eleven stinger

Eleven Stinger
February 2009
In This Edition:
Page 6
Photo by CM2(SCW) Brandon Trumbo
- NMCB 11 Deploys
Photo by MC1 Nicholas Lingo
- NMCB 11 Arrives in Horn
of Africa
Page 7
NMCB ELEVEN’s advance party board their plane from
the Air National Guard Air Station in Gulfport, Miss. en
route to Camp Moreell and other destinations beyond for
their initial deployment since being re-established.
- Horn of African Bees help
quality of life for school
children
Page 13
- Camp Moreell Fights Fires
Page 14
Page Two
Skipper’s Message
OK – we trained all homeport
and now it’s time to put that
knowledge to work. We’re involved in joint exercises with the
Army in Europe and Jamaica,
Construction Readiness Training in Arifjan for the Army, FOB
buildouts in Afghanistan for the
Army, and a host of projects in
the Horn of Africa in support
of a Joint Task Force. Wait a
minute – how about our own
service, the Navy?
Well, we’re supporting the
Navy at Rota, Guantanamo,
Andros, the oil platforms in the
Arabian Gulf, and we have 5
Seabees on the USS Nashville as
a part of Africa Partnership Station and another 23 at a naval
base in Cameroon.
So there are fewer than 100 of
a 600 person Battalion supporting the Navy? Directly
maybe, but no – not really. You
see it doesn’t matter whether
tee. We operate across the full
spectrum of military operations,
although our main focus is in
shaping and security and stability operations.
we answer to a Navy Captain or
an Army Colonel. We are doing
the work of the Navy all over the
world this deployment.
Look at the condensed version
of the Navy’s maritime strategy
on the facing page and pick out
the bold-faced words under the
heading of “Seapower” - preventing wars is as important as winning wars, collective security,
trust and cooperation cannot
be surged, full range of military
operations, and partnerships.
These words describe us to a
Our detachments in the Horn
of Africa, Cameroon and Eastern
Europe are engaged in shaping
operations – “winning the hearts
and minds” of the citizens of
those nations in the hopes of
preventing future conflict and
providing much-needed relief to
those less fortunate than us. In
Kuwait and Afghanistan, we are
engaged in security and stability
operations, helping the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan
recover from war and reconstruct and efficiently govern
their respective nations. It is
highly important work for not
only our nation and the countries we’re assisting, but also
the international community as
a whole – and that’s why we are
here!!
NMCB 11
COMMANDING OFFICER
CDR STEPHEN K. REVELAS
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
LCDR BRIAN T. LINDOERFER
COMMAND MASTER CHIEF
CMDCM(SCW) THANE A. HALSEY
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
MC1 NICHOLAS R. LINGO
MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST
MC2 ERICK S. HOLMES
The ELEVEN STINGER is an official monthly publication. Any views published in the ELEVEN STINGER
are not necessarily the views of or endorsed by the the United States Government, Department of Defense, or the United States Navy. Editorial content and public service announcements are edited by the
Public Affairs Office of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ELEVEN. Opinions expressed are not to be
considered the official expression of the Department of Defense or the United States Navy. To contact
the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Public Affairs Office email: nicholas.r.lingo@navy.mil.
Page Three
Article referenced from: http:www.navy.mil/maritime/disply.asp?page=strglance.html
Page Four
CMDCM’s Corner
First I would like to start
out with Bravo Zulu to our
Embark Staff and all the
working parties for all of
their long hours and hard
work in getting the Battalion on deployment. A special thanks needs to go out
to CWO2 Meadows, UTCS
McGlamery, CM1 Garcia
and BU1 Dinardo for their
efforts.
Well the first month of
deployment has come and
gone. Hopefully everyone is
settling in to their deployment site with as few issues as possible. From the
reports that I heard each
site did an outstanding job
turning over with NMCB 4.
Since this was the first time
many of you have done a
turn over, I hope that you
understand the amount
work and responsibility that
goes along with each of your
jobs.
FINALLY… Deployment
has arrived! There has
been great anticipation
and I am sure much anxiety leading up to our first
deployment. Many of you
are eager to get to work
and excited to display the
professional skills you
have learned over the
course of your career and
this past homeport. As
you step on the job site,
jump in that vehicle or
prepare to use our high
speed tools; please maintain a laser sharp focus
on SAFETY. Remember
to apply Operational Risk
Management to every
task, it should be automatic… identify and take
Please make sure that
you’re taking the time to
communicate with your
families and friends back
home. They want to hear
about the things you are
doing and the experiences
you are having. Remember
that if you have a spouse
or children back home that
this deployment might be
their first also, so again
please communicate with
them.
Another thing that I
would like for all of you to
think about is the jobs that
you are doing. For many
of us this might be the first
time that you’ve been on a
job site or worked in a shop.
So be mindful of all of the
possible dangers that come
with working with heavy
equipment and using hand
tools. Take a couple of
minutes to check your work
areas and tools to see if
they are the right type and
serviceable. Those couple
of minutes might make the
difference between a dump
and bruise or potentially
something worse.
As this month closes, I
want to wish each of you
the best and I look forward
to visiting with each of you
as the Skipper and I swing
through for a visit.
From the XO
action to reduce the
hazards associated with
each and everything
you do. Sometimes that
means a short break to
make sure you have the
proper tools, protective
gear and work methods
in place to do your job
correctly. If is the first
time you have performed a specific task,
do not be afraid to ask
for help! Leaders, your
job is to ensure your
personnel have the tools
and knowledge to execute the work correctly
and safely. MISSION
SUCCESS includes
bringing everyone home
safe and sound!
Page Five
The Word
“Fasting”
This past Wednesday, February 25, was Ash Wednesday.
Those in a Christian tradition
used this day to celebrate the
beginning of Lent, a period of
40 days (not including Sundays)
that are devoted to preparing
oneself for the Easter celebration. In many traditions, part of
that preparation is fasting, denying oneself of certain things,
usually food. Many people
today may not give up certain
types of food during Lent, but
rather other things that are dear
to them. Cigarettes. Candy.
Ice cream. World of Warcraft.
Not necessarily bad things, but
things that they are attached to.
But how is fasting and self-denial beneficial?
Denying oneself is a discipline
that is valued in many cultures
and traditions. Asceticism, a
lifestyle characterized by extreme self-denial and active selfrestraint, is widely practiced.
There are Catholic monks, Coptic monks, Buddhist monks…
all share the idea that through
From Chaps
the renunciation of worldly pleasures, it is possible to achieve
a high spiritual or intellectual
state. The temptation, I would
say, is to lose sight of the goal
and to simply be satisfied with
the fact that you are fasting and
to hold it over and against others that are not practicing the
same discipline or lifestyle.
This mindset is actually addressed in the Bible in Matthew
6:16-18. People who fast in a
way to be seen and recognized
by others are hypocrites and
have received their reward in
full. The only reason why I tell
people I’m fasting is when I’m
asking for their help and assistance to adhere to my fast (e.g.
please don’t offer me any of your
medium-rare steak) or when
I’m explaining myself to avoid
offending someone (e.g. it’s not
that I’ve heard horror stories
about your meatloaf, I’m just
fasting red meat during Lent).
Fasting should be done in secret
and in humility. I think we can
all agree on that.
More importantly, fasting is a
means to an end. Keeping your
eye on that target and helping
you see it more clearly is what
fasting is all about. Whether
that be spiritual enlightenment,
intimacy with God, or whatever
lofty goals you set forward, fasting is supposed to help eliminate any potential distractions
to that goal in order to help
you achieve it. But the Hebrew
Scriptures goes even further.
Fasting is not supposed to be
just for you and your personal
spirituality. It says in Isaiah
58:6-7 that the goal of fasting
it “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the
yoke, to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke… to share
your food with the hungry and
to provide the poor wanderer
with shelter.” He’s suggesting that if your spirituality isn’t
affecting and benefiting others,
something’s off.
So what, if anything, are you
choosing to fast during Lent?
More importantly, what is your
goal? If you are any closer to
achieving it, others will notice,
not because you are losing
weight or looking depressed, but
because of the way you relate to
them as you grow closer to your
God.
-Chaps
David D. Kim
LT, CHC, USN
Page Six
NMCB Eleven Takes Historic First Steps, Again
By MC1 Nicholas Lingo, NMCB 11 Public Affairs Officer
December 15, 1969.
In war, time can be a major
adversary, but in NMCB 11’s
case the extra time to train has
better prepared this young unit
for the tasks that lie ahead of
them. LCDR Brian Lindoerfer,
NMCB 11 Executive Officer,
expects great things from his
battalion, “There is much anticipation; it has been 16 months
since the commission date. Our
Seabees have worked extremely
hard preparing for this first
deployment. They met and often
exceeded expectations during
every training evolution; I expect
they will do the same on deployment… ready, willing and able!”
Due to the infancy of the battalion as a whole, another question for their success is their
relative youth throughout the
unit. “Over 60% of the personnel
have never completed a deployment. We will be working in over
33 locations, in 24 countries,
spanning 11 times zones and
supporting requirements for 4
different Component Commanders. Command and Control
will be difficult at best, but our
leadership and our Seabees are
prepared. It is a great opportunity for our
detachment and project team
leaders to shine,” added LCDR
Lindoerfer.
Though the youngest Seabees of the battalion may not
have the relative experience of
other peers, they are more than
willing and in some instances
are eager for the experience
of deployment. “This deployment is going to outstanding,”
said Equipment Operator 3rd
Class (SCW) Asia A. Rogina,
who is serving in NMCB 11’s
Air Detachment (Air Det) and
slated for six months of work in
Afghanistan. The Bellingham,
Wash. native’s enthusiasm is
comparable to the “Can Do!”
spirit Seabees have embodied
since 1942. “I can contribute
more to the war effort there
{than in homeport},” Rogina
explained.
The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction move
forward for the first time as
a battalion, but the journey
they’ve been involved in over
the last two years has them
well-prepared to endure and
overcome any obstacle they may
face in the near
future.
Photo by MC1 Nicholas Lingo
This isn’t the first deployment
for Naval Mobile Construction
Battalion Eleven. Formerly
known as MCB Eleven, the
battalion was re-commissioned
September 14, 2007 and can
trace its heritage back to World
War II. NMCB 11 was originally
commissioned on July 27, 1942,
and served on Tutaila, American Samoa, New Caledonia,
Auckland, Banika, Los Negros,
and Luzon, Philippines. It was
disestablished Dec. 1, 1945.
NMCB 11 was again commissioned on Sept. 14, 1953.
NMCB 11 was also the battalion
of Construction Mechanic Third
Class Marvin Shields, who was
killed at the Battle of Dong Xoai
and posthumously awarded the
Medal of Honor, the only Seabee
ever to achieve this great merit.
The re-established Naval
Mobile Construction Battalion
(NMCB) 11 is in the movement
stage of its deployment, pushing
its detachments out to various
locations around the world in
support of several conflicts and
humanitarian missions. The
wait has been a lengthy one for
this burgeoning battalion; its
homeport was extended several times over due to training
commitments and the Naval
Construction Forces
shift to a 12-month
homeport. Of the
“Four-Horseman”,
the original four
sailors attached to
the command, two
remain and will
deploy with the
battalion. NMCB
11 is deploying
for the first time
in nearly 40 years
since its last decommissioning on
Page Seven
NMCB 11 Arrives In Africa
By MC2 Erick Holmes,
NCMB 11 Public Affairs Specialist
Photo by MC2 Erick Holmes
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti –
After 39 years since decommissioning, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 began
their first deployment, sending
their Seabees across the globe
on various missions. NMCB
11’s Detachment Horn of Africa
(Det HOA) is slated to conduct
unique missions in conjunction with Combined Joint Task
Force-Horn of Africa
(CJTF-HOA) for the
next six months.
Projects include repairing
and building schools,
building bridges and digging
wells in Djibouti, Comoros,
Ethiopia and Uganda.
This tasking supports
CJTF-HOA’s mission of winning
the hearts and minds of Africa, as well as providing much
needed humanitarian assistance
to regions in need.
With 118 Seabees scattered to the four winds, planning played a major role for
these missions. “We’re spread
over colonial, tribal and geographic boundaries,” explained Lt. Cmdr. (Sel.)
Stephen S. Legg, NMCB 11
Det HOA Officer in Charge
(OIC). “This created logistical challenges due to things
like country clearances to
the forward operating
locations,” Legg
said.
After a
night’s rest,
ELEVEN began their turnover with out-going
battalion, NMCB 4.
The process included inventory of supply, central
tool room
and
project turnover. The “Alfa
Dawgs” commenced a Battalion
Equipment Evaluation Process
(BEEP), inspecting all vehicles
and tools.
Even during this turnover, NMCB 4 and NMCB 11
worked together and demonstrated the well-known Seabee
“Can Do!” spirit, becoming one
crew to build a stage and picture frames on short notice for
Camp Lemonier’s change-ofcommand ceremony on February 5th.
Builder 2nd Class (SCW)
Craig A. Kresge was part of that
crew and is a crew leader for the
Hamaramba School project in
Comoros, and couldn’t be more
excited. “This deployment is important to me because it is my
first one as a crew leader and
a petty officer second class,”
Kresge explained. “I’ll get to polish my skills as a leader.” But
it is more than a personal gain.
“We’re building a school for kids
because they are less fortunate
than us,” said Kresge. “And you
should always help people less
fortunate than you.”
And yet all the challenges ahead
of the newest battalion in existence isn’t breaking any faith
held. “We have a lot of junior
personnel,” Legg said. “But all
the training [from NMCB 11],
both professional and military,
made them prepared for any
mission with then CJTF-HOA
objective; ‘Helping Africans
Solve African Problems’.”
NMCB 11 Det HOA’s
details, smaller detachments
working within HOA, have
already begun their missions.
ELEVEN will be in U.S. Africa
Command (AFRICOM) until
August 2009.
Page Eight
Page Nine
Page Ten
Photo by LT Jason Lockhart
Shining Seabees
Navy Commendation Medal
LCDR Jerry Babb
Navy & Marine Corps Achievment Medal
GM2 Davion Reese
UT2 Jeffrey Napier
CS1 Charles Wilcox
YN2 Jennifer Buki
YN2 Philip Barantes
Letter of Commendation
BU1 Douglas Bennett - SOQ
YN2 Jennifer Buki - JSOQ
CE3 Ericca Perry - BJOQ
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
LN1 Deborah Johnson
SK1 Angeline Delgado
SCW Warriors
CECN Syneria Garrett
UT3 Brian Hathaway UT2 Jeffrey Napier
LT Jason Lockhart LT Kellen Headlee
BU2 Craig Kresge
BU3 Thomas Turner
CE3 Johnny Hawkins
Page ELEVEN
Medical Momen s
“Hand-Washing”
When should you wash your hands?
One should wash there hands for many
reasons, all of which will prevent illness
to oneself or to others. Close attention
must be paid during cold and flu (influenza) season, which can reduce your risk
of catching or spreading a cold or the flu.
Before and after preparing or serving food
reduces your risk of catching or spreading bacteria that cause food poisoning. Be
especially careful to wash before and after
preparing poultry, raw eggs, meat, or seafood. These potentially hazardous foods
(PHF) are the main contributors to food
borne illnesses. Hand washing after using
the bathroom is extremely important, so as
not to spread Hepatitis A, Salmonella or
Escherichia coli (E-Coli).
Many times our hands are exposed to
illness causing organisms and we don’t
give it a second thought, such as,
By Hospital Corpsman
Second Class
James Petersohn
changing diapers,
handling garbage, using
the phone, shaking hands,
or playing with pets.
Proper Hand Washing Techniques
1.
Wash your hands with hot running water and soap. Children should use
warm running water.
2.
Rub your hands together for at least
20 seconds.
3.
Pay special attention to your wrists,
the backs of your hands, between your
fingers, and under your fingernails.
4.
Leave the water running while you
dry your hands on a paper towel.
5.
Use the paper towel as a barrier
between the faucet and your clean hands
when you turn off the water.
*** These simple steps will go a long way
toward protecting your good health – and
the health of all those you touch.
Safety Spotligh
By Steelworker Chief Philip Pawlowski
“With Deployment just starting getting to know your troops and talking to them can
abate mishaps later. Discuss ORM prior to activities, talk about experiences and mishaps you have seen, know if they are starting new workout or taking weight loss suppliments. Slow down and think prior to an activity, a few minutes can make the difference between being at work or being in the hospital. Be Safe…Use ORM…Deployment
Goal….ZERO FATALITIES or Class “B” Mishaps.
Electrical/Electronic Safety Tips: - Never work on live (energized) electrical equipment
without CO’s permission. Follow the “HOT WORK” SOP- Do not energize any equipment that is tagged out. - Never operate a switch with your other hand on a metal
surface. - Check that portable electric equipment has been inspected and has a current
inspection label affixed. - Do not join more than two 25 foot extension cords together. Do not allow electric cords to run over sharp objects, chemicals, or hoses.”
Page Twelve
FAMILY ENRICHMENT RETREAT BUILDS FAMILY RESILIENCY
By LT David Kim, NMCB 11 Chaplain
Photos by LT David Kim
New Orleans, Louisiana -- For once, the sound of
children talking and playing during a discussion
was a welcome sound and not a discouraging
distraction. On January 9-11, 2009, Naval Mobile
Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 partnered with
CREDO (Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operation) Southeast and The FOCUS (Families Overcoming Under Stress) Project to hold a
Family Enrichment Retreat for 10 families at The
Westin Canal Place in New Orleans, LA. The 49
participants included families from NMCB
11, NMCB 74, NMCB 1, and NCBC, including 19 children ages 12 and
under, four religious ministry
team facilitators, and three
facilitators from The FOCUS
Project.
The retreat was a
unique event for several reasons. Although
CREDO Southeast has
been holding marriage
enrichment retreats and
personal growth retreats
for some time, family enrichment retreats were not
as common, mainly due to the added organizational
complexity of integrating children into the program.
Additionally, most of these retreats had been held
in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia or various locations
in Florida. This was the first retreat offered in the
Gulf Coast area in many years. The timing of this
retreat was also at an opportune time for NMCB 11.
When presented with the challenge of readying a
new battalion and its family members for its first
deployment, a retreat seemed like the best venue
for this endeavor to LT Kim, the battalion chaplain.
The challenge was organizing and funding a retreat
that would be attractive to service-members and
their families and also beneficial to the family’s
health and well-being.
Partnering with LT Rickey Bennett and LT Kevin
Norton of CREDO Southeast provided the funding
and logistical expertise of negotiating contracts
and details with local hotels and other potential
retreat sites. Partnering with the newly established
FOCUS Project in Gulfport provided much-needed
expertise in building family resiliency with children
as well as with adults as well as fun giveaways
including toys and t-shirts. Finally, chaplains contributed their knowledge as subject matter experts
for family and marriage dynamics and counseling.
All these facilitators worked together to benefit a
diverse array of families ranging from newlyweds
to families of seven, from those who have never de-
ployed to families with years of deployment experience. The fact that all the facilitators were military
or prior service helped to increase the credibility
of the program, “The instructors were military too;
they had first hand knowledge of our experiences,
problems, etc... Too often we get civilians with no
concept of “our world” trying to teach/relate to us,”
said one family member.
The agenda was also varied and included briefs
and discussions about cycles of deployment,
communication, family meetings, and Dr.
Gary Chapman’s “Five Love Languages.” The most effective,
however, was the interactive
exercises which included
family introductions and
goals, a family collage, and
activities specific to children
and emotional regulation for children. The
schedule allowed for
ample time for families
to enjoy the heated
rooftop pool as well as
local attractions in downtown New Orleans. The
final night also consisted of a movie night to give
the parents a much-needed night off.
Overall, the retreat was extremely well received.
“You could totally see the difference in the couples
from the first night to the second night,” said Jessica Terrell, wife of Builder Second Class Andrew
Terrell of NMCB 11’s. The families sat neatly and
normally the first night, but they were holding
hands and sitting much closer as a family as the
retreat went on.” “There are a lot more smiling
faces,” added Heather Ness, NMCB 11 Ombudsman, and wife of Machinist Repairman First Class
Thomas Ness. “You could tell that all these families, especially those with kids, really needed this,”
added Ness, “We definitely need to do these more
often.”
Additional retreats in the Gulf Coast area are in
preliminary planning stages, and NMCB 11 is
hoping for another retreat after it returns home in
the late summer of 2009. Retreats are one part of
a multi-faceted effort by the Command Religious
Program to build healthy families and improve battalion health and wellness, especially following a
deployment.
For more information on Family Enrichment Retreats, Marriage Enrichment Retreats, and Personal
Growth Retreats, contact CREDO Southeast at (904)
270-6958 Extension 1602.
Page Thirteen
Seabees in HOA Raise School Childrens’ Quality of Life
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Erick S. Holmes
Electrician 3rd Class Nicholas S. Fogle, a crew member. “They are appreciative and happy to see you.”
To show their thanks, the Djiboutians allow NMCB
11 to store the tools in a spare classroom, which
ensures nightly security for the equipment.
“They try helping,” said Builder Constructionman
Apprentice Leslie L. Keen, a fellow crew member.
“One man from the village asked for a shovel and
pick-axe to help. We can’t let them help for safety
reasons, but that doesn’t stop them from being anxious and curious.”
This type of enthusiasm also showcases the Djiboutians’ appreciation for the American presence in
their community, helping the Combined Joint Task
Force-Horn of Africa (CTJF-HOA) mission of forging
positive relationships with Africans. With the crew
working in almost identical conditions as the workers from Djibouti, the Seabees wait as locals make
their own concrete masonry unit (CMU) blocks and
then stress test each one on the job site.
“The waiting process of making the CMU on the spot
is time consuming,” said Lahey. “But the money
used for all of the supplies and labor assists the
local economy, which is a tremendous bonus for the
community.”
Though
challenges are there, they do not
diminish the Bees’ motivation,
explained Fogle.
“Yeah, there’s a communication barrier, but
we’re learning [the
local spoken language,]
Somali,” Fogle said.
“Their smiles and happiness make it worthwhile;
it’s great doing something
for somebody.”
Photo by MC2 Erick Holmes
GRANDE DOUDA, Djibouti – Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, based out of Gulfport,
Miss., is reaching out to the Djiboutian community
in Grande Douda by building additions its public
school.
These Seabees began construction of a cistern
and cantina for the school on Feb. 3 to improve the
students’ quality of life.
“Right now, they just have tables outside and some
of them are broken, so they sit outside in the dirt or
on the busted tables to eat,” explained Construction
Electrician 2nd Class Mark R. Lahey, project supervisor.
When the additions are complete, the cistern will
supply 1,500 liters of clean water for the school
daily and the 6,336-square-foot cantina will give the
students a sheltered dining facility.
The 10-person crew has been working with the
Djiboutians from the start of the project, allowing a
welcome change of pace for the Seabees.
“It’s not the same as Iraq or Kuwait,” said Lahey.
“When I was deployed before, I never had the opportunity to socialize with the locals. Now as project
supervisor, I get to interact with them daily. Djiboutians are very friendly people.”
“Working for the students
is rewarding,” said
Construction
Page Fourteen
Fire Provides Learning Experience For Seabees in Camp Moreell
By Construction Mechanic Constructionman
April Schroeder
Camp Moreell, Kuwait (Feb. 24,
2009) There are many dangers
that face Sailors, Soldiers, Marines
and Airmen in Kuwait and throughout Southwest Asia. Chief among
them, roadside bombs, mortar fire
and direct and indirect weapons
fire, often forgotten though, is the
ever dangerous electrical fire. A recent rash of electrical fires at Camp
Moreell, one of several deployment
sites for Naval Mobile Construction
Battalion (NMCB 11) Eleven, has
caused the Seabees to assess the
current status of potential fire hazards around the camp.
NMCB 11 Command Master Chief
Thane Halsey believes the cause of
these fires can be directly related to
the length of time we’ve been using
structures in this Area Of Responsibility, “Most of the issues have
come from faulty grounding and
possibly poor quality of materials
that contractors used when building
the facilities. A lot of these facilities
where only meant to temporary (6
to 12 months), but have been here
since 2002/2003, with no major upgrades done to them. These issues
accompanied with very dry lumber
present a very dangerous situation.”
The degradation of the structures
as well as the physical environment
of Kuwait and faulty wiring and
electricity has proven to be one of
our greatest adversaries in the
desert.
The most recent fires, caused by
electrical failure, created major damage in the First Class Petty Officers
mess tent in the camp. The damage was ultimately caused by failed
lighting fixtures and
In order to help prevent further
issues of this nature Master Chief
Halsey expects the camps will have
to adjust their preventive maintenance routines. “This (incident) will
require that the Camp Maintenance
staff do a more thorough inspection
of all circuit boards, lighting fixtures,
switches and outlets. It will also
mean that personnel that own those
spaces will have to pay close attention to power usage in order to avoid
overloading circuits.”
As a whole the accident spared
the Sea bees and physical injuries
to personnel and provided a very
valuable learning tool for the rest
of their deployment. With the summer months quickly approaching the
need to stay indoors will become
more prevalent as will the chances
for more dangerous incidents. Every
Sailor should pay close attention to
the set procedures when working
on electrical devices and check to
ensure that all safety devices are
readily available and are in proper
working condition in the case they
are necessary.
Page Fifteen
NMCB 11 Deploys to Camp Mitchell
By Construction Mechanic Second Class
Chad Trumbo
With their bags packed and gear all
boxed up, the third movement of Naval
Mobile Construction Battalion Eleven’s
first deployment in almost forty years
got on its way. This group was on their
way to Rota, Spain. As the cadence goes
“C-130 rolling down the strip” we boarded
the plane on the early morning hours of
February 3, 2009. The Flight over was everything that was expected, hot/cold, long
and difficult. People spent time playing
spades, listening to music, watching movies, and talking among them selves.
As typical we hit the ground running as
we began to turn over with our counterparts from NMCB Four. The road during
turnover was smooth enough with a few
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no later than March 25, 2009.
bumps hear and there. After a few days
all the bumps were smoothed out and
camp turned over. The only thing left was
the traditional turn over party; a time to
hang out and have fun with our friends
from Four. There was a variety of things to
do from darts, pool, and shoes, to playing
touch football and Xbox 360.
Overall our sprits are high and we are
ready to do what we have been training to
do for the last two years in home port. In
Rota we are looking forward to this deployment. It will be both hard work and
good times; a rewarding experience that
each will remember for the rest of their
lives.
Page Fourteen
Remembering Our Past:
EO3 Bob (Marty) Martin
“Operation Roadrunner”
After the DongHa ASP was blown up for the second consecutive year, operation Roadrunner was begun to build
an ASP at Quang Tri. To speed completion of a top priority
ammunition supply point (ASP) and to keep vital supplies
moving for other priority jobs, the equipment operators of
Eleven hauled day and night 24/7. Normally only armored
vehicles ventured out on Vietnamese roads at night. This
was the first time the stretch of Highway One between
Dong Ha and Quang Tri had been open for traffic after 6
p.m. After being loaded at the boat ramp at Dong Ha, where
the rock and supplies were brought from Da Nang, equipment operators drove their loaded rigs
weighing in as much as 35 tons past Vietnamese hamlets and along dark stretches of rice paddies
to Quang Tri. Traveling alone, armed with their M-16 rifles,
the drivers skillfully evade numerous obstacles ranging from
chickens and children to dud mortar rounds. Although the
road had been mined six times and the drivers were harassed by sniper fire and hit by mortars, flat tires were the
major concern of many of the Seabees. The Army provided
security with tanks and armored personnel carriers.
My personal memories were how it became a
challenge just to evade the tanks as they drove down the road,
often we
had to take
to the ditches
to avoid them. We were also sniped at frequently from
the side of the road, hoping they were bad shots; we
drove as fast as possible. When we left Quang Tri
we were spaced out, driving alone, but many of the
drivers would bunch up shortly after leaving for peace
of mind and maybe a little extra security. The equipment operators became very efficient at changing tires,
dreading having a front flat tire out on the road, as
this meant waiting until a wrecker brought you out a
new tire.
Visit the MCB-11 Association website for photos, sea stories
and more historical information.
http://www.mcb11.com
You can also join the MCB-11 Association from their site.