Chapter 2 | |||
United
States Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Eleven (NMCB-11) |
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6 July 1953 |
By direction
of the Chief of Naval Operations, on 6 July 1953, U.S. Naval Mobile
Construction Battalion Eleven (NMCB-11) was established under a commanding
officer effective 5 July 1953. As previously noted, NMCB-11 is not directly
related to the 11th NCB commissioned during World War II. It is
included here as part of the family of battalions with the number “eleven.” |
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15 July 1953 |
LT Fritz H.
Hediger, CEC, USNR, was acting commanding officer, NMCB-11. |
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August 1953 |
LCDR Allison
D. Froman, CEC, USNR, relieved LT Hediger as acting commanding officer,
NMCB-11. |
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1 September 1953 |
LCDR James C.
Castanes, CEC, USN, relieved LCDR Froman as acting commanding officer,
NMCB-11. LCDR Froman became executive officer. |
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14 September 1953 |
A formal
commissioning ceremony took place on 14 September 1953 at the U.S. Naval
Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California. LCDR James C.
Castanes, CEC, USN, was first commanding officer of NMCB ELEVEN. The battalion's first log book entry 14 September 1953 read: "In compliance with OPNAV Notice 5440 (Classified) and COMSERVPAC Message 130044Z, MCB ELEVEN is formally commissioned. LCDR James C. Castanes, CEC, USN, has assumed command . . .the Battalion passed in review." It was known as “The Newest Battalion in Existence.” Logo. It adopted a battalion logo (plaque) which again reflected a pair of dice thrown in an eleven pattern ("6" dice on the left, and "5" dice on the right" that was superimposed on an enlarged numerical "11". This is the only similarity between this battalion and the 11th NCB of World War II. A large Seabee facing left was drawn above the "11" figure. It sat on a blue background, and was surrounded by a wide, yellow hawser (rope). |
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14 October 1953 |
Battalion
deployed to Cubi Point in the Philippines, as part of the 30th
Naval Construction Regiment. Sailed on board the USNS General C. D.
Barrett, T-AP 196 (ex- SS President Jackson). It is interesting
to note that the 11th NCB was last deployed to Subic Bay/Cubi
Point at the end of WW II before decommissioning and NMCB-11 was first
deployed to Subic Bay/Cubi Point at the start of their deployments after
commissioning. This is another coincidental similarity of the two
Battalions. |
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31 October 1953 |
Arrived in
Cubi Point, Luzon, Philippines. Worked on enlisted men’s barracks,
transportation facilities at Blue Dike, aircraft carrier pier (largest
project at Cubi Point), barracks, Mancha Blanca Quarry, reefer building,
steam plant, shops and warehouses, roads, and utility systems. They
contributed to the large and continuous earth moving that reduced a
1,200-foot mountain to fill dirt for the construction of Subic Bay Naval
Station and Cubi Point Naval Air Station. It was a massive project
reportedly larger than the building of the Panama Canal. |
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10 November 1954 |
Battalion
boarded the troop ship USNS General C. G. Morton, T-AP 138, bound for
their homeport in Port Hueneme, California. |
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30 November 1954 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, California, for leave, reformation and training to
make the next overseas deployment. |
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23 February 1955 |
Boarded the
USNS Marine Phoenix, T-AP 195, in Port Hueneme bound for Kodiak, Alaska. |
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6 March 1955 |
Arrived in
“Big Bear” Country, at the U.S. Naval Station (NAS), Kodiak, Alaska. Worked
on Seabee shop facilities, dental clinic improvements, civilian cafeteria,
piers and docks, bridges and roads, pile driving and station utilities. |
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5 September 1955 |
Boarded the
USNS Frederick Funston, T-AP 48, in Alaska bound for their homeport in
Port Hueneme, California. |
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12 September 1955 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reformation and training for the
next overseas deployment. |
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27 September 1955 |
CDR John A.
Dougherty, CEC, USN, relieved CDR Castanes as commanding officer, NMCB-11. |
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26 October 1955 |
After a very
short homeport period, boarded an old U.S. Army Transport, later the USNS
General Fred C. Ainsworth, T-AP 181 (originally the SS Pass Christian),
bound to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. |
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8 November 1955 |
Arrived at
U.S. Naval Station, Kwajalein, in the Marshall Islands. Site known as “The
Rock.” Worked on construction of 78 buildings for the Department of Defense
(DOD), comprising 175 one- and two-story military apartments (2 and 3
bedrooms), and miscellaneous utility upgrade projects. |
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6 October 1956 |
Boarded the
USNS David C. Shanks, T-AP 180 bound for homeport in Port Hueneme. |
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16 October 1956 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and training for
the next overseas deployment. |
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29 March 1957 |
Battalion
boarded the USNS General C. D. Barrett, T-AP 196 (second voyage this
ship) in Port Hueneme bound for Adak, Alaska. |
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6 April 1957 |
Arrived at the
U.S. Naval Station, Adak, Alaska. In response to a major 9.1 magnitude
earthquake and some 200-300 aftershocks, worked to repair damage to runways,
office buildings, military and civilian housing, and roads. Other work was
on dams, POL facilities, utilities, barracks, supply buildings, etc. |
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17 August 1957 |
LCDR William
R. Reese, CEC, USN, relieved CDR Dougherty as commanding officer of NMCB-11. |
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17 October 1957 |
Boarded the
USNS General Charles G. Morton, T-AP 138, bound for their homeport of
Port Hueneme. |
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29 October 1957 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and training for
the next overseas deployment. |
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November 1957 |
CDR Harold F.
Liberty, CEC, USNR, relieved LCDR Reese as commanding officer, NMCB-11. |
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8 January 1958 |
Battalion
departed Port Hueneme. Boarded the troop ship USNS Barrette bound for Subic
Bay and Cubi Point, in the Philippine Islands. |
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4 February 1958 |
Arrived at
Naval Station, Subic Bay, Philippines. The Battalion had previously
deployed there in 1954 for construction at the Cubi Point Naval Air Station
and other base facilities. They worked on construction, maintenance and
repair projects in the Philippine Islands to attain and maintain unit
proficiency. In March 1958 they celebrated the 16th birthday of
the Seabees. |
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24 June 1958 |
Battalion
boarded USNS David C. Shanks, T-AP 180, bound for their homeport in
Port Hueneme. They left a Detachment of 219 men in the Philippines to
complete any remaining projects and maintain the housing area for future
occupancy. The Detachment returned to Port Hueneme in the fall of 1958. |
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15 July 1958 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and training for
the next overseas deployment. |
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13 September 1958 |
After a
typically short two-month homeport and military training period, the
battalion departed Port Hueneme aboard the USNS General Daniel L. Sultan,
T-AP 120, bound for Guam, in the Marianas Island. Guam was also known as “The
Rock” and/or “Duva Duva” to the Seabees and sailors who served
there. |
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28 September 1958 |
Arrived at
Naval Station, Guam, in the Marianas Islands. The Commanding Officer was
CDR Harold F. Liberty, CEC, USN. Battalion worked on Fadian Point quarry
sites at the “A” and “B” Crushers—the backbone of Fadian’s operation.
Quarried over 65,000 tons of coral, produced over 63,600 tons of sand and
coarse aggregate, batched over 21,800 cubic yards of concrete, and made over
1,104,500 masonry block units. Other projects were at the Naval Magazine,
and B-52 facilities at Anderson AFB. A Detachment was deployed by LST to
Chi Chi Jima Island to work on a pier and seaplane ramp extension. Zorro
Teams I and II deployed to Laos to perform work for OICC Thailand doing work
in Laos. |
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10 June 1959 |
With their
work completed, Battalion boarded the USNS David C. Shanks, T-AP 180,
for their return voyage to their homeport in Port Hueneme. |
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24 June 1959 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and training for
the next overseas deployment. Battalion won “Cock of the Walk” honors
on three occasions signifying the best battalion in regimental
pass-in-review competitions. |
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15 October 1959 |
Battalion
departed the homeport onboard the USNS General James C. Breckenridge,
T-AP 176, bound for Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. |
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31 October 1959 |
Arrived on
Okinawa after a two-week voyage across the Pacific and an over-night stop in
Yokohama, Japan. Relieved NMCB-9. Battalion worked on five large 100’ x
400’ warehouses, two engineer shop buildings, a Motor Transport shop, an
ordnance shop, a supply and administration building central head, vehicle
wash and grease rack, and electrical services. Construction consisted
primarily of pre-cast, heavily reinforced, concrete units, some weighing 20
tons. Infrastructure suffered some damage when hit by a typhoon with 90-110
mph winds. Detachment “B” deployed to Midway Island. Celebrated the Seabee’s
18th birthday in March 1960. |
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16 February 1960 |
CDR John P.
Williams, CEC, USN, relieved CDR Liberty as commanding officer, NMCB-11. |
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20 July 1960 |
With their
work completed, Battalion departed for homeport aboard the USNS General
William A. Mann, T-AP 112. |
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3 August 1960 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and training for
the next overseas deployment. Held the annual Battalion homeport picnic
aboard the Construction Battalion Center (CBC) with family and friends. |
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16 November 1960 |
After another
short 3-month homeport period, Battalion departed aboard the USNS General
James. C. Breckenridge, T-AP 186 bound for Guam, in the Marianas
Islands. |
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30 November 1960 |
Arrived on
Guam after a two-week voyage across the Pacific. The Commanding Officer was
CDR John P. Williams, CEC, USN. Battalion worked on multiple housing
projects NAS Agana. In the eight months on Guam, NMCB-11 poured as many
roofs, laid as many blocks and turned over as many houses as the previous
three battalions. Comments from one end of the island to the other
were about NMCB-11 and their ability to do a job and do it well. Deployed a 37-man Detachment to Saipan to work on a
500,000-gallon concrete water tank and site preparation for a new hospital.
The HAM-Radio station now resident at each battalion deployment site
operated so all Seabees could make a periodic call home to family and
friends. Battalion softball team the “Vagabonds” won the Naval Station
League Championship Trophy. Battalion awarded the first of four Navy “E”
awards for efficiency for FY-61. |
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4 August 1961 |
With their
work completed on Guam, Battalion boarded the USNS William L. Mitchell,
T-AP 114, bound for their homeport in Port Hueneme. |
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18 August 1961 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and training for
the next overseas deployment. |
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3 December 1961 |
After another
short 3-month homeport, Battalion boarded the USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey,
T-AP 121 (formerly Adm. W. L. Capps), bound for Midway Island. |
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18 December 1961 |
Battalion
arrived on Midway Island. They averaged between 12-17 officers and 484-500
enlisted men during the deployment. It was not at full strength. Six men
left behind on rear echelon in homeport. Battalion worked on major repairs
including a seaplane ramp, station roads, civilian housing, military housing
and messing, repair and rehabilitation of an elevated water tank, repair of
the public works garage, and other base projects. Approximately 7,935
man days of direct-labor work were performed on Midway. HAM-Radio Station,
KG6AKS, was active and patched twice as many calls at Midway than during the
previous longer deployment on Guam. Deployed Detachments (Details) to
Kwajalein, Eniwetok and Nevada for special projects for the Atomic Energy
Commission (AEC). Reserve Seabee Units from 11th, 12th,
and 13th Naval Districts in CONUS performed active duty training
with NMCB-11 on Midway. CDR John P. Williams, CEC, USN, was relieved by CDR
Paul J. Doyle, CEC, USN, as commanding officer. Battalion awarded the second
of four Navy “E” awards for efficiency for FY-62. Battalion awarded the
BUDOCKS “Safety Achievement Award" the first of its kind to be
presented to a Pacific Fleet Construction Battalion. |
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2 March 1962 |
CDR Paul J.
Doyle, Jr., CEC, USN, relieved CDR Williams as commanding officer, NMCB-11. |
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20 July 1962 |
With their
work complete on Guam, Battalion boarded the USNS General Daniel L.
Sultan, T-AP 120, bound for their homeport in Port Hueneme. |
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3 August 1962 |
Battalion
arrived at homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and
training for the next overseas deployment. Two glorious weeks at sunny old
Camp Pendleton USMC Base were on their agenda. “John Wayne-ing” in Devil’s
Canyon was just part of the action. This trip to Camp Pendleton would become part of the regular homeport military-training cycle until 1969. The Battalion was preparing to deploy to Sangley Point, in the Philippines. But, on November 11, 1962, Super Typhoon “Karen” hit Guam with winds in excess of 155-160 knots and gusts to 220 plus knots. Change One! The battalion was diverted to Guam at the last minute to work on restoration of typhoon-damaged military facilities, utilities and infrastructure. |
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15 November 1962 |
An advance
party of 100 Seabees from NMCB-11 deployed from Port Hueneme to Guam to
start the typhoon recovery. |
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18 November 1962 |
Battalion’s
main body boarded the USNS General C. D. Barrett, T-AP 196, bound for
Guam. |
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2 December 1962 |
Battalion
arrived on Guam. Their job was described as being “awesome!” The
island resembled a bombed out Guam during the Second World War. The Super
Typhoon had devastated the island infrastructure. In April 1963, Typhoon “Olive”
brushed the Western Coast of Guam with winds of 125 MPH causing minor damage
and power interruptions. Battalion, besides making typhoon repairs, worked
on other base infrastructure projects. Old WWII and Korean War vintage M-1
rifles were exchanged for the newer M-14 rifles. Battalion awarded the third
of four Navy “E” awards for efficiency for FY-63. |
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4 June 1963 |
With their
work complete on Guam, Battalion boarded the USNS General William A.
Mann, T-AP 112, in Apra Harbor, bound for their homeport in Port Hueneme.
On board with them were thousands of U.S. Army men who had completed a tour
in Korea and were also headed home. The USNS Mann picked up these
Soldiers in Korea before loading up the Battalion on Guam They had a short
layover in Hawaii and were able to take some liberty in Honolulu. |
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18 June 1963 |
Arrived at
homeport in Port Hueneme after a brief stopover in San Francisco to
disembark the soldiers who were arriving home from Korea. They took some
well-earned leave and then settled down for a period of reconstitution and
training for the next overseas deployment. |
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7 November 1963 |
Battalion
boarded the USNS General William L. “Billy” Mitchell, T-AP 114, bound
for Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. |
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1 December 1963 |
Seabee
Technical Assistance Teams (STAT) 1101 and 1102, the first Seabee Teams
formed by NMCB-11, deployed to Thailand. The STAT teams were later called
Seabee Teams with the commissioning of Seabee Team 1105. |
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4 December 1963 |
Battalion
arrived at Port Naha, Okinawa. They deployed to Camp Kinser on Okinawa as
the Pacific Fleet “Alert” Battalion. The advance party had already laid out a
work schedule for them. They lived in Quonset huts in the Seabee camp.
Deployed first Seabee teams STAT’s 1101 and 1102 to Thailand in December
1963. Worked on rehabilitation of BOQ and BEQ projects, a 21-mile water
supply pipeline, a telephone exchange, new boiler in the Seabee camp, radio
and telephone projects, and an LST Ramp at Camp Schwab. Heavy rains
threatened the Zukeyama Dam site and the Seabees had to abandon their Camp
for a short period of time. Participated in Exercise “Backpack” as
part of the Military Training Program. Seabees boarded the LST 1161
Vernon
County
at Naha Port
and in U.S. Seventh Fleet exercises in support of the Nationalist Chinese on
Taiwan. |
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16 April 1964 |
CDR William W.
Barron, CEC, USN, relieved CDR Doyle as commanding officer, NMCB-11. |
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1-4 August 1964 |
USS Turner Joy and USS Maddox
attacked by North Vietnamese patrol boats in the Tonkin Gulf. |
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7 August 1964 |
Congress
passed the “Tonkin Gulf Resolution” on 7 August. President Lyndon B.
Johnson ordered retaliatory strikes against North Vietnamese targets. |
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13 August 1964 |
With their
work complete on Okinawa, Battalion boarded the USNS General James C.
Breckenridge, T-AP 176 in Naha Harbor, Okinawa, bound for their homeport
in Port Hueneme. |
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1 September 1964 |
Battalion
arrived at homeport in Port Hueneme, for leave period, reconstitution and
training for the next overseas deployment. |
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November 1964 |
STAT 1103
deployed to Nam Pat, Thailand. |
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18-21 January 1965 |
With their
training period over, the Battalion boarded aircraft for the long flight to
Okinawa, their second consecutive deployment to that island. They were the FIRST
Seabee battalion to deploy completely using air resources. |
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20-23 January 1965 |
Battalion
arrived on multiple flights from their homeport in Port Hueneme. They would
become the “Standby” battalion on Okinawa. Battalion worked on permanent
USMC camp facilities, but was interrupted thrice by typhoons during the
deployment. Battalion worked six-day-a-week schedules to work around the
typhoons and constant rainfall. Later, in June they switched to
seven-day-a-week split-shift schedule. Battalion was selected as
“Contractor of the Month” by OICC Camp Butler for their work performance.
This was the FIRST time a Seabee battalion had received this honor. |
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February 1965 |
STAT 1104
deployed to Ben Soi, Vietnam and later in June 1965 redeployed to Dong Xoai,
Vietnam. STAT teams were called Seabee Teams after this team. |
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May 1965 |
As "Standby"
Battalion, NMCB-11 helped NMCB-10, the Pacific "Alert" Battalion, mount-out
for Vietnam the first week of May as part of the 3rd Marine Division who was
quickly deployed to Vietnam as the war heated up there. NMCB-11 became the
Pacific "Alert" Battalion at that time. |
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9-10 June 1965 |
A
significant date in NMCB-11 History. On June 9, 1965, STAT 1104 was
involved in heavy fighting when overwhelming North Vietnam forces overran
their camp in Dong Xoai (pronounced Dong “Sway”), a small village north of
Saigon, Vietnam. They suffered two men KIA and 7 men WIA. CM2 Marvin G.
Shields, USN was KIA and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and
Purple Heart for his heroism. Shields was the first and only Seabee, and
the first Navy man in Vietnam, to receive the Medal of Honor. A
Seabee camp in Vietnam and one in Okinawa were named in his honor. A
destroyer escort, USS Marvin G. Shields, DD- 1066, was also named in
his honor. An Army Special Forces officer, 1st Lt. Charles
Williams, also received the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart for his
heroism in the same action. SW2 William C. Hoover, USN was KIA and
posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his heroism. A
Seabee camp in Vietnam was named in his honor. Two other team members,
including the Team OIC, LTJG Frank Peterlin, CEC, USN, and Team AOIC, EOC
Johnny McCully, USN were awarded Silver Star and Purple Heart medals. The
remaining five team members on site received the Bronze Star and Purple
Heart medals. Members of Seabee Team 1104 at the site on 9-10 June 1965
were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for their actions. For its outstanding deployment to Okinawa, the Battalion won the fourth Pacific Seabees “Best of Type” award (the Battle Efficiency “E”) in five years. The award read in part: “MCB-11 excelled in management effectiveness, deployed mission accomplishment, military training and readiness and in responsiveness to the requirements and desires of higher authority.” This would be the last deployment of NMCB-11 to the islands in the Pacific. Hereafter, they would deploy to Vietnam for four consecutive deployments. |
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1 August 1965 |
Seabee Team
1105 deployed to Tan Son Nhut Airbase, near Saigon and later redeployed to
Pleiku, Vietnam. |
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Chapter 3 | Vietnam Deployments: 1965-1969 |