| Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 | |
|---|---|
NMCB 133 insignia |
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| 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 |
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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]
Contents |
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.
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.
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:
| 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 |
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.
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:
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.