Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133
Encyclopedia
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 is a United States Navy
Construction battalion, otherwise known as a Seabee
Battalion, based out of Construction Battalion Center (CBC) Gulfport, Mississippi
.
on September 17, 1943 as Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) 133. The Kangaroo was selected as a symbol, along with "Kangroo Can Do" as a slogan for NMCB 133, because the battalion's first scheduled deployment was originally to Australia
. They were later redirected to Naval Air Station, Honolulu for their first deployment site.
NCB 133 accompanied the invading forces on Iwo Jima
on February 19, 1945; with a primary goal of maintaining a constant supply to the forward lines of Marine forces. As soon as the Japanese were driven from their airstrips, the Seabees went to work and in just seven days the northeast-southwest runway had been made operational and was in use by American planes. Over the 26 days the battle for Iwo Jima waged on, NCB 133 endured 245 casualties, including 3 officers and 39 enlisted men killed in action. This was the highest number of casualties for any Seabee unit in history.
Over the next five months that the Battalion spent on Iwo Jima, over 100,000 tons of rock was crushed, over a million cubic yards of earth moved, 5,900 feet of drainpipe was laid, 4,000 feet of conduit was installed and 725 cubic yards of concrete was placed. NCB 133 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation
for its part in the Battle of Iwo Jima. In December 1945, following the end of World War II
NCB 133 was decommissioned
due to the reduced need to maintain Construction Battalions.
On August 12, 1966, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion
(NMCB) 133 was recommissioned in ceremonies aboard the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. Commander Edward H. Marsh was assigned as the Commanding Officer
.
recommissioned Battalion's initial deployments. During their first
deployment to Da Nang, Vietnam in 1966, projects for the Battalion ranged
from final construction of a prisoner-of-war camp to building a staging area
for significant amounts of stone to be displaced. NMCB 133 received its
second Navy Unit Commendation for its enduring support of friendly forces
during its deployment to Vietnam.
Phu Bai was the site of the Battalion's second Vietnam deployment in 1968.
The major project at Phu Bai was the monumental task of overlaying the
Hue-Phu Bai airstrip with over 10,000 individual sheets of matting.
A third deployment was made to Vietnam in 1969. The Runnin' Roo's were based
at Camp Wilkinson, about six miles southeast of Hue, the country's ancient
imperial capitol. One of the major projects was the reconstruction of a
286-foot length of highway, including a bridge, at Hue. All of which had been
badly damaged during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The most extensive project
undertaken by the Kangroo Battalion was the upgrade and maintenance of 70
miles of paved highway. Among other projects, they were also tasked with
extending 96 culverts and repairing dozens of bridges.
came through the central Gulf Coast, taking many lives and causing catastrophic damage to the homes and businesses of countless residents. Within a day, the Seabees from Battalions of NMCB 1
, 7, and 133 rushed out to clear roads so emergency workers could access hard hit areas.
In the ensuing weeks, 133 provided extensive humanitarian aid around the area including the critical repair of lift stations, cleaning and repair of government buildings and schools and the distribution of food, water and clothing to local residents in need.
As these important projects were going on, teams from the Battalion were deployed to assist Seabees who were affected by Katrina. In NMCB 133, 118 out of 659 people either lost their homes entirely or had them damaged so badly they were unliveable. Those Seabees and their families either sought refuge in warehouses on base or with friends and family.
Only two months later, the Roo's were ready to deploy in November 2005. NMCB 133 deployed to numerous sites throughout Southwest Asia, with additional details in Guam and Whidbey Island. In Iraq, the Runnin’ Roo's of NMCB 133 supported Marines, Special Operating Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.
The NMCB 133 2007 deployment, covered four continents. The Battalion worked in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) building schools in remote villages and making clean water available to locals. A detail assigned to “New Horizons” built schools in rural Belize
. NMCB 133 also had presence in São Tomé
, working in cooperation with Underwater Construction Team ONE (UCT 1) to rebuild the only boat launch available to the country’s Coast Guard.
Over the next few years the Battalion made 2 sepparate deployments to Iraq and Okinawa, Japan. NMCB 133's Seabees built the foundation for new buildings on White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, and restored running water to a village in Kemaman, Malaysia that had not had such a luxery in over three years. A 35-foot wind-powered turbine and solar pannel were installed to provide power to the pump.
Following the end of the PACOM tour, the Roo's redeployed to Gulfport, MS for a 15 month homeport and training cycle. In March 2010, the Battalion deployed over 600 Seabees from Gulfport to Afghanistan in support of the 30,000 troop surge.
NMCB 133 successfully set up a site on Kandahar Airfield (KAF), Afghanistan which was used as their mainbody site. The site consisted of nothing more than a bed of gravel when they arrived. Within a month the Battalion had a fully operational Seabee Camp. They constructed buildings, set up tents, and worked with an adjacent Army unit to supply power.
Among the list of accomplishments completed by NMCB 133's Runnin' Roo's the following were most noteworthy:
In October 2010, NMCB 133 received the Atlantic Fleet Best of Type Battle "E" award for its outstanding efforts during the CENTCOM deployment.
In March 2011, the Battalion once again deployed to Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan where it is currently involved in many projects, including the renovation of a new galley facility, the construction of a 207 square meter concrete storage building at White Beach Naval Facility, installation of concrete drainage ditches, and camp improvement projects on Camp Shields.
NMCB 133 has been the recipient of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Naval Construction Force Best of Type Battle "E" a total of 11 times.
The Battalion has also Received the Peltier Award on ten occasions. The Peltier Award is given to the best Active Duty Seabee Battalion in the Naval Construction Force for that fiscal year.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Construction battalion, otherwise known as a Seabee
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
Battalion, based out of Construction Battalion Center (CBC) Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
.
Early History
CommissionedShip commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on September 17, 1943 as Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) 133. The Kangaroo was selected as a symbol, along with "Kangroo Can Do" as a slogan for NMCB 133, because the battalion's first scheduled deployment was originally to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They were later redirected to Naval Air Station, Honolulu for their first deployment site.
NCB 133 accompanied the invading forces on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
on February 19, 1945; with a primary goal of maintaining a constant supply to the forward lines of Marine forces. As soon as the Japanese were driven from their airstrips, the Seabees went to work and in just seven days the northeast-southwest runway had been made operational and was in use by American planes. Over the 26 days the battle for Iwo Jima waged on, NCB 133 endured 245 casualties, including 3 officers and 39 enlisted men killed in action. This was the highest number of casualties for any Seabee unit in history.
Over the next five months that the Battalion spent on Iwo Jima, over 100,000 tons of rock was crushed, over a million cubic yards of earth moved, 5,900 feet of drainpipe was laid, 4,000 feet of conduit was installed and 725 cubic yards of concrete was placed. NCB 133 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
for its part in the Battle of Iwo Jima. In December 1945, following the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
NCB 133 was decommissioned
Ship decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
due to the reduced need to maintain Construction Battalions.
On August 12, 1966, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion
There are 9 active-duty Naval Mobile Construction Battalions — known as C.B.'s — in the United States Navy, split between the east and west coasts...
(NMCB) 133 was recommissioned in ceremonies aboard the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. Commander Edward H. Marsh was assigned as the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
.
NMCB 133 in Vietnam
Following a period of training, Vietnam was the site of the newlyrecommissioned Battalion's initial deployments. During their first
deployment to Da Nang, Vietnam in 1966, projects for the Battalion ranged
| NMCB 133 Former Commanding Officers | Period of Command |
|---|---|
| CDR Raymond P. Murphy | Jan 1944 - Sep 1945 |
| LT George R. Imboden | Oct 1945 - Nov 1945 |
| LCDR Clarence W. Palmer | Sep 1945 - Oct 1945 |
| LT Thomas P. Cooke | Nov 1945 - Dec 1945 |
| CDR Edward H. Marsh, II | Aug 1966 - Jul 1968 |
| CDR Frank H. Lewis, Jr. | Jul 1968 - Nov 1969 |
| CDR J. J. Gawarkiewiez, III | Nov 1969 - Mar 1971 |
| CDR William C. Conner | Mar 1971 - Aug 1973 |
| CDR Leland R. Dobler | Aug 1973 - Apr 1974 |
| LCDR Bruce L. McCall | Apr 1974 - Jun 1974 |
| CDR Richard A. Lowery | Jun 1974 - Jul 1976 |
| CDR Gene Davis | Jul 1976 - Jul 1978 |
| CDR George D. Fraunces | Jul 1978 - Oct 1979 |
| CAPT Herbert H. Lewis, Jr. | Oct 1979 - Jul 1981 |
| CAPT Dorwin C. Black | Jul 1981 - Jun 1983 |
| CAPT A. A. Kannegiesser | Jun 1983 - Aug 1985 |
| CAPT Richard E. Brown | Aug 1985 - Jun 1987 |
| CDR Bruce St. Peter | Jun 1987 - Aug 1989 |
| CDR Donald B. Hutchins | Auh 1989 - Sep 1991 |
| CDR Douglas F. Elznic | Sep 1991 - Jun 1993 |
| CDR Richard J. McAfee | Jun 1993 - Apr 1995 |
| CDR Gary A. Engle | Apr 1995 - Jun 1997 |
| CDR Paul Bosco | Jun 1997 - Jun 1999 |
| CDR Katherine L. Gregory Katherine L. Gregory Rear Admiral Katherine L. Gregory is the first female flag officer in the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps. She assumed command of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific on July 9, 2010.-Background:... |
Jun 1999 - Jul 2001 |
| CDR Douglas G. Morton | Jul 2001 - Jun 2003 |
| CDR Jeffery T. Borowy | Jun 2003 - May 2005 |
| CDR Allan M. Stratman | May 2005 - May 2007 |
| CDR Paul J. Odenthal | May 2007 - June 2009 |
| CDR Chris M. Kurgan | Jun 2009 - May 2011 |
| CDR Nick D. Yamodis | May 2011 – Present |
for significant amounts of stone to be displaced. NMCB 133 received its
second Navy Unit Commendation for its enduring support of friendly forces
during its deployment to Vietnam.
Phu Bai was the site of the Battalion's second Vietnam deployment in 1968.
The major project at Phu Bai was the monumental task of overlaying the
Hue-Phu Bai airstrip with over 10,000 individual sheets of matting.
A third deployment was made to Vietnam in 1969. The Runnin' Roo's were based
at Camp Wilkinson, about six miles southeast of Hue, the country's ancient
imperial capitol. One of the major projects was the reconstruction of a
286-foot length of highway, including a bridge, at Hue. All of which had been
badly damaged during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The most extensive project
undertaken by the Kangroo Battalion was the upgrade and maintenance of 70
miles of paved highway. Among other projects, they were also tasked with
extending 96 culverts and repairing dozens of bridges.
2005-Present
On August 29, 2005 Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
came through the central Gulf Coast, taking many lives and causing catastrophic damage to the homes and businesses of countless residents. Within a day, the Seabees from Battalions of NMCB 1
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1, is a United States Navy Seabee battalion. NMCB 1 has a long, proud and distinguished history that reaches back to the early days of World War II.-History:...
, 7, and 133 rushed out to clear roads so emergency workers could access hard hit areas.
In the ensuing weeks, 133 provided extensive humanitarian aid around the area including the critical repair of lift stations, cleaning and repair of government buildings and schools and the distribution of food, water and clothing to local residents in need.
As these important projects were going on, teams from the Battalion were deployed to assist Seabees who were affected by Katrina. In NMCB 133, 118 out of 659 people either lost their homes entirely or had them damaged so badly they were unliveable. Those Seabees and their families either sought refuge in warehouses on base or with friends and family.
Only two months later, the Roo's were ready to deploy in November 2005. NMCB 133 deployed to numerous sites throughout Southwest Asia, with additional details in Guam and Whidbey Island. In Iraq, the Runnin’ Roo's of NMCB 133 supported Marines, Special Operating Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.
The NMCB 133 2007 deployment, covered four continents. The Battalion worked in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) building schools in remote villages and making clean water available to locals. A detail assigned to “New Horizons” built schools in rural Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
. NMCB 133 also had presence in São Tomé
São Tomé
-Transport:São Tomé is served by São Tomé International Airport with regular flights to Europe and other African Countries.-Climate:São Tomé features a tropical wet and dry climate with a relatively lengthy wet season and a short dry season. The wet season runs from October through May while the...
, working in cooperation with Underwater Construction Team ONE (UCT 1) to rebuild the only boat launch available to the country’s Coast Guard.
Over the next few years the Battalion made 2 sepparate deployments to Iraq and Okinawa, Japan. NMCB 133's Seabees built the foundation for new buildings on White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, and restored running water to a village in Kemaman, Malaysia that had not had such a luxery in over three years. A 35-foot wind-powered turbine and solar pannel were installed to provide power to the pump.
Following the end of the PACOM tour, the Roo's redeployed to Gulfport, MS for a 15 month homeport and training cycle. In March 2010, the Battalion deployed over 600 Seabees from Gulfport to Afghanistan in support of the 30,000 troop surge.
NMCB 133 successfully set up a site on Kandahar Airfield (KAF), Afghanistan which was used as their mainbody site. The site consisted of nothing more than a bed of gravel when they arrived. Within a month the Battalion had a fully operational Seabee Camp. They constructed buildings, set up tents, and worked with an adjacent Army unit to supply power.
Among the list of accomplishments completed by NMCB 133's Runnin' Roo's the following were most noteworthy:
- The drilling of a well over 1,210 feet deep that produces approximately 25,000 gallons of water per day.
- The construction of many Southwest Asia (SWA) Huts over many locations throughout Afghanistan.
- Construction and electrical distribution to many living quarters, shower units, and dining facilities.
- Significant perimeter expansion of four forward operating bases.
- Construction of numerous crow's nest observation towers.
Location of
Deployment
Year Vietnam 1966 Vietnam 1968 Vietnam 1969 Guam 1970 Okinawa 1972 Spain 1972 Okinawa 1974 Diego Garcia 1976 Diego Garcia 1979 Spain 1982 Puerto Rico 1983 Okinawa 1984 Spain 1991 Iraq 1991 Guam 1992 Spain 1993 Spain/
Yugoslavia1995 Guam 1997 Afghanistan 2001 Afghanistan/
Iraq2003 Okinawa 2004 Iraq 2005 Iraq 2007 Okinawa 2008 Afghanistan 2010 Okinawa 2011
- The construction/expansion of 3 helicopter landing pads.
In October 2010, NMCB 133 received the Atlantic Fleet Best of Type Battle "E" award for its outstanding efforts during the CENTCOM deployment.
In March 2011, the Battalion once again deployed to Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan where it is currently involved in many projects, including the renovation of a new galley facility, the construction of a 207 square meter concrete storage building at White Beach Naval Facility, installation of concrete drainage ditches, and camp improvement projects on Camp Shields.
Awards
Throughout the Battalion's history in the Naval Construction Force, it has received many Unit Citations and Commendations. Members who participated in actions that meritted the award, are authorized to wear the medal or ribbon associated with the award on their uniform. NMCB 133 has been presented the following awards: World War II Victory Medal |
 Armed Forces Service MedalArmed Forces Service Medal The Armed Forces Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created on January 11, 1996 by President Bill Clinton under... |
 Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary RibbonGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,... |
 Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Cactions Medal)Vietnam Civil Actions Medal The Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was a decoration of South Vietnam which was first established in 1964. The decoration is a mid-level service award which was awarded to any member of the Vietnamese military who performed outstanding civic service to the state or who participated in civil service... |
 Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm) |
| US Navy Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon |
 Humanitarian Service RibbonHumanitarian Service Medal The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under... |
 Vietnam Service RibbonVietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during... |
 Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation RibbonMeritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... |
 Navy Expeditionary RibbonNavy Expeditionary Medal The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy... |
 Navy Unit CommendationNavy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944... |
 Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... |
 Battle Efficiency AwardBattle Effectiveness Award The Battle Effectiveness Award , commonly known as the Battle "E", is awarded annually to the small number of U.S... |
NMCB 133 has been the recipient of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Naval Construction Force Best of Type Battle "E" a total of 11 times.
The Battalion has also Received the Peltier Award on ten occasions. The Peltier Award is given to the best Active Duty Seabee Battalion in the Naval Construction Force for that fiscal year.