Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5
| Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 | |
|---|---|
 NMCB 5 1984 insignia | |
| Active | 15 May 1942 – 1945 10 July 1951 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USN |
| Part of | 30th Naval Construction Regiment |
| Homeport | CBC Port Hueneme, Ca. |
| Nickname(s) | "The Professionals" |
| Motto(s) | Pride and Professionalism |
| Engagements | World 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
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 WWII insignia
5th Marine Regiment insignia
CB 5 adopted the Seahorse of the 5th Marines
Battalion insignia since recommissioning
5th MCB 1951 insignia
later MCB 5 insignia
NMCB 5 1970 insignia
Aircraft-carrier
docked adjacent the field. (USN)
History
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WWII
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
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
On July 15, 1951, CB 5 was reactivated as a MCB.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
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 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
- 0501 DanPau, Jan 1963[13]
- 0501 Buom Me Ga, Apr 1963
7th Special Forces airstrip[13] - 0502 Tri Ton Jan 1963[13]
- 0502 Chau Lang ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~5th Special Forces airstrip[13]
- 0502 Dan Chau, Jun 1963 ~ ~5th Special Forces Camp and airstrip[13]
- 0503 Minh Thanh, Jan 1964 ~ 5th Special Forces[13]
- 0503 Moc Hoa, Mar 1964 ~ ~5th Special Forces[13]
- 0503 Bu Gia Map, Jun 1964 ~5th Special Forces[13]
- 0504 Pleiku, Jan 1964 ~ ~ ~ ~5th Special Forces Camp and airstrip[13]
- 0504 Kannack Special, Feb 1964 5th Special Forces Camp and airstrip[13]
- 0504 Dong Ba Thin, May 1964 5th Special Forces Camp and airstrip[13]
- 0504 Nha Trang, May 1964[13]
- 0505 Quang Tri, Oct 1964[13]
- 0505 Phar Rang, Dec 1964[13]
- 0506 Quang Ngai, Oct 1964[13]
- 0506 Da Nang, Mar 1965[13]
- 0507 Dran, Nov 1965[13]
- MTT#5 Pleiku, Oct 1965 (Well drilling team)[13]
- 0509 Thoai Son, Dec 1966[13]
- 0510 Tan An, Jan 1967[13]
- 0511 Bao Trai, Sep 1967[13]
- 0511 Go Dau Ha, Jan 1968[13]
- 0513 Tan Son Nhut, 0Dec 1968[13]
- 0513 Ben Tre, Jan 1969[13]
- 0514 Phu Vinh, Feb 1969[13]
- 0517 Ben Tre, Apr 1970[13]
- Det. Ba To 1970 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Special Forces Camp runway upgrade
- 0518 Soc Trang, Mar 1971[13]
Post Vietnam, Iraq
NMCB 5 history[14]
_5_practice_setting_up_a_triple-strand_concertina_wire_fence_during_the_NMCB-5_annual_Khaki_field_exercise.jpg)
- On August 7, 1990 CBs 4, 5, 7, and 40 were ordered to start preparations for Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Ali Al Salem Air Baseand Camp Moreell.
- On March 21, 2003, Five's Seabee Engineering Reconnaissance Team SERT-5 along with four other SERTs crossed from SERT-5 was relieved by the SERT-4 at the airfield outside Qalat Sukkar.
- 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
- 1962 Typhoon Karen Guam Naval Base, MCB 5 set up 500 tents for the islanders
- 1989 Hurricane Hugo Charleston, SC, Antigua and Puerto Rico
- 1995 Hurricane Luis Antigua, St. Thomas, St. John[14]
- 1995 Hurricane Marilyn Antigua, St. Thomas, St. John[14]
- 1993 Ventura County fires
- 2000 Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crash[14]
List of commanding officers
| 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, 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 | 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, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, San Clemente Island, Ca., Philippines[14]
|
Unit Awards
Navy Unit Commendation 1967 Vietnam[16]- Navy Unit Commendation 1971, 8 man det Vietnam[12]
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation 1971[16]- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation 1971, 9 man det Vietnam[12]
- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation 1971, 14 man det Vietnam[12]
- Navy Unit Commendation 1971 Vietnam[16]
- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation 1989[2]
- Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation 2000[2]
- Navy Unit Commendation 01Mar2005–28Feb2006 2D Marine Division[2]
- Presidential Unit Citation USN/USMC 2009-10 Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan[2]
- Navy "E" Ribbon : – U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle "E" 14 times.[17]
- Peltier Award: – 4 times.
- Best of Type: Seabee Team 0517[18]
- Naval Construction Brigade Commander's Commendation[2]
- Commendatory letter, Major General Hugh H. Casey, U.S.Army Chief Engineer 31 Aug, 1945
Campaign and service awards
Vietnam Service
MCB 5 saw service in 13 of the award periods.
American Campaign Medal - Territory Hawaii[16]- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/2 bronze stars[16]
World War II Victory Medal[16]
Vietnam Campaign Medal service ribbon with 60– Device : –
Vietnam Service Medal: –
Navy Expeditionary Medal 1979
U.S. Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon 1989
Humanitarian Service Medal 1989
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5.
- Admiral Ben Moreell
- Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 (ACB-1)
- Amphibious Construction Battalion 2 (ACB-2)
- Civil Engineer Corps United States Navy
- Naval Construction Battalion
- Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
- Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
- Naval Construction Battalion Center (Gulfport, Mississippi)
- Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133
- Seabees in World War II
- Seabee
- Underwater Construction Teams
References
- ^ 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]
- ^ 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]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i NCB 5 history file, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca
- ^ Midway Bases, World War II Database, C. Peter Chen of Lava Development, LLC.[3]
- ^ a b c US Navy Abbreviations of World War II, Naval History and Heritage Command, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C.[4]
- ^ NCB 5 Cruisebook, NHHC, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca
- ^ MCB 5 Completion Report 1965-66, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C.[5]
- ^ MCB 5 Completion Report 1966-67, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [6]
- ^ MCB 5 Completion Report 1967-68, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [7]
- ^ NMCB 5 Completion Report 1969, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [8]
- ^ 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]
- ^ a b c d NMCB 5 Completion Report 1971, NHHC website, 1022 O Street SE, Washington, D.C [10]
- ^ 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
- ^ 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]
- ^ 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]
- ^ 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
- ^ Battle "E" Peltier Perry Awards, Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA 93043 [13]
- ^ This Week in Seabee History: Dec. 9-15, Dr Frank A. Blazich Jr., Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA