Friday, Feb. 24, 2006
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Seabee: A solid history of construction By JO2(AW) Honey Nixon, Public Affairs Office
Many active-duty service members leave their legacy only in history books and memories. However, Naval Construction Battalions or “Seabees” leave buildings, roads and construction projects behind as tangible “footprints” of their military efforts around the globe. To commemorate these efforts, area Seabees will celebrate 64 years of service at the annual GTMO Seabee Ball Feb. 24, at the Windjammer Club. March 5, 1942, is recognized as the official birthday of the Seabees, after Rear Adm. Ben Moreell, Chief of the Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks, pushed for construction battalions who could defend both themselves and their projects abroad, something civilian contractors couldn’t do. Approximately 325,000 Seabees served during World War II, fighting and building on six continents and more than 300 islands, mostly in the Pacific. The Seabee battalions followed on the heels of Marines, building major airstrips, bridges, roads, storage tanks, hospitals and housing. After World War II, the Seabees were trimmed down to 3,300 active-duty members and were organized into two types of units: Amphibious Construction Battalions (PHIB CBs) and Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs). With the onset of the Korean War, more than 10,000 Seabees were called to active duty. They fought heavy ocean tides and enemy fire alongside assault troops, and quickly built causeways hours after landing at Inchon. Their actions at this and other landings proved the worth of Seabees, and there was no demobilization at the
conflict’s end. Following the Korean war, the Seabees provided humanitarian support and disaster relief to Greece in 1953 after a devastating earthquake and construction work and training to undeveloped countries. The Seabees continued this trend, improving roads, orphanages and public utilities in remote parts of the world, earning them the nickname, “the Navy Peace Corps.” During Vietnam, Seabees numbers increased once more from 9,400 in 1965 to 26,000 in 1969, providing manpower for the construction of airstrips, camps, hospitals, roads exchanges, towers and more. Again, the Seabees fought alongside Marines and Army soldiers fending off enemy forces. In 1971, the Seabees began their massive construction project on Diego Garcia. The project lasted more than 11 years and cost $200 million, and the base proved invaluable during the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The Seabees are actively involved in the Global War on Terrorism, repairing runways, aircraft-parking aprons, munitions storage areas, bridges and camps. Their renovations to schools and municipal facilities also provide support for Iraqi people in need. The Seabees not only leave their mark on the Global War on Terrorism, but also on smaller day-to-day missions at bases around the globe. Here at Guantanamo Bay, the Seabee mission is two-fold – the Self-Help Division of Public Works, and a rotating Naval Mobile Construction Battalion. The Self-Help division of
Photo by JO2(AW) Honey Nixon
CMCN Jon Nelson, with NMCB-7, performs a routine vehicle maintenance check. Public Works supports the station and its facilities, and ensures the upkeep of buildings and grounds of the command, says BUC(SCW) David Tyson, the Self-Help leading chief petty officer. Station Seabees are also currently renovating Philips Park, which will be used for change of command ceremonies. Some additions will include a stage, ceremonial cabana, and walkways, all constructed by Seabee hands. NMCB-7's Officer in Charge, CEC (SCW) Al Jones, said the current Seabee detachment, homeported in Gulfport, Miss., works on larger scale projects throughout GTMO. Current projects include reconstruction of the GTMO River Bridge, refurbishment of all perimeter roads on both Windward and
Leeward side, and reconstruction of the refueling pier. Although Jones and his team of 25 men and women are deployed to GTMO for six months, they could rotate with battalions currently deployed in the Middle East. Jones draws pride from the self-sufficient reputation the Seabees have built throughout war and peacetime. He knows being a Seabee is more than just building bridges. “We can be anywhere in the world in 48 hours and be totally self-sufficient,” he said. “We are very proud of that. We bring all our own equipment and have everything we need to build and fight. “‘We build, we fight,’ that’s our motto, and that’s not just a cliché. We live that."
