DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY U. S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION SEVENTY-ONE

FPO NEW YORK 09501 NMCB71: S3: jmm 5213 Ser 50 21 March 1 972

From: Commanding Officer, U. s. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVENTY-ONE

To: Commander, U. S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica

Subj: Deployment Completion Report; submission of

Ref: (a) TF 43 OPORD 1-71

Encl:

(b) COMCBLANT OPORD 1-72

(1) Administrative Sununary (2) Equipment Report (3) Training Report (4) Labor Distribution Report (5) Construction Report (6) Supply and Logistics Report (7) Lessons Learned

1. This report is submitted in accordance withreference (a) as required in the performance of reference (b) .

2. EMPLOYMENT STATUS. In accordance with reference (b), U. s. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVENTY-ONE was deployed to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, from 10 October 1971 to 24 February 1972. NMCB-7l's mission was to supply construction support to the Operation Deep Freeze Program.

3. UNIT MOVEMENT.

28 September 1971

5 October 1971

5 October 1971

10 October 1971

LCDR GREEN and SWC AMICK leave Davisville to establish NMCB-71 Rep Christchurch.

LT LARSEN, OIC NMCB-71 Antarctic Detachment, LTJG MORTON, and 15 enlisted men departed Davisville, R. I. for McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Commenced deployment of NMCB-71 Antarctic Detachment to McMurdo Station.

LT LARSEN, LTJG MORTON, and 15 enlisted men arrived McMurdo Station.

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15 October 1971

20 October 1971

23 October 1971

5 November 1971

8-9 November 1971

9 December 1971

12 December 1971

13 December 1971

14 December 1971

25 January 1972

11 February 1972

14 February 1972

15 February 1972

21 February 1972

23 February 1972

3 March 1972

NMCB71: S3: jmm 5213

CDR CROSSON, CO, NMCB-71, departed Davisville, R. I. for McMurdo Station.

CDR CROSSON arrived McMurdo Station.

Completed deployment of NMCB-71 Antarctic Detachment to McMurdo Station.

BU2 DIETRICH and 11 men departed for Brockton Station to construct the new station complex.

SWC AMICK, EOC WRIGLEY and 9 men departed for South Pole Station to prepare equipment and facilities for upcoming construction season.

LTJG HEINSTADT, OIC South Pole Detail, arrives at South Pole.

BU2 DIETRICH and eight remaining men returned from Brockton Station to McMurdo Station.

BUl CRIPPS and five other men departed McMurdo for Siple Station.

ENS ZACHARY and nine men departed McMurdo for~

Siple Station.

Fourteen men from the first contingent redeploying to CONUS.

ENS ZACHARY and Siple crew departed Siple and returned to McMurdo.

LT HEINSTADT returns from South Pole Station marking the close of outlying station operations.

Main body redeployment to Davisville begins.

CDR CROSSON departs McMurdo for Davisville.

LTJG KOLLER and 8 men depart McMurdo marking close of DF construction season.

LTJG KOLLER and LTJG MORTON plus 31 men arrive Davisville, marking completion of redeployment.

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4. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS.

10 October 19 71

15 November 1971

25 November 1971

10 December 1971

23 December 1971

25 December 1971

1 January 1972

6 January 1972

11 January 1972

16 January 1972

16 January 1972

1 7 January 1972

21 January 1972

25 January 1972

30 January 1972

NMCB7l :S3: jmm 5213

Constructicn season opens with arrival o f first contingent to McMurdo.

RADM McCUDDIN, Commander, Task Force 43, visited NMCB-71 at quarters and presented CDR CROSSON the Meritorious Service Medal.

Thanksgiving Day. Battalion observed Holiday routine.

CO and SEA departed on a four week trip to visit Battalion's Seabee Teams in RVN and Detachment Chagos on Diego Garcia.

Peter Snow Miller at South Pole became oper­ational at 0338Z this date.

Christmas Day. Battalion observed holiday routine

New Years Day. Battalion observed holiday routine.

CO and SEA return from four week trip to visit Battalion's Seabee Teams in RVN and Detachment Chagos on Diego Garcia.

LT BRITT, 21st NCR Training Officer arrived at McMurdo to establish homeport training schedule.

First resupply ship, USNS Towle, arrived McMurdo

COMMODORE ROGERS, COMCBLANT, and MASTER CHIEF EGELUS, MASTER CHIEF OF THE ATLANTIC SEABEES, visited McMurdo Station to attend planning conference and tour construction sites.

DF 73 Planning Conference begins

DF 73 Planning Conference ends. COMMODORE ROGERS and MASTER CHIEF EGELUS depart.

Incinerator project turn over inspection.

Second resupply ship, USNS WYANDOT arrives McMurdo.

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7 February 1972

9 February 1972

11 February 1972

12 February 1972

14 February 1972

15 February 1972

15 February l.972

18 February 1972

·' 25 February 1972

28 February 1972

Copy to: COMNAVSUPPFORANTARCTICA COMCBLANT CINCLANTFLT COMSERVLANT CINCPACFLT SEABEE HISTORIAN DIR OF NAVAL HISTORY NAVFACENGCOM (CODE 06/0632B) NAVFACENGCOM (CODE 0412) COM 20th NCR COM 21st NCR CO CBC DAVISVILLE CO CBC GULFPORT CO NAVSCOLCONST DAVISVILLE CO NAVSCOL CEC OFF

NMCB71: S 3: jnun 5213

LCDR CARLSON, prospective NMCB-71 Operations Officer, arrives McMurdo to view jobsites and battalion operations.

Advanced party redeploying to CONUS arrives Christchurch, New Zealand.

Siple station construction season ends.

OIC leaves Ice, Det ANTARCTICA is disestablished.

South Pole Station Construction season closes.

Fuel ship, USNS MAUMEE, arrives McMurdo.

Fire Station/Telephone Exchange final inspection.

Final turnover of Williams Field Berthing Complex.

Main body redeploys to CONUS.

NMCB-71 CHOPS to COM21NCR to Operational Control, homeport training, and reorgainization.

~1M1c!!~f Acting

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CO NCEL COMANTARCTICSUPPACT (2) ANTARCTICDEVRON SIX COMNAVSUPPFORANTARCTICA (CODE N6) (4) SSEO PORT HUENEME NAVCHAPGRU OIC ASA DET "B" OIC ASA DET "C" MCB's 1, 40, 62, 74, 133 ACB-2 CMC (CODE A04E)

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JABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION

I. ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY

A. PERSONNEL SUMMARY

B. RE-ENLISTMENT SUMMARY

C. SAFETY

D. DISCIPLINE

E. MORALE

F. MESSING AND BERTHING

G. ANTARCTIC SUPPORT ACTIVITIES PROVIDED FUNCTIONS

H. PUBLIC AFFAIRS

I. AWARDS AND PROMOTIONS

II. EQUIPMENT SUMMARY

III, TRAINING

A. GENERAL

B. CROSS RATE TRAINING

C. IN-RATE TRAINING

D. SAFETY TRAINING

E. PLANNING FOR HOMEPORT

IV. LABOR DISTRIBUTION

V. A. GENERAL

B. PROGRESS AND PERFORMANCE REPORT

C. POL LINES

D. SCOTT BASE ROAD

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

E. ELLIOTT QUAY PROTECTIVE FACING

F. NAVAL CIVIC ENGINEERING LABORATORY SUPPORT

G. SUPPLY OPERATIONS

H. BUILDING DEMOLITION

I. CHARTS

VII. LESSONS LEARNED

A. ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

B. TRAINING

C. OPERATIONS

D. SUPPLY AND LOGISTICS

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U. S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION SENVENTY-ONE ANTARCTIC CONSTRUCTION GROUP

OFFICERS AND CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS

OFFICERS

CDR W. E. CROSSON, CEC, USN

LT Q. J. LARSEN, CEC, USN

LT J. P. HEINSTADT, CEC, USNR

LTJG D. P. KOLLER, CEC, USNR

LTJG K. D. MORTON, CEC, USNR

ENS W. H. BURDON, SC, USNR

ENS J. M. ZACHARY, CEC, USN

ENS T. L. SYLVESTER, CEC, USNR

COMMANDING OFFICER

OFFICER IN CHARGE, ANTARCTIC DETACHMENT

DELTA COMPANY COMMANDER SOUTH POLE STATiON PROJECT OFFICER

BRAVO COMPANY COMMANDER

OPERATIONS OFFICER PLANS AND TRAINING OFFICER

SUPPLY OFFICER BERTHING OFFICER

SIPLE STATION PROJECT OFFICER LEGAL OFFICER SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER

ALFA COMPANY COMMANDER ASSISTANT SIPLE STATION PROJECT ASSISTANT SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER

CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS

CUCM L. W. HON, USN

EOCS L. W. SROCK, USN

SWC H. E. AMICK, USN

BUC R. A. BONIELLA, USN

EOC O. J. DEROCHEA, USN

BUC V. W. HAIFLEY, USN

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SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISOR OPERATIONS CHIEF SAFETY CHIEF

ENGINEERING CHIEF ACTING ALFA COMPANY COMMANDER BLASTING SUPERVISOR

POLE STATION PROJECT CPO

DELTA COMPANY CHIEF

ALFA COMPANY CHIEF

DELTA COMPANY BUILDER PLATOON CPO

CEC C. E. PILLOW, USN

UTC O. K. SMILEY, USN

YNC R. R. SMITH, USN

EOC R. J. WRIGLEY, USN

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BRAVO COMPANY CONSTRUCTION ELECTRICIAN PLATOON CPO.

BRAVO COMPANY CHIEF

ADMIN/PERSONNEL OFFICER

PETER SNOW MILLER SPECIALIST (SOUTH POLE STATION)

SECTION I

ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY

On Board at Attached But Not Total Change During Pay Deployment Deployment Personnel pe2loyment

Grade Site Site Assigned Jransfers Re_c~ipt2. -----·-E- 9 1 0 1 1 1

E-8 1 0 1 0 0

E-7 7 0 7 0 2

E-6 20 0 20 2 5

E-5 18 1 19 0 4

E-4 65 1 66 3 8

NON-RATED 71 1 72 2 1

TOTAL 183 3 186 8 21

OFFICERS 8 0 8 2 2

B. REENLISTMENT SUMMARY

NUMBER ELIGIBLE NUMBER REENLISTED PERCENT - --·---------- -·--l. USN

A. DPPO 1 0 0 B. OTHER 5 1 20 ·--·------SUB-TOTAL 6 1 17

I· USNR A. 2 x 6 0 0 0 B. VOLUNTEER 0 0 0 c. INVOLUNTARY RECALL 0 0 0 SUB-TOTAL 0 0 0 ·----------·---· GRAND TOTAL 6 1 17

~================-===----------··

• 3. Number of separation interviews given: NON-CAREER 21 ---CAREER 1

4. Career: Number Eligible 2 Nwnber Reenlisted 1 Percent 50

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C. SAFETY

1. Stand-up Safety Meetings: Number 88 Total Attendance 1077

2. Deployment Accident Summary: On_ Dut'.t. Off Duty

First Aid Cases 13 2 0 0

Lost Time Accidents 1 2 2.5 0

Vehicle Accidents 1 1 0 $404

D. DISCIPLINE.

1. NUMBER CASES HEARD AT CAPTAINS MAST--8

2. NUMBER CASES AWARDED NJP-------8

3. NUMBER CASES AWARDED COURTS-MARI'IAL-0

4. DISTRIBUTION OF OFFENSES:

a. Article 86 - Unauthorized Absence 3

b. Article 87 - Missing Movement 3

c. Article 91 - Disrespect to a Superior Petty Officer 3

d. Article 108 - Damage or Destruction of Government Property 2

e. Article 111 - Drunk and Reckless Driving 1

f. Article 121 - Wrongful Appropriation 1

g. Article 128 - Assault 1

h. Article 134 - General Article 2

Total does not add to the total number heard at Captains Mast because several

persons were reported under more than one Article of the UCMJ.

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E. MORALE

The morale of the NMCB-71 Antarctic Construction Group remained high

throughout the deployment. Of highest importance to all hands has been the

completion of projects in a quality manner. The inability to complete

the Geodesic Dome at South Pole has been a major discouragement to the men

and the one source of disappointment in this season's effort.

Indicative of the morale shown by the troops was the Siple Station

crew's resolution to stay on site until their job was done. Work was

completed in near blizzard conditions, but every man was giving his most

towards getting the job finished. At Pole, temperatures of -30 and below

did not stop the crew from continuing work, and it was principally the

failure of the HUCK system which prohibited further effort. At McMurdo,

while facing continual equipment problems and manpower shortages caused by

a greater than expected requirement at the outlying stations, the men

volunteered to work nights and Sundays to assure job completion.

Several items were of particular importance to the morale of the men.

Mail service was generally good at McMurdo although infrequent flights

caused long gaps in delivery to the outlying stations. The local HAM

radio stations at all locations provided weekly phone patches to the states

w~ich were a continual boost to morale.

Recreational facilities in McMurdo were relatively limited, however,

movies, several clubs, a weight lifting room, pool tables, and a tape

recording room provided full season facilities to all hands. In addition, a

basketball league was formed and operated for two months before

closing to turn the makeshift gym back into a food storage warehouse.

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NMCB-71 fielded three teams with one, the Electric Toilet Bowls, finishing

second among the ten teams. CE2 DUSTIN of NMCB-71 won the most valuable

player award.

Recreational facilities at the outlying stations were minimal. Movies

were the main source of entertainment at both Siple and Pole, and a small

club at South Pole supplemented facilities there. An improvement in this

area has the potential to significantly help morale at the outlying

stations .

Overall it has been a good season for all hands and the men are

justifiably proud .of their efforts.

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F. MESSING AND BERTHING

The berthing and messing facilities are provided by the Conunander,

Antarctic Support Activities. The berthing facilities for summer support

personnel at McMurdo are austere, but, considering the overall environment,

mission, and tenure, they are considered satisfactory. Improvements in some

of the Jamesway huts or replacement with T-5 buildings would be a major

improvement. The messing, on the other hand, is excellent, especially

considering the circumstances and logistics disadvantages under which it

must operate.

At South Pole Station, all conditions were extremely cramped due to

the greatly overloaded condition the addition of 50 Seabees created. The

situation was helped somewhat by the two shift construction effort but

could not be totally alleviated. The galley and club were generally filled

beyond comfortable capacity. Inadequate laundry and shower facilities

accentuated the problem. Food was generally satisfactory although a lack

of fresh provisions was a problem.

At Siple Station, the berthing facilities were slightly cramped

as the crew grew above the expected size. However, overall the berthing

situation was satisfactory. Food was generally good although an

almost total lack of fresh provisions prevented much variety in the menus.

The inclusion of fresh provisions on a regular basis would make conditions

at Siple much more satisfactory.

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G. ANTARCTIC SUPPORT ACTIVITIES PROVIDED FUNCTIONS:

The Chaplain, Medical, and Dental facilities are provided the battalion

by the Antarctic Support Activities. The battalion is tasked with providing

one corpsman to ASA throughout the season. Cooperation and support in these

areas was outstanding. The following summary provides a list of the

services received:

1. MEDICAL

a. The following data are totals for the reporting period:

1. Number hospitalized 16

2. Number treated at Sick Call 552

3. On sick list monthly 11

4. Number of new VD cases 0

b. Total VD cases this deployment

2. DENTAL DEPARTMENT

a. Patients Treated

b. Total Procedures

c. Number of patients in each Dental

Class I 118

Class II 57

Class III .(5

Class IV 5

Class v 0

3. CHAPLAIN'S ACTIVITIES

0

30

36

Classification (average):

a. RELIGIOUS SERVICES NO. SERVICES AVG ATTEND TOTAL ATTEND

PROTESTANT

ROMAN CATHOLIC

OTHER

45

33

0

1-8

7

17

0

315

561

0

b. COUNSELING

Total Number Sessions

Number of Individuals only

c. Number of Red Cross Messages

H. PUBLIC AFFAIRS:

198

125

84

NMCB-71 utilized a Second Class Engineering Aid as its PAO representative

in Antarctica. His photographs and stories were submitted to TF 43 Public

Affairs Office and then published. One article on Cold Weather Blasting

was published in the Navy Times. A total of 13 articles were released.

In addition, TF 43 released several Home Town News Releases on NMCB-71

personnel. Input for the Battalion cruisebook was gathered in Antarctica

and will be incorporated with that from the other deployment sites to

produce the final publication in late summer.

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I. AWARDS AND PROMOTIONS:

1. Number of awards presented in the following categories.

Expert Rifle/Pistol Medal 9 Good Conduct Medal 3

Purple Heart O Other 6

2. PERSONAL AWARDS, DECORATIONS, CITATIONS, AND SEABEE OF THE MONTH.

3.

4.

CDR w. E. CROSSON, 132 24 6461; Meritorious Service Medal

Seabee of the Month

November LUCZYNSKI, M. EOCN 023 40 6261

December CHURCH, L. w. E03 491 52 3777

January BAIM, G. W. BU3 556 66 3647

OFFICER PROMOTIONS

To Lieutenant: John P. HEINSTADT

ADVANCEMENTS IN RATE.

To: E2 0 E3 9 E4 3 ES 3 E6 0 E7 0 EB 0

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