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Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5

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Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5
NMCB 5 1984 insignia
Active15 May 1942 – 1945
10 July 1951 - present
CountryUnited States
BranchUSN
Part of30th Naval Construction Regiment
HomeportCBC Port Hueneme, Ca.
Nickname(s)"The Professionals"
Motto(s)Pride and Professionalism
EngagementsWorld War II
Vietnam War
Gulf War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		CDR John K. Pergerson[1]

Naval Construction Battalion 5 was commissioned on May 25, 1942 at Camp Allen Va.[2] The battalion went to Port Hueneme and shipped out for the first of two deployments in the Pacific. When the war ended CB 5 was decommissioned in the Philippines. On July 10, 1951 the Battalion was re-commissioned as a MCB and remains an active unit today.

WWII Unit Insignia
5th CB
5th CB WWII insignia
5th Marine Regiment
5th Marine Regiment insignia
CB 5 adopted the Seahorse of the 5th Marines
Battalion insignia since recommissioning
5th MCB
5th MCB 1951 insignia
5th MCB
later MCB 5 insignia
NMCB 5
NMCB 5 1970 insignia
5th CB WWII HQ sign. (Seabee Museum)
Midway Atoll airfields. Runway in black remains in use today the ones in gray have been abandoned.
French Frigate Shoals 3,100' x 275' runway was created by NCB 5.
NAS Cubi Point, MCB 5 Seabees helped leveled a mountain that civilian contractors said could not be done. Note the Aircraft-carrier docked adjacent the field. (USN)
MCB 5 constructing an Integrated Wideband Communication System Antenna on Monkey Mountain during the 1966-67 Vietnam deployment. (Seabee Museum)

History

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US Navy 040510-F-5855M-061 Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Five (NMCB-5) and Thailand Army soldiers work together to build a community center in Ban Poon Suk, Thailand in 2004
US Navy 060821-N-7770P-002 A team of U.S. Navy Seabees from NMCB 5, attached to Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF HOA), set up tents in 2006

WWII

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With pressing construction needs in the Pacific, Naval Construction Battalion 5 was "rushed" in its formation. With its ranks full of qualified tradesmen the battalion was quickly given its military indoctrination and processed in less than a month for transit to Port Hueneme, Ca. From there the battalion boarded ship and was the first CB into the Hawaiian Territory.[3] "NAS Honolulu" was actually Naval Air Station Barbers Point and it was on CB 5's work list.[3] Also on the list was Midway Atoll. Sand Island had another airfield in need of attention.[3] Rounding out the first deployment were projects on French Frigate Shoals, Canton Island, Johnston Atoll and Palmyra atoll.[3] At French Frigate shoals an island had to be made for the base and airfield to be constructed upon. CB 5 was rotated CONUS on 19 March 1944, arriving Camp Parks, Ca on March 24.[3] Five's Midway replacement was the 50th CB who arrived on April 4.[4] From Camp Parks the battalion was transferred to Port Hueneme. While there the battalion was given its next assignment and attached to Cub-16. That was canceled with the battalion attached to the 7th Fleet and General MacArthur. On January 10, 1945 CB 5 departed Port Hueneme for Leyte where it arrived February 15. Nine days later the battalion would land at it new job site on Calicoan, Samar. The main projects would be an ABCD,[5] ACEPD,[5] NSD[5] and roads and water supply for all of it.[3] At Calicoan CB 5 had divers doing shallow water work for a seaplane ramp.[6] There were several detachments, one to both Advance Base Unit 10(NABU-10) and NABU-12. Able Company went to Balikpapan, Borneo to help the Aussies joining Detachments from the 111th and 113th CBs. On 13 August the battalion learned it was assigned Operation Olympic the first element of Operation Downfall. Downfall was the plan for the invasion of Japan. Set to begin in November 1945, Operation Olympic was intended to capture the southern third of the Japanese island of Kyūshū. This was to be followed by Operation Coronet, the second element, which was planned to land near Tokyo. VJ-day terminated these Operations leaving NCB 5 in the Philippines.[3] CB 5 was then listed to be tasked to the Operation Beleaguer mission in China, but received notice mid-October that was canceled too.[3] Naval Construction Battalion 5 was deactivated on December 3, 1945.[3]

Korea

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On July 15, 1951, CB 5 was reactivated as a MCB.[2] The Korean War had begun and the Navy realized it had a need for an air station in the region. Cubi Point in the Philippines was selected, and civilian contractors were initially approached for the project. After seeing the Zambales Mountains and the surrounding jungle, they claimed it could not be done. The Navy then turned to the Seabees and was told no problem, Can do. The first Bees to arrive were surveyors of CBD 1802. MCB 3 arrived on 2 October 1951 to get the project going and was joined by MCB 5 in November. Over the next five years, MCBs 2, 7, 9, 11 and CBD 1803 also contributed to the effort. They leveled a mountain to make way for a nearly 2-mile long (3.2 km) runway. NAS Cubi Point turned out to be one of the largest earth-moving projects in the world, equivalent to the construction of the Panama Canal. Seabees there moved 20 million cubic yards (15 million cubic metres) of dry fill plus another 15 million that was hydraulic fill. The $100 million facility was commissioned on 25 July 1956, and comprised an air station with an adjacent pier capable of docking the Navy's largest carriers. Adjusted-for-inflation, today's price-tag for what the Seabees built at Cubi Point would be $906,871,323.53. The Philippine government did not renew the base's lease with the United States in 1992. The airfield now Subic Bay International Airport.

Vietnam

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From 1965 to 1972, NMCB FIVE made six consecutive deployments to Vietnam.[2]

  • September 1965 - May 1966, Danang ~ Camp Hoover[7]
  • October 1966 - June 1967, East Danang ~ Camp Adenir, assigned to III Marine Amphibious Corps[8]
  • November 1967 - July 1968, Camp Barnes Dong Ha Combat Base, assigned to III Marine Amphibious Corps[9]
  • January - October 1969, Danang ~ Camp Hoover[10]
  • January - October 1970, North Danang ~ Camp Haskins, During this deployment the battalion was visited by many flag officers some of whom visited multiple Detachments multiple times.[11]
    • VADM E.R Zumwalt Jr., Chief of Naval Operations[11]
    • VADM J.H. King Jr., Commander U.S. Naval Force Vietnam[11]
    • RADM J. G. Dillon, Commander 3rd Naval Construction Brigade[11]
    • RADM A.R. Marschall, Commander 3rd Naval Construction Brigade[11]
    • RADM Combs COMSERPAC[11]
    • RADN Bonner NAVSUPPAC Danang[11]
    • RADM W.H.Heman COMCBPAC[11]
    • RADM Adamson, Commander Naval Support Activities, Siagon[11]
    • RADM H.S. Mathews Deputy U.S. Naval Force Vietnam[11]
    • Lt. Gen H. Nickerson Jr. USMC Commander III Marine Amphibious Corps[11]
    • Lt. Gen; Buss USMC Commander FMFPAC[11]
    • BGEN E.P. Yates USA MACVDC[11]
    • Commodore Chou RVN Navy Chief of Naval Operations[11]
  • Mar - Nov 1971, North Danang, Camp Haskins ~ Eight detachments in Vietnam plus dets to the Philippines, Guam, and Alaska.[12] NMCB 5 was the last battalion to deploy to Vietnam March to November 1971.[2] The battalion had numerous incidents with mines on that deployment. NMCB 5 also had an unusual number of flag officer visits again on this deployment.

In 1972, the battalion moved all its troops and equipment to Thailand.[2] The project there was the construction of Nam Phong Air Base.[2]

Seabee Teams

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Post Vietnam, Iraq

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NMCB 5 history[14]

Suspension bridge built by NMCB 5 CCAD in Timor-Liste 2015(Seabee Museum)
US Navy 081014-N-1205P-121 Chiefs and officers of NMCB 5 practice setting up a triple-strand concertina wire fence during 5's field exercise at Camp Pendleton in 2008.
  • NMCB Five was called into action again in support of the Global War on Terrorism during its 2005 deployment. Personnel from NMCB Five were integrated with reserve unit NMCB TWO SEVEN sending over 330 personnel to various locations throughout Southwest Asia. Majority of the work was in support of Special Operations Command with many sites being classified. Many personnel provided direct support to the Iraqi Army by constructing bases and facilities to support their ongoing struggle for stability.
  • NMCB FIVE was deployed to Afghanistan from February to August in 2009 to work on Camp Leatherneck.[2] The battalion returned again in 2010.

Disaster recovery

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List of commanding officers

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Commanding officer Period Deployed to Detachments
Lt Cmdr Edgar S. Winham Jun 42- Mar 44 Island X Midway atoll, Palmyra atoll, Canton Is, Johnson Isl, French Frigate Shoals, Kauai, NAS Honolulu, T.H.[16]
" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -" Jan- Dec 45 Calicoan Island Cebu City, Iloilo City, Parang, Mindanao, Balikpapan, Borneo[16]
Cmdr. Irwin M. Smith Oct 51-Jul 53 Subic Bay[16]
Cmdr. Irwin M. Smith Sep 53 - Oct 54 Subic Bay[16]
Cmdr. Irwin M. Smith Jan 55 - Oct 55 Subic Bay[16]
Cmdr. H.W. Whitney 1959-60 Guam[16]
Cmdr. D.E.Kean 1960-61 Okinawa[16]
Cmdr John Richey 1961-62 Okinawa[16]
Cmdr. James S Burfield Nov 62 - Mar 64 Guam[16]
Cmdr W.F. Russell 1964-65 Okinawa[16]
Cmdr W. F Russell 1965 - 66 Vietnam[16]
Cmdr. E. J. Williams Jr. 1966-67 Vietnam[16]
Cmdr. E.J. Williams Jr. 1967-68 Vietnam[16] 22 detachments in support of the Marines throughout the northern I Corps region
Cmdr. Robert A. Schade Jr. 1968-69 Vietnam[16]
Cmdr. Robert A. Schade Jr. 1969-70 Vietnam[16]
Cmdr. Robert A. Schade Jr. Nov 70- May 71 Vietnam Vietnam dets Bronco, Maverick, Mustang, Pinto, & Stallion, Adak, Guam, Philippines[16]
Cmdr. Robert J. McHugh Jr. May 72- Nov 72 Okinawa Nam Phong, Thailand
Cmdr. Robert J. McHuch Jr. 1973-74 Okinawa Philippines, Taiwan, Sasebo, Iwakuni, Yokosuka, Seabee team 0522 USS Sanctuary[16]
Cmdr. R W. AuerBach Jr 1974-75 Puerto Rico [16]
Cmdr. David C. de Vicq 1975-76 Diego Garcia [16]
Cmdr. David C. de Vicq 1976-77 Rota Spain Greece, Crete, Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Scotland
Cmdr Donald Austin Dec 77 - Sep 78 Puerto Rico Guantanamo Bay, Eleuthera, Keflavick, Diego Garcia
Cmdr.Donald Austin Mar-Nov 79 Diego Garcia Clark AB, Philippines
Cmdr. J.T. Patterson May 80 - Jan 81 Guam Diego Garcia, Yokosuka Japan, Midway, Pearl Harbor, Seabee team Palau
Cmdr K.C.Kelly Jul 81 - Mar 82 Rota Spain Diego Garcia, Nea Makri Greece, Sigonella NAS, Naples
Cmdr K.C.Kelly Aug 82 _ Apr 83 Puerto Rico Gitmo, Bermuda, Andros Isl., Vieques Isl., Seabee team Yap Isl.
Feb-Oct 86 Subic Bay Sigonella & Lappedusa Italy
Cmdr. F.W Dew May 87 - Jan 88 Puerto Rico Guantanamo Bay, Andrus Isl., Camp David, Damneck Va., Vieques Isl., Panama, Honduras, Haiti
Cmdr. D.F. Walsh Oct 89 - May 90 Puerto Rico NAS Rodman Panama, NAS Bermuda, Abdros Isl., NAVFAC Antigua, Camp David, Hurricane Hugo
Cmdr. D.F. Walsh Aug 90 - Apr 91 Saudi Arabia Operations Desert Shield and Storm
Cmdr. H.B. Wittaker II Jan - Aug 92 Okinawa Adak and Kodiak, Alaska, Pohang and Chinhae, Korea and Saaebo, Fuji, Iwakuni, Yokoauka and Atsugi, Japan
Cmdr. R.L Phillips Mar - Oct 93 Puerto Rico El Salvador, Belize, Columbia, Grenada, St. Kitts, Trinidad
May - Dec 94 Okinawa Adak and Kodiak, Alaska, Camp Hialeah, Pohang and Chinhae, Korea and Saaebo, Fuji, Iwakuni, Yokoauka and Atsugi, Japan
Cmdr. J. M. Barrett Jul 95 - Aug 96 Guantanamo Bay Puerto Rico, Vieques, Panama, Little Creek Va, Key West Fl, Norfolk Va
Cmdr. D.P. King Nov 97 - Sep 98 Puerto Rico Andros Isl., Guantanamo Bay, Jacksonville Fl., Norfolk Va., Vieques Isl.
Cmdr. M.A. Handley Jan-Aug 1999 Okinawa Pohang & Chinhae So. Korea, Atsugi, Iwakunhi, Sasebo, & Yokosuka Japan
Cmdr. D.L.Fleisch May-Dec 2001 Okinawa Pohang & Chinhae So. Korea, Atsugi, East Timor, Iwakunhi, Sasebo, & Yokosuka Japan
2002 Rota Spain Kuwait Operation Enduring Freedom[14]
2005 Island X[14] Special Operations support. Site locations remain "classified" information.
Aug 09 Afghanistan Camp Leatherneck[14]
2010 Afghanistan I Marine Expeditionary Force
Feb 2015 Okinawa Japan, South Korea, Diego Garcia, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, San Clemente Island, Ca., Philippines[14]

Unit Awards

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Campaign and service awards Vietnam Service MCB 5 saw service in 13 of the award periods.

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5.

References

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  1. ^ Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FIVE, The Official website of the Naval Construction Force, Commanding Officer NMCB 5, 2600 Dodson Street, Suite 3, Port Hueneme, CA 93043. [1]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FIVE: History, The Official website of the Naval Construction Force, Commander, Naval Construction Group ONE, 1436 Pacific Road, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4301 [2]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i NCB 5 history file, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca
  4. ^ Midway Bases, World War II Database, C. Peter Chen of Lava Development, LLC.[3]
  5. ^ a b c US Navy Abbreviations of World War II, Naval History and Heritage Command, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C.[4]
  6. ^ NCB 5 Cruisebook, NHHC, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca
  7. ^ MCB 5 Completion Report 1965-66, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C.[5]
  8. ^ MCB 5 Completion Report 1966-67, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [6]
  9. ^ MCB 5 Completion Report 1967-68, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [7]
  10. ^ NMCB 5 Completion Report 1969, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [8]
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n NMCB 5 Completion Report 1970, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [9]
  12. ^ a b c d NMCB 5 Completion Report 1971, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [10]
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Commander Naval julimpletion Report 1963–1972. Seabee Teams
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FIVE History, Seabees Official Navy webpage, Commanding Officer, NMCB 5, 2600 Dodson Street Suite 3, Port Hueneme, CA 93043 [11]
  15. ^ a b SERT, SEABEE ENGINEER RECONNAISSANCE TEAM, ANDREW G. WRIGHTof the ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD, SEABEE MAGAZINE SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE DOUBLE ISSUE 2003, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Attn: SEABEE Online (Code PA), 1322 Patterson Ave., S.E., Bldg. 33, Suite 1000, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5065, p. 58. [12]
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z NMCB 5 Cruise book 1974-75, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca, p. 7/200
  17. ^ Battle "E" Peltier Perry Awards, Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA 93043 [13]
  18. ^ This Week in Seabee History: Dec. 9-15, Dr Frank A. Blazich Jr., Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA
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