian Lundy

Fighting 40 Executes Field Exercise

Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 

40 participated in a three-week Field Exercise (FEX) at 

Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., to conduct construction and 

defensive operations in April and May. 

TRAINING

Construction/Defensive Ops

32 Seabee Magazine

NMCB 40
More than 

400 Seabees 

from Amphibious Construction Battalion 

(ACB) 2 and Construction Battalion 

Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 combined efforts for two weeks of Amphibious 

Excellence field training in March and April 

at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

The training program was designed around 

defending the primary mission of ACB 2: 

ship-to-shore movement of critical cargo. 

The three-phase scenario required the 

integrated unit to exercise tactical movement 

of battalion personnel and equipment to a 

Tactical Assembly Area, establish and maintain a defensive perimeter, and construct and 

maintain a base camp. Classroom and practical training were incorporated, including 

patrols and land navigation, convoy operations, and USMC-instructed hand-to-hand 

combat in preparation for the final tactical 

phase. 

During this phase, the training team 

implemented numerous tactical scenarios for 

the Seabees to use all newly acquired skills. 

Due to the tremendous motivation and focus 

of Seabees from ACB 2 and CBMU 202, the 

joint exercise proved to be a huge success for 

both sharpening their warfighter skills and 

expertise. 

(Clockwise from top left)

EN2 John Boiter receives and issues

instructions from the squad leader’s fighting position during a mock skirmish with

aggressors.

BMC Gary Jeter (right) issues orders to

Bravo Company front line as reinforcements run past during a mock aggressor

attack.

CMCN Franklin Cope demonstrates proper

use of a compass during a land navigation

exercise.

CM1 Wayne Espinoza (center), CBMU 202,

issues instructions while BU3 Brandon

Audie (left), CBMU 202, communicates

with the COC via radio and CM2 Michael

Phipps, ACB 2, remains focused on mock

aggressors during a security drill.

U.S. Navy photos

AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

34 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 35

Naval Facilities Engineering 

Command (NAVFAC) Southwest’s Commander Mark

Geronime received the 2006 Moreell 

Medal from the Society of American 

Military Engineers (SAME). 

As Public Works Operations Officer 

and Assistant Operations Officer, 

NAVFAC Southwest and Engineering 

Directorate Planning Branch Chief, and 

at the Combined Security Transition 

Command in Kabul, Afghanistan, 

CDR Geronime demonstrated extraordinary leadership, unmatched vision, 

boundless energy and superior technical expertise. 

His trailblazing contributions spearheaded the very 

complex, foundational planning that ensured the successful establishment of a regionally aligned, integrated 

facilities engineering command. His tenacious drive 

was critical to the successful integration of the former 

installation Public Works Departments into NAVFAC 

Southwest, the incorporation of more than $80 million 

worth of new business across five business lines, and 

the complex mapping of more than 500 personnel into 

the new integrated command. 

While serving with the Combined 

Security Transition Command in 

Kabul, his exceptional work resulted 

in the planning and execution of $475 

million in infrastructure development 

supporting the stand-up of the Afghan 

National Army and Police, including 

spearheading the design and construction of the National Military Command 

Center in less than 90 days. His tireless efforts and devotion to duty have 

made immeasurable positive impacts 

on the operation of the Navy and 

Marine Corps Shore Infrastructure and have directly and 

significantly advanced operations in the Global War on 

Terror.

The Moreell Medal is presented annually by SAME 

to an officer of the Navy CEC, regular or reserve, on 

active or inactive duty or retired, or to a civilian employee of NAVFAC in recognition of outstanding contribution 

to military engineering. The award is named for Admiral 

Ben Moreell, founder of the Seabees in the early days 

of World War II.

NAVFAC Southwest CEC Officer Receives 2006 Moreell Medal

By NAVFAC Headquarters Public Affairs

Rear Admiral Greg Shear, 

NAVFAC Commander and 

Chief of Civil Engineers, named 

the winners of two major awards for 

2006 — Naval Mobile Construction 

Battalion (NMCB) 133 earned the 

Society of American Military Engineers’ 

(SAME) Rear Admiral Eugene J. Peltier 

Award, and NMCB 25 earned the Chief 

of Civil Engineers’ Rear Admiral John R. 

Perry Award.

The recipients of the 2006 Peltier 

Award for the most outstanding active 

component NMCB are the ‘Runnin’ 

Roos’ of NMCB 133. The men and 

women of NMCB 133 conducted 

disaster recovery operations following 

Hurricane Katrina, provided expeditionary construction and combat service support in Iraq and Afghanistan, 

as well as exercise-related construction as part of U.S. Pacific Command’s 

theater cooperation plan. In applying 

excellent small unit leadership, emphasizing safety and “every Seabee a 

leader,” as well as superbly completing all requested taskings, NMCB 133 

exemplified the renowned “Can Do” 

spirit of the Seabees. 

The 2006 Perry Award recipients 

for the most outstanding reserve component NMCB are the ‘Spades and 

Clubs’ of NMCB 25. The men and 

women of NMCB 25 mobilized and 

deployed to support Operations Iraqi 

Freedom and Enduring Freedom. 

Providing contingency construction 

and combat service support, the battalion deployed an unprecedented 

503 Seabees throughout Iraq and 

Afghanistan. Operating in a highly challenging environment, superior small 

unit leadership, exceptional command 

and control, and thorough preparation ensured every assigned mission 

was a success. Severely tested in 

demanding and uncertain operating 

environments, NMCB 25 adapted and 

overcame every obstacle it faced, 

clearly upholding the highest traditions 

of the Seabees. 

Named for two legendary and 

distinguished CEC/Seabee leaders, the 

Peltier and Perry awards recognize the 

most outstanding Naval Construction 

Battalions in the active and reserve 

components. Units selected for this 

prestigious award are recognized leaders in the Naval Construction Force 

in leadership, readiness, construction 

accomplishments, equipment management, logistics programs, retention and 

safety. 

Peltier and Perry Award Recipients Announced By NAVFAC Headquarters Public Affairs

Little Creek-based Seabees Exercise Critical Mission Areas

By MC2 Leslie Long, ACB 2

U.S. Navy photo

TRAINING

Ship-to-Shore Cargo Transport

ACB 2 CBMU 202
Seabee Named

Fort Leonard Wood

Joint Service NCO of the Year

By MC1 (SW/AW) John Osborne, 

Naval Personnel Development Command 

Public Affairs, and EQCM (SCW) 

Tom Kirkle, Center for Seabees 

and Facilities Engineering, 

Detachment Fort Leonard Wood

Builder 1st Class Jeffrey E. Owens, 

Center for Seabees and Facilities 

Engineering (CSFE), Detachment 

Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., was selected as 

the Fort Leonard Wood Joint Service 

Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. 

Maj. Gen. William McCoy, Jr., commanding 

general of Fort Leonard Wood, awarded the 

Army Commendation Medal to Owens for 

his exemplary performance before the Joint 

Service NCO board. Petty Officer Owens, 

a native of nearby Lebanon, 

Mo., is the first Sailor to win 

this recognition since the Navy 

Detachment was established 

in 1995. 

While assigned to CSFE 

Detachment Fort Leonard 

Wood, Owens had been 

an instructor for the Disaster 

Preparedness Operations 

Specialist course and is currently serving 

as a Sailor Development Continuum (SDC) 

Leading Petty Officer for the Engineering Aide 

and Equipment Operator “A” Schools. 

Prior to his accomplishments at Fort 

Leonard Wood, Owens was a member of the 

base closure and realignment crew at Naval 

Air Station Adak, Alaska; deployed to Korea 

and Japan as a member of Naval Mobile 

Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74; and during 

an assignment with the Naval Support Unit, 

State Department, he was stationed in the 

Philippines where he made numerous trips 

throughout Southeast Asia in support of U.S. 

consulates and embassies. During this period 

he also found time to earn an associate’s 

degree from Park University in Construction 

Management.

“I’ve always tried to be well-rounded, and 

be the best at everything I do,” Owens said. 

“I know that younger Sailors are watching me 

and that I have to set an example for them. I try 

to always show them the right things to do to 

have a successful career; and when they look 

at my career, I hope they see that.”

36 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 37

STEELWORKER 2ND CLASS

ROBERT E. Stethem Award

Chief Petty Officer (SCW) Phillip W.

Earhart, CEC, NMCB 1 

Chief Petty Officer 

Phillip Earhart served 

as detail operations officer for the 

Seabee augment 

force as-signed to 

the Navy Provisional 

Detainee Battalion 

in Fort Suse and 

Camp Bucca, Iraq, with NMCB 1, and as 

the convoy commander for Task Force 

26 operating in hostile regions throughout 

northern Iraq. His prior efforts in executing an aggressive internal training program were evidenced in the extremely high 

standards for operational readiness and 

training, tactics and procedures achieved 

during the mission. His take-charge leadership and decisiveness under fire were 

crucial while he commanded more than 

110 convoys, including the safe convoy 

transport of more than 1,400 detainees 

during the depopulation and closure of Fort 

Suse. Earhart also served as the assistant 

civil-military operations coordinator for Task 

Force 26, where he supervised the distribution of more than 3,000 pounds of school 

supplies, clothing and sports equipment 

to local Iraqi villages, winning hearts 

and minds, and greatly enhancing relations among coalition forces and the local 

population.

Named for Steelworker 2nd Class (DV) 

Robert Dean Stethem, the award recognizes 

outstanding individual moral courage in 

support of the traditions of the Seabees while 

in the course of actual operations. Petty 

Officer Stethem was a victim of the hijacking 

of TWA Flight 847 in June 1985, after being 

singled out from passengers as a U.S. Navy 

Sailor and killed when terrorist demands 

were not met. He was returning home with 

fellow members of UCT 2 after completing a 

routine assignment in Greece. 

REAR ADMIRAL 

LEWIS B. COMBS AWARD

Builder 1st Class (SCW)

Grant C. Glover, NMCB 4

BU1 Grant Glover served as detachment 

operations chief, detail assistant officerin-charge and command Seabee combat 

warfare program coordinator for NMCB 4 

in 2006. He planned and executed deployment of a 37-Seabee team to northern 

Pakistan in support of Operation Lifeline to 

conduct cleanup and 

engineering relief 

operations in response to an international call for aid 

following an earthquake that devastated the Kashmir region. While serving 

as both the assistant 

officer-in-charge and operations chief of 

a construction detail in Atsugi, Japan, he 

led the layout and placement of foundations and structural work for a new aircraft 

maintenance facility for Naval Air Forces 

Pacific, pushing production from 16 percent 

behind to four percent ahead of schedule 

accomplished in a 45-day period, all while 

maintaining superior quality and job site 

safety reflected by zero incidents or discrepancies. 

This award is named in honor of RADM 

Lewis B. Combs and is presented to an individual who has made the most outstanding contribution in perpetuating the legacy of the Seabees 

and the Civil Engineer Corps. Combs served as 

chief deputy to Admiral Ben Moreell, founder 

of the Seabees, and helped create the “fighter 

builders” and the Civil Engineer Corps. He was 

active with the Seabee Memorial Scholarship 

Association from its inception in 1970, first as 

Chairman of the Board of Directors and later 

as Chairman Emeritus, until his death at age 

101. 

Editor’s Note: In addition to receiving the Combs 

Award, BU1 Glover was selected in January as the 

1st Naval Construction Division’s 2007 Sea Sailor 

of the Year.

CONSTRUCTION MECHANIC 

3RD CLASS 

MARVIN G. SHIELDS AWARD

Builder 1st Class (SCW)

Jonathan D. Eisfelder, NMCB 4

Petty Officer Jonathan Eisfelder’s inspirational leadership and stalwart dedication 

have been instrumental to the successful standup of the Navy’s first Provisional 

Detainee Battalion in Iraq, a major Navy initiative in the Global War on Terror and one 

of the Chief of Naval Operations’ highest 

priority missions. Serving as air detachment 

platoon commander, security platoon chief 

and the most junior tactical convoy commander in the region, Eisfelder ensured total 

success of every mission. A seasoned veteran of 150 convoy missions in Iraq, security operations at Forward Operating Base 

Suse, training operations during homeport, 

and extensive humanitarian outreach efforts 

at home and abroad, 

Eisfelder has clearly 

distinguished himself 

as a leader of leaders. 

This award is 

presented for outstanding technical 

and leadership ability, and is given in 

honor of Construction Mechanic 3rd Class 

Marvin Shields, a 26-year-old Seabee serving in Vietnam with NMCB 11 in 1965. 

Shields’ unit, along with Army Special 

Forces and South Vietnam Defense personnel, came under attack by 2,000 Viet Cong 

and, although greatly outnumbered, withstood intense close-range combat for almost 

three hours. Shields and an Army lieutenant volunteered to man a rocket launcher, 

destroying an enemy machine gun position.

Despite repeatedly being hit, Shields fought 

on until he was mortally wounded; he died 

the following day while being evacuated by 

helicopter.

Seabees from NMCB 1 and NMCB 4 Receive

2006 Stethem, Combs and Shields Awards

By NAVFAC Headquarters Public Affairs

NAVFAC Commander and Chief of Civil Engineers Rear Adm. Greg Shear announced

the recipients of the 2006 Stethem, Combs and Shields Awards. These annual awards are

presented by the Civil Engineer Corps and Seabee Historical Foundation to recognize

individual contributions to the legacy of the Seabees and to the Civil Engineer Corps.

U.S. Navy photos

U.S. Navy photo

N E W S B R E A K

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction 

Battalion (NMCB) 4 participated in a local 

aluminum can recycling drive with Harry S. 

Truman School in Guam on May 12.

The Truman school had been collecting and saving aluminum cans for just over 

two weeks, and asked NMCB 4 to help 

transport the cans to a local recycling center. “The Seabees have been partners with 

the school for a long time,” said Rebecca 

North, a member of the recycling team. 

“They have always been there for us fixing things, painting and tutoring. They are 

there for us and we love it.” 

Ready with a Large Tactical Cargo 

Truck, four Second Class Petty Officers 

headed out to the school. “The school 

had been collecting the cans for awhile,” 

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Angela 

Kennedy said. “We gathered up all the 

cans and loaded them up onto the truck, 

and took them to the recycling center.”

“The group was really a fun bunch,” 

North said. “They had fun helping us out.”

The Truman school held this drive to 

raise awareness for the students showing 

them that by making a conscious effort 

they can keep recyclables out of their 

landfills, while raising money for books 

and other school activities. The class that 

brought in the most cans won a pizza 

party.

NMCB 4 transported more than 1,000 

pounds of recyclable material, helping 

the school earn approximately $400. The 

money raised from this project will go 

toward school activities.

“We have a lot of respect and admiration for the Seabees. They are always willing to come out and help us accomplish 

what we would not be able to accomplish 

on our own,” North noted. 

NMCB 4 Helps Keep Guam’s Environment Clean

By MCC (SW/AW) Steve Bansbach, NMCB 4

NMCB 4 assisted students at Harry S. Truman School in Guam during an aluminum can

recycling drive in mid-May. Seabees who helped transport more than 1,000 pounds

of aluminum to a local recycling plant included (from left to right) EO2 (SCW) Daniel

Romero, EO2 (SCW) Karl Tischer, EO2 (SCW/AW) Francis Villareal, and HM2 Angela

Kennedy. 

U.S. Navy photo
The Seabees of Naval 

Mobile Construction 

Battalion (NMCB) 133 and 

their reserve counterparts 

with NMCB 26 competed 

in the Spirit of St. Louis 

Half Marathon in Kuwait 

on April 20 against service 

members from various 

countries.

Of the approximately 

670 participants, close to 

650 finished the 13.1-mile 

race. Between the two 

battalions, 19 members 

participated and all finished in less than three 

hours.

Utilitiesman Constructionman Jonathan Cox 

and Builder Constructionman Bobby Gaskin were 

the top finishers from 

NMCB 133 at 22nd and 

23rd, respectively, in their 

age group, both completing the race in 1:42:42. 

Yeoman 1st Class Eric 

Anglikowski, NMCB 26, 

finished first in the walking portion of the race in 

2:34:43.

Some participants ran 

alone, while others preferred to run with fellow 

competitors, citing additional morale and support 

as defining factors in their 

success.

Information Systems 

Technician 3rd Class Larry 

McVay ran by himself, 

preferring the company of 

music.

“It helped to just 

drown out everything and 

keep a good rhythm,” 

McVay said.

Information Systems 

Technician Chief 

Fisackerly Evans ran 

alongside two fellow 

Seabees from start to 

finish.

“I believe running in a 

group with shipmates was 

helpful because we were 

able to keep each other 

motivated,” said Evans.

Running a half marathon requires a good deal 

of mental determination, 

according to Storekeeper 

2nd Class Alexandre 

Struk, who paired with 

Construction Electrician 

2nd Class Herschell 

Newhouse for the run.

“We talked a lot for the 

first 10 miles, so it wasn’t 

too bad,” said Struk. “By 

about [mile] 11 or 12, it 

got kind of bad.”

Ultimately, meeting 

the challenge motivated 

Struk to complete the full 

13.1 miles.

“I just thought, ‘I can’t 

quit now. I’ve got to finish,’” Struk said.

While completing the 

half marathon was a great 

achievement for most, 

others intend to reach 

even higher goals. McVay 

aspires to run an entire 

marathon someday.

“I would really like to 

train for a full marathon and 

up the challenge,” he said.

Whether running a half 

marathon or not, the participants agree that being 

fit is what counts.

“Staying in shape is 

very important,” Evans 

said. “Not only while 

you’re in the Navy, but 

throughout life.”

N E W S B R E A K

38 Seabee Magazine SUMMER2007 39

N E W S B R E A K

NMCBs 26, 133 Seabees Go the Distance By MC3 Jessica A. McIver, NMCB 133

(At left) BUCN Bobby Gaskin (left) and UTCN Jonathan Cox,

NMCB 133, push out the final yards of the 13.1-mile Spirit of St.

Louis Half Marathon held on Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Cox and

Gaskin were the top finishers from NMCB 133 at 22nd and 23rd,

respectively, in their age group, both completing the race in

1:42:42.

(Above) Members of NMCB 133 pose for a group photo before

the start of the Spirit of St. Louis Half Marathon. Along with

their reserve counterparts in NMCB 26, NMCB 133 Seabees

competed against service members from various countries. Of

the approximately 670 participants, close to 650 finished the

13.1-mile race.

Photos by MC1 Nicholas Lingo

The Navy’s Core Values 

are quite similar to those 

of the Boy Scouts of 

America. The Boy Scouts 

teach loyalty, honesty 

and helpfulness — just as 

the Navy does. So when 

Sailors from Naval Mobile 

Construction Battalion 

(NMCB) 40 volunteered 

earlier this year at the 

Boy Scout Winter Camp 

at Three Falls in Camp 

Frazier, Calif., it wouldn’t 

be a surprise if the two 

groups hit it off well. 

Over the weekendlong event, the Scouts 

participated in winter survival fire building, basic 

first aid, tower climbing 

and rappelling to name 

a few of the activities. At 

the fire building course, 

Chief Petty Officer (Ret.) 

Thomas Rolls taught the 

Scouts the trick to starting 

a fire. 

“Moss, horse hair, 

cattle hair — I carry horse 

hair. I find that works best 

for me,” said Rolls about 

his formula for starting a 

fire with a fire piston, a 

technique he discovered 

in the Philippines some 

years back. 

While the Scouts 

learned an interesting 

way to build a fire, they 

also learned about taking pride in what they do. 

“The satisfaction of having a fire piston is the fact 

that you built it yourself 

and you’re capable of 

using it,” Rolls explained 

to the Scouts. 

Little nuances like 

this were exactly what 

Senior Chief Petty Officer 

Arthur Messer and the 

rest of the organizers of 

this winter camp envisioned the Scouts learning from this training.

Messer’s goal was to 

show the campers one of 

the finer sides of the military. “I wanted the kids 

to see that the military 

does more than shoot 

guns and get involved in 

war,” Messer said. “The 

military has some very 

valuable skills it passes 

to its troops that can be 

transferred to civilian life 

in instruction and everyday existence.”

Messer has a son 

in Troop 225 (one of the 

troops participating), so 

he’s been involved with 

the Boy Scouts for a 

while. He decided to take 

his involvement one step 

further by showing some 

of his fellow Sailors how 

easy it is to volunteer and 

give something special 

back to the community 

through the Scouts.

Senior Chief also 

mentioned that it gave the 

Seabees the opportunity 

to see how the children 

react to them; it let them 

see the wheels turn in the 

children’s heads about 

possible life/career choices for themselves.

Petty Officer 

3rd Class Joerge Temple, 

NMCB 40, a volunteer at 

the camp, experienced 

this personally. “This 

was a lot of fun. The 

kids come around and 

ask you about being 

a Seabee, and they all 

have positive attitudes,” 

Temple said. “It’s great.”

Boy Scouts Partner with Seabees in the Great Outdoors

By MC2 Ian P. Lundy, NMCB 40 Public Affairs

CM3 Josh Phillips (far

left), NMCB 40, helps hoist

a Boy Scout onto a climbing wall during a confidence building course at

Camp Three Falls in Camp

Frazier, Calif.

Photo by MC2 Ian P. Lundy
2 0 0 7 

SEABEE REUNIONS N E W S B R E A K

40 Seabee Magazine

N E W S B R E A K

As I prepare to complete my tour and leave active duty service, I want to once again express my 

appreciation to all Seabees around the world today, tirelessly doing the jobs that your nation has 

called you to perform. I took the helm at 1st Naval Construction Division in November 2004, and 

time has gone by quickly. Your “Can Do” spirit has been a source of inspiration to me and to everyone with 

whom you have come in contact. We all appreciate each and every one of you.

The accomplishments of the Seabees during this period have been phenomenal, and I am proud 

to have served with you. Your critical support in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait has been particularly inspirational. You have repaired roads and other infrastructure, and made bases and camps safer by hardening 

facilities for the troops. Seabees have also helped construct forward operating bases and other critical 

facilities throughout the U.S. Central Command region. All of us who serve will never forget the sacrifices 

of those who have been killed or wounded in this conflict. Nor will we forget the courage and determination of those Seabees who carried on and completed vital work despite these losses.

Seabees have also helped people around the world in places like Djibouti, Pohnpei, 

Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Bangladesh and Kenya. By offering the hand of friendship and 

compassion to those in need, you have given hope to countless people while also helping 

stop the spread of terrorism.

Although there were many memorable events during the past few years, one in 

particular that stands out was your performance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 

Your response was one of the most inspirational demonstrations of Seabee spirit ever 

witnessed. Our Seabees, many of whom had lost their own homes, selflessly offered to 

help others rebuild their lives in the Gulf Coast region. And, if that was not enough, 

some of these same Seabees deployed halfway around the world to help earthquake 

victims in Pakistan. Reserve Component and Pacific-based Seabees pitched in to help 

their Gulfport counterparts, and other Seabees in Iraq delayed their own homecoming 

in order to give their comrades in Gulfport more time to get their homes in order before 

deploying. 

In the process, you racked up another impressive set of statistics for the history books by repairing 

more than 100 schools, removing 20,000 tons of debris, clearing 750 miles of roads, delivering more than 

100,000 gallons of fuel and water, repairing 160 sewage lift stations and 200 water main breaks, and building a tent city to house 1,000 people. 

Your response to that event symbolizes what makes Seabees so special. Helping others in their time of 

need, getting the job done despite all obstacles, and taking care of our own — that’s what being a Seabee 

is all about. Your leadership, courage and dedication at all levels was absolutely awe-inspiring.

As Seabees, you will see and experience things that most people can only imagine. You will travel the 

world and forge bonds of friendship with your shipmates and with people from other cultures. Whether 

improving living conditions for fellow service members at a base camp or providing a source of clean drinking water to a remote African village, you can rest well in the knowledge that you have made someone’s life 

a little better. I encourage all of you to take the time to truly appreciate this Seabee life you have chosen, 

because the journey will be over before you know it.

As my transition approaches, I also can’t help but think about the many wonderful people who 

supported me throughout my career. From my earliest assignment at Parris Island, to my most recent 

tour as Division Commander, I recognize I owe much to many people. None of us reaches his goals in life 

without the help of those we meet along the way, and I have been truly blessed in that respect. I will soon 

leave with boxes of mementoes accumulated through the years, but my most treasured possessions will be 

the memories of all the Seabees who make up the greatest construction force in the world. They are gifts 

that will neither tarnish nor fade.

RADM Rich Cellon assumes command of 1NCD on June 29, and this great Seabee will lead you 

through even greater achievements as a Force. I have no doubt that you will give him your full support and 

effort as he sets the direction of the Naval Construction Force for the coming years.

Once again, I want to thank each and every one of you for enriching my life. Hoorah, Seabees!

F I N A L W O R D

U.S. Navy photo

By RADM Robert L. Phillips, CEC, USN

Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division

Construimus Batuimus.

The Chief of Naval 

Information (CHINFO) 

presented the 2006 Merit 

Awards for exemplary 

achievements in internal 

media print and broadcast 

products by Navy commands and individuals. The 

following Seabees and battalions received awards in 

these categories:

Feature Article

2nd place:

MC1 (SCW) Leslie A. 

Shively, NMCB 22

Photojournalism

1st place:

MC2 Ja’lon A. Rhinehart, 

NMCB 1

Familygram

(Large Command)

1st Place: Focus on Four, 

NMCB 4

2nd Place: The One and 

Only, NMCB 1

Cruisebook

(Large Command)

1st Place: NMCB 7

 Honorable Mention: 

NMCB 4

Congratulations!

Seabees win 

2006 chinfo 

merit awards

By NAVFAC Headquarters 

Public Affairs

AUGUST

29th NCB

Aug. 2-5

Alton, IL 

Art Grotto

11308 Moraine Dr., Unit E

Palos Hills, IL 60465

708-974-3691

agrotto@sbcglobal.net

NSVA National Convention

Aug. 8-12

Covington, KY 

Jerry Cox

1379 Lakeshore Dr.

Monroe, OH 45050

513-360-3430

seabee6@cinci.rr.com

56th NCB

Aug. 30 – Sept. 2

Odessa, TX

Peggy McCulloch

1410 Fargo Ave.

Odessa, TX 79761

432-366-6625

SEPTEMBER

CBMU 536/ CBMU 537

Sept. 5-9 

Indianapolis, IN 

Milton Sklut 

16544 Ember Glen Rd

Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

626-336-8109

107th NCB

Sept. 6-9 

Asheville, NC 

Jim Weller

184 Carrier Rd.

Crescent City, FL 32112

386-698-3093

116th NCB (WWII)

Sept. 6-9 

Coeur D Alene, ID 

William Appel

1000 Kings Hwy., # 285

Port Charlotte, FL 33980

941-235-1923

WappeL1@earthlink.net

62nd NCB (WWII)

Sept. 7-9 

Peoria, IL 

V.P. “Joe” Johansen

502 South 1st St. 

Fertile, IA 50434

303-949-3944

wandajohansen@msn.com

NMCB 62

Sept. 11-13 

Gulfport/Biloxi, MS 

Dennis Wasson

1639 Marion Waldo Rd., Lot 6

Marion, OH 43302

740-389-2640

cd2wasson@yahoo.com

NMCB 3

Sept. 13-16 

Washington, DC 

Phil Weatherwax

1786 Shady Oak Ct.

Azusa, CA 91702

626-969-1841

pweatherwax@earthlink.net 

28th SPNCB

Sept. 13-16 

South Bend, IN 

Jim McDonald

8298 Windermere Landing

Paw Paw Lake

Watervliet, MI 49098

jblatchmcd@parrett.net

63rd NCB Assoc.

Sept. 14-16 

Kansas City, MO 

Ms Anita Crowley

1305 SW 22nd St.

Blue Springs, MO 64015

816-228-5512

72nd NCB (WWII)

Sept. 20-23 

Nashville, TN 

Bob Adams

8905 Richmond Rd.

Union, KY 41091

859-384-8905

silverscreen@fuse.net

33rd NCB

Sept. 23-26 

Newport, RI 

Paula Ogden

147 Bobble Hill Rd.

Lincoln, RI 02865

401-722-5208

pogden@massbay.edu

43rd NCB

Sept. 25-27 

Myrtle Beach, SC 

Tony Percoco

73 Westwood Ave.

Ellenville, NY 12428

845-647-6092

tvtoursinc@yahoo.com

CBMU 539

Sept. 25-29 

Saint Charles, MO

John Snell

40289 Via Calidad

Murrieta, CA 92562

951-894-6738

jacksnell@aol.com

103rd NCB

Sept. 26-28 

Branson, MO 

Lynn Abbott

2545 Fairway Dr.

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

719-635-2137

Lynn@texasabbotts.com

NMCB 9

(All Seabees Welcome) 

Sept. 27-30 

Las Vegas, NV 

Bobby Fletcher

1758 Golden Vista Dr.

Las Vegas, NV 89123

702-897-6613

ICHIBANSeabee@aol.com

119th NCB

Sept. 27-30 

Evansville, IN 

Adam Belajac

2368 Tilbrook Rd.

Monroeville, PA 15146

412-373-6283

abelajac119cb@webtv.net

CBMU 202/CBU 408

NMCB 12/13/19/27

7th/21st NCR

(All Seabees Welcome)

Sept. 28-30 

Lowell, MA 

Bill Napert

65 Bigelow St.

Fall River, MA 02720

508-672-2737

Bnapert@aol.com

CBMU 627/628/629

114th NCB (WWII)

Sept. 30 – Oct. 4 

Charleston, SC 

Sharon A. Tolisano

2829 Wedgefield Rd.

Georgetown, SC 29440

843-520-5867

satolisano@aol.com

OCTOBER

NMCB 1 (All Eras)

Oct. 5-8 

Nashville, TN 

Peter Dowd

89 Edward Rd.

Marshfield, MA 02050

781-837-0393

Mcb1reunion@verizon.net

3rd NCB (WWII)

Oct. 7-10 

Flagstaff, AZ 

Horace Johnson

P.O. Box 91359

Austin, TX 78709

512-288-2078

NMCB 2 (Korea)/CBMU 577

CBD 1802/1804

CBMU 1/101

Oct. 20-23 

Saint Louis, MO 

Scott Williams

725 Summer Ridge Dr.

Villa Rica, GA 30180

770-456-4246

williash@aol.com

For complete list of reunions, 

visit www.allseabees.com 

or the Seabee Historical 

Foundation at 

www.seabeehf.org. 

6TH ANNUAL ALL SEABEE

REUNION

Sept. 11-13, 2007

(Recommissioning of NMCB 11 

on Sept. 14)

Gulfport, MS

Participating Battalions and 

Contacts

MCB 11 – ALL ERAS

Larry Hagler

P.O. Box 4647

Lago Vista, TX 78645-0055

512-267-8873

mcb11.reunion@earthlink.net

1st ALL SEABEE REUNION

– EAST COAST

Feb. 22-24, 2008

Hampton, VA 

Ed Kloster

mccb@earthlink.net
NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND

SEABEE MAGAZINE (Code PA)

1322 Patterson Avenue, SE

Suite 1000

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5065

Commander, NMCB 1, CDR Dean A. Tufts

(left) leads the battalion in a force march in

late May in Gulfport, Miss., while in

mission-oriented protective posture

(MOPP) four to help acclimate the Seabees

with performing regular activities within

a potentially contaminated environment.

NMCB 1 prepared for an upcoming field

exercise, Operation Desert Heat, designed

to sharpen the battalion’s combat and contingency construction capabilities.

Photo by MC2 Ja’lon A. Rhinehart

 SEABEE SNAP SHOT