Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Explained

Unit Name:Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11
Dates:1942–19451953–19692007–present
Country:United States
Branch:USN
Current Commander:CDR James Angerman
Garrison:Construction Battalion Center Gulfport
Garrison Label:Homeport
Battles:World War II
Vietnam War
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (NMCB 11) is a United States Navy Construction Battalion, otherwise known as a Seabee Battalion, presently home-ported at the Naval Construction Battalion Center (Gulfport, Mississippi). The unit was formed during World War II as the 11th Naval Construction Battalion at Camp Allen on 28 June 1942. On 1 July, she moved to the new Seabee base Camp Bradford. Seabee battalions were numbered sequentially in the order they were stood up. The battalion lost one man during the war to a construction accident. The 11th CB was inactivated on 1 December 1945, at Subic Bay, Philippines.

The unit was reactivated as Mobile Construction Battalion 11 in the fall 1953, only to be decommissioned again in December 1969. However, MCB 11 made four tours in Vietnam. Eleven's fourth Seabee Technical Assistance Team (STAT) was sent to a Special Forces camp near the junction of two jungle routes, one called the Ho Chi Minh trail. It was the main route for the Viet Cong into South Vietnam, and lead to the most decorated group of Seabees in Seabee history. The battalion's 1967 tour exposed the men to the most severe combat the Seabees had seen since World War II. They came under fire 128 times, costing them 12 KIA. There were construction fatalities as well. In addition, the battalion suffered 102 wounded. NMCB 11 had one man make all four tours, getting a ribbon that matches the battalion's battle streamer. The battalion was deactivated in 1969.

Reactivated in 2007, NMCB 11 has since deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. It has also undertaken international engagement activities in the Pacific, and supported the relief efforts of Hurricane Sandy. Homeport for NMCB 11 is NCBC Gulfport Mississippi

History

WWII

From Camp Bradford, the battalion caught a train to the Advance Base Depot, Port Hueneme.[1] NCB 11 was the very first CB to embark from that port for the Pacific.[2] In the early record, 11th's first assignments are referenced by their code-names: Straw-hat, Straw-stack[3] and Fetlock. "Straw-hat" was Upolo, Samoa, "Straw-stack" was Tutuila, Samoa, and "Fetlock" was Pago Pago. Eleven's primary projects were the construction of a Cub destroyer base and harbor facilities at Tutuila, fuel tanks, pump system, and fuel dock. A detachment was also sent to assist the 2nd CB on Upolo. From Samoa, CB 11 was transferred to Nouméa, New Caledonia when CBMU 506 relieved them on Samoa. Nouméa was Hq for SOPAC. The main project on there was Naval Mobile Hospital 5. There were 3 detachment sites: Magenta, Ducos, and Ile Nou. They were then sent to New Zealand for R&R. The next stop was Banika Island in the Russells to build a dock for Acorn.[4]

From there, the battalion embarked the USS Wharton (AP-7)[5] for the Admiralty Islands campaign. On Los Negros Island 11 built the operational home for the 2nd NCR and started a Lion for the 7th Fleet. Shipmates with them on AP-7 was the 58th CB. At Milne Bay, Los Negros the 11th and 58th CBs joined the 71st. Projects the 11th had were the construction of three repair bases on Seeadler Harbor for seaplanes,[6] landing craft, and the fleet. The seaplane base became home for VPB-52 and their PBYs. From Los Negros the 11th returned to CONUS. After an extended R&R the battalion shipped out along with the 35th and 80th (colored) CBs for Subic Bay, Philippines. At Subic Bay, the 11th took over projects started by the 115th CB as well as team-worked with them on others. These included the completion of an Amphibious Training Center, Advance Base Construction Depot,[7] a 400' marine railway.[8] [9] and a 1,200-foot pier to serve a supply depot. On 1 December 1945 the battalion was inactivated. The record does not give the date that the men reached CONUS.

Cold War era

In August 1953, the battalion was reactivated as Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (MCB 11) at Port Hueneme, CA.[13] The battalion did not deploy to Korea. Instead, her first deployment returned the battalion to its last World War II duty station, Subic Bay.[13] The project was constructing Naval Air Station Cubi Point with its adjacent pier. Along with CBs 2, 3, 5 and 9 MCB 11 was involved in the leveling of a mountain that civilian contractors said could not be done. It cost of $100,000,000 in 1956 ($ in dollars). In November 1955 MCB 11 landed on Kwajalein to build Department of Defense housing totaling 78 buildings. On Halloween 1959, the battalion relieved MCB 9 on Okinawa. The job was building base infra-structure: five 100'x400' warehouses, four shops, plus supply and administration buildings.[13] Sent to Midway Island in December 1961, the battalion worked on a seaplane ramp, the station's roads, as well as civilian and military housing. However, MCB 11 had three atypical projects for the Atomic Energy Commission on Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Nevada. The battalion repaired massive damage caused by the 11 November 1962 arrival of Typhoon Karen on Guam;[13] an advanced party left for the island just days after the storm on 15 November, followed by the main body on 5 December. In 1965 MCB 11 had two Seabee teams sent behind the Iron Curtain to deal with a bug problem the State Department had discovered in U.S. embassies.

Vietnam

   CM3 Marvin Glenn Shields Mobile Construction Battalion 11.

In 1968 the Marine Corps requested that the Navy change its use of "MCB" for Mobile Construction Battalion as the Marine Corps were using "MCB" for "Marine Combat Base". The dual usage was creating confusion in Vietnam. The Navy agreed there was an issue and changed the Navy's CB name format. The USN from "United States Naval" Mobile Construction Battalions was changed to U.S. and the N was moved to the "MCB" creating the "NMCBs" that exist today.

Seabee Technical Assistance Teams

Seabee Teams

2007 to present

NMCB 11 was recommissioned on 14 September 2007 in order for the Naval Construction Forces (NCF) to carry out the increasing construction projects it was being tasked with throughout the world. Eleven was classified as the first "SMART Battalion", and instituted many of the initiatives and changes being implemented to improve NCF operations. According to the battalions webpage, "NMCB ELEVEN is tasked with providing advance base construction, battle damage repair, contingency engineering, humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery support to our fleet and unified commanders."[30]

Insignia

Like most CBs, 11 does not use the unit insignia from WWII. When the battalion was reactivated the first time, a pair of dice showing eleven was adopted for the unit insignia[39] That design had no Seabee on it. The cover of the 1955–56 Cruise-book has an insignia on it exactly like the one used today, minus the phrase "Remembering the Past".[40] For an unknown reason, the dice were removed from the unit insignia on the cover of the 1969 cruise-book.

Unit awards

NMCB 11 has received several unit citations and commendations. Members who participated in actions that merited the award are authorized to wear the medal or ribbon associated with the award on their uniform. Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces have different categories, i.e. Unit, Campaign, Service, and Personal. Unit Citations are distinct from the other decorations. The following unit awards are 11's:[41] [42]

with two bronze stars: 1966, 1967, 1968 (covers two award periods) Vietnam

Campaign and Service Awards |Vietnam Service NMCB 11's Battle Streamer for Vietnam has one silver star and two bronze stars: the streamer alone counts as the first award. MCB 11 made 4 tours of Vietnam. The conflict was divided into 18 award periods and the battalion qualifies for eight.

– 8 awards(see the battle streamer above)

11's Seabee Teams

Unit Letters of Commendation

List of commanding officers

Commanding officerPeriodDeployed to:Detachments
LCDR Ernest A. Heckler style"text-align:left:"Jun 1942 – Oct 1943Tutiula, SamoaUpolo, Samoa, Pago pago
LCDR Benjamin Evans style"text-align:left:"Oct 1943 – Feb 1944Banika, Russell Island
LCDR Lionel C. Tschudy style"text-align:left:"Feb 1944 – Oct 1944Banika, Russell Island
LCDR Edward K Bryant style"text-align:left:"Oct 1944 – Nov 1945Camp Parks, CA, Subic Bay, Philippines
LT Robert F. Wambsgans style"text-align:left:"Nov 1945 – Dec 1944Camp Parks, CA, Subic Bay, Philippinesinactivated
LT Fritz H. Hediger style"text-align:left:"Jul 1953 – Aug 1953NA
LCDR Allison D. Froman style"text-align:left:"Aug 1953 – Sept 1953NA [46]
LCDR James C. Castanes style"text-align:left:"Sept 1953 – Sept 1955Subic Bay, Philippines
CDR John A. Dougherty style"text-align:left:"Sept 1955 – Aug 1957NAS Kwajalein
CDR William R. Reese style"text-align:left:"Aug 1957 – Nov 1957NAS Kwajalein
CDR Harold F. Liberty style"text-align:left:"Nov 1957 – Feb 1960NS Subic Bay Philippines
CDR John P. Williams style"text-align:left:"Feb 1960 – Mar 1962NS Subic BayPhilippines "
CDR Paul J. Doyle, Jr style"text-align:left:"Mar 1962 – Apr 1963NS Subic BayPhilippines "
CDR William W. Barron style"text-align:left:"Apr 1963 – May 1966NS Subic Bay(November STAT 1103 Nam Pat, Thailand) (Feb 1965 STAT 1104 Ben Soi and Dong Xoai, Vietnam), (1 Aug 1965 STAT 1105 Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam)
CDR William L. Wilson style"text-align:left:"May 1966 – Jul 1967'Đà Nẵng, VietnamMar. CB Team 1106-Vĩnh Long, Aug CB Team 1107 Vĩnh Long
CDR William K Hartell style"text-align:left:"Jul 1967 – Jul 1969'Đà Nẵng, VietnamSeabee team 1110 Cần Thơ and Long Xuyên RVN
CDR Jack L Godsey style"text-align:left:"Jul 1969 – Dec 1969Vietnam, Okinawa, GuamSeabee team 1110 Cần Thơ and Long Xuyên RVN
CDR Stephen Revelas style"text-align:left:"Sept 2007 – Jun 2009Gulfport, OEF-OIF, Kuwaitre-commissioned[47]
CDR Michael Monreal style"text-align:left:"Jun 2009 – May 2001Gulfport, OEF-OIF, Kuwait
CDR Lore Aguayo style"text-align:left:"May 2011 – Jun 2013AfghanistanFOB Leatherneck
CDR Steven J. Stasick style"text-align:left:Jun 2013 – Nov 2014RotaDjibouti, Ghana, Niger, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Guam
CDR Jorge R. Cuadros style"text-align:left:"Nov 2014 – Jun 2016RotaDjibouti, Cameroon, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Niger, Chad, Tunisia, Bahrain, Guam, CCAD-Kwajalein, CCAD-Kosrae
CDR James E. Brown style"text-align:left:"Jun 2016 – May 2018RotaPoland, Ukraine, Israel, Germany, Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Djibouti. Cameroon, Gabon, Guam, Kwajalein, Pohnpei, and Chuuk
CDR Dean E. Allen style"text-align:left:"May 2018–PresentRotaPoland, Ukraine, Israel, Germany, Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Djibouti. Cameroon, Gabon, Guam, Kwajalein, Pohnpei, and Chuuk

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: "U.S. Reinforcements 1941–42"
  2. Seabee Online Magazine, "Harbor-Base-Neighbors: When the Navy Came to Port Hueneme, 1942–1945, and Beyond", 26 November 2014, Dr. Frank A. Blazich Jr., Historian, U.S. Navy Seabee Museum
  3. New Hebride Islands, Military Postal History of the United States Forces, 1-42-1946, Stanley C. Jersey, Collectors' Club of Chicago Publisher, 1994,, Appendix C, p. 177
  4. Liberty University DigitalCommons@LibertyUniversity, Obscure but Important: The United States and the Russell Islands in World War II, David Lindsey Snead Summer 2003, p.8
  5. Southern Cross Duty, Eleventh U.S.N. Construction Battalion 1942–1944, Army and Navy Pictorial Publishers, Army and Navy Publishing Company Building, 234 Main Street, Baton Rouge, LA 1944, p. 39,Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA
  6. https://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/png/lombrum/maps/seaplane-base-cu.html Pacific Wecks Website
  7. https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/img/bases2-p393.jpg "Building the Navy's Bases in WWII"
  8. NHHC, U.S.Navy Seabee Museum website, Seabee Unit Historical Information, Naval Construction Battalions, 11th Naval Construction Battalion
  9. Marine railway, CEC Bulletin Vol 2, No.22, Sept. 1949 BuDocks, U.S. Navy
  10. Natives Cooperation Helps Complete Dam, Lt. C.B. Middleton CEC, Seabee News Service, Issue 25, 20 June 1944, p. 3 https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Online%20Reading%20Room/Manuals%20and%20Publications/Publications/seabeenewsservice/Issue%2025_20%20Jun%201944.pdf
  11. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/seabee/explore/seabee-unit-histories.html/ Seabee Unit Historical Information NHHC: Seabee Museum
  12. Southern Cross Duty, Eleventh U.S.N. Construction Battalion 1942–1944, Army and Navy Pictorial Publishers, Army and Navy Publishing Company Building, 234 Main Street, Baton Rouge, LA 1944, p. 39
  13. Naval History and Heritage Command,U.S. Navy Seabee Museum web page, Port Hueneme CA.https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/seabee/explore/seabee-unit-histories/nmcb.html
  14. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/seabee/explore/civil-engineer-corps-history/seabee-team-1104-and-the-battle-of-dong-xoai.html NHHC: Seabee Museum: Seabee Team 1104 and the Battle of Dong Xoai
  15. Seabee Teams in Vietnam 111963-69, Thomas A. Johnson, Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2010,
  16. This Week in Seabee History June 10 - June 16, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme Ca.http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/06/10/this-week-in-seabee-history-june-10-june-16/
  17. Battle at Dong Xoai, BY DANA BENNER,OCTOBER 2018 (VIETNAM MAGAZINE), HISTORYNET, 1919 Gallows Road, Ste 400, Vienna, VA 22182 https://www.historynet.com/swarming-over-the-walls.htm
  18. This Week in Seabee History June 3 - June 9, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme Ca.http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/06/03/this-week-in-seabee-history-june-3-june-9/
  19. Curator’s Corner: Marvin Shields Memorial, Seabee Museum web page, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme Ca.https://seabeemuseum.wordpress.com/tag/vietnam-conflict/
  20. Camp Hansen completed, This Week in Seabee History, Seabee Magazine Sept 16-22, Dr. Frank A. Blazich Jr., NHHC Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca https://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/09/16/this-week-in-seabee-history-september-16-22/
  21. https://www.mcb11.com/historybooksale/history_highlights3.htm MCB 11 Assoc p. 3
  22. http://www.gia-vuc.com/MCB62.htm Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 62 webpage, Gia-Vuc.Com
  23. Southeast Asia, Building the Bases, Richard Tregaskis, U.S.Government Print Office, 1975, pp. 360-68 https://books.google.com/books?id=Koejt5WIaFAC&dq=CBMU+310+NAVCAT&pg=PA459
  24. Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, The Ghost Battalion https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/seabee/explore/civil-engineer-corps-history/the-ghost-battalion.html
  25. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/postwwiicruisebooks/NMCB/nmcb11-cruisebooks/NMCB%2011_1969.pdf NHHC, Seabee Museum website, MCB 11 cruise-book, 1969, p. 68
  26. https://www.mcb11.com/historybooksale/ MCB 11 Association website
  27. Dec 23-29, This week in Seabee History, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), SEABEE Online, 1322 Patterson Ave., S.E., Bldg. 33, Suite 1000, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5065 https://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/12/23/this-week-in-seabee-history-december-23-29/
  28. MCB 11 cruisebook 1964-65, p. 66/102 Seabee Museum Archive, Port Hueneme, Ca.https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/postwwiicruisebooks/NMCB/nmcb11-cruisebooks/NMCB%2011_1964-65.pdf
  29. Spy "Bugs" Open New Worlds for Seabees to Conquer, CIA library reading room https://web.archive.org/web/20170122214400/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP75-00001R000300210032-7.pdf
  30. http://www.public.navy.mil/seabee/nmcb11/Pages/default.aspx/ Official Website for the NCF: Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11
  31. http://www.public.navy.mil/seabee/nmcb11/Pages/history.aspx The Official Website of the U.S. Navy Construction Force, NMCB 11 History
  32. U.S. Navy News Service Website, Story Number: NNS100827-09Release Date: 27 August 2010 9:01:00 AM, 1200 Navy Pentagon, Washington, DC., "USNS Mercy Marks End of Pacific Partnership 2010 Involvement"
  33. U. S. Navy News Service website, Story Number: NNS100518-08Release Date: 18 May 2010 5:10:00 PM, 1200 Navy Pentagon, Washington, DC. "Seabees Assist USAID in Timor-Leste"
  34. U. S. Navy News Service website, Story Number: NNS100702-06Release Date: 2 July 2010 10:23:00 AM, 1200 Navy Pentagon, Washington, DC. "Joint Effort Leads to Success in Timor"
  35. NMCB 11 Seabees Build First Health Care Facility on Kiritimati Island, Story Number: NNS110114-12Release Date: 1/14/2011, Ensign Joe Painter, Pacific Fleet Public Affairs, Chief of Information US Navy, 1200 Navy Pentagon, Washington DC 20350-1200 https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=58013
  36. U.S.Navy Website: "NMCB 11 completes disaster recovery Mission"
  37. Navy SeaBees Clean Up Debris in Support of Hurricane #Sandy Relief, U.S. Navy, Published on Nov 6, 2012, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjB7cdUmfU4
  38. http://themilitaryengineer.com/index.php/tme-articles/tme-magazine-online/item/504-building-an-enduring-presence "Building and Enduring Presence"
  39. Seabee Museum web-site, post WWII cruisebooks, MCB 11, 1953, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/postwwiicruisebooks/NMCB/nmcb11-cruisebooks/NMCB%2011_1953-54.pdf
  40. Seabee Museum web-site, post WWII cruisebooks, MCB 11, 1955-56, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/postwwiicruisebooks/NMCB/nmcb11-cruisebooks/NMCB%2011_1955-56.pdf
  41. https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webapp01.nsf/(frmQUnitAwards)?OpenForm&Search=%3CUName%3ENMCB%2011%3C/UName%3E%3Csort%3E1%3C/sort%3E&Return=javascript:window.close US Navy Awards|NAVY HAS MADE ADDRESS NON-PUBLIC
  42. https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/475F70E6DF9699E486257759004A818E/$File/Award%20Abbreviations.pdf List of Award Abbreviations
  43. http://nmcb11.navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/06/11/nmcb-11-awarded-navy-meritorious-unit-commendation/ OfficialBlogNMCB11
  44. http://www.public.navy.mil/seabee/pages/battlee.aspx Battle 'E' Peltier Perry Awards"
  45. Commander Naval Construction Battalion U.S. Pacific Fleet, Tân Sơn Nhất, Republic of Vietnam, Completion Report 1963-1972 https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZXwbHcoDOkC&pg=SA4-PA17
  46. https://www.mcb11.com/historybooksale/history_highlights2.htm MCB 11 Association p.2
  47. http://www.public.navy.mil/seabee/nmcb11/Pages/history.aspx Official website of the U.S. NCF
  48. Southeast Asia, Building the Bases, Richard Tregaskis, U.S.Government Print Office, 1975, pp. 302, 355-60 https://books.google.com/books?id=Koejt5WIaFAC&dq=Southeast+Asia+Building+the+Bases%2C+NMCB+11&pg=PA356