Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133
NMCB 133 insignia
Active	September 17, 1943 - present
Country	United States
Branch	USN
Homeport	Construction Battalion Center Gulfport
Nickname	"Runnin' Roos"
Motto	"Kangroo Can Do"
Engagements	World War II Vietnam War Operation Provide Comfort Gulf War Operation Joint Endeavor Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	CDR N. D. Yamodis

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.^[1]

Early History

Commissioned 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.^[2] 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.

NMCB 133 in Vietnam

Following a period of training, Vietnam was the site of the newly recommissioned 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	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

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.

2005-Present

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina 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:

• 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/ Yugoslavia	1995
Guam	1997
Afghanistan	2001
Afghanistan/ Iraq	2003
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 Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Ribbon

Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Cactions Medal)

Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm)

US Navy Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon

Humanitarian Service Ribbon

Vietnam Service Ribbon

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon

Navy Expeditionary Ribbon

Navy Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Battle Efficiency Award

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.^[3] The Battalion has also Received the Peltier Award on ten occasions. ^[4] The Peltier Award is given to the best Active Duty Seabee Battalion in the Naval Construction Force for that fiscal year.

References

1. ^ http://www.public.navy.mil/usff/1NCD/Pages/NMCB133/default.aspx
2. ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/nmcb133.htm
3. ^ https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webbas01.nsf/(vwWebPage)/home.htm?OpenDocument
4. ^ http://www.same.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=260&Itemid=83

External links

• NMCB 133 Homepage
• NMCB 133 information
• NMCB 133 Facebook Page