~~PD~T 0~1~~ MAY 1967-FEBUARY 1968

U. S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION

THREE

Ob3~11> 0£323

'31/'-/

U.S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION THREE FLEET POST OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO 96601

MCB3/PWB/gjs "- 5213

,._

Ser 281 19 February 1968

From: Commanding Officer, u.s. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE

To: Commander, Naval Construction Battalions, Pacific

Subj: Deployment Completion Report for Period May 1967 through January 1968; submission of

Ref: (a) COMCBPAC INST 5213.lD

Encl: (1) Deployment Completion Report

1 •. :Snclosure (1), summarizing Mobile Construction Batt.alien THRE~ 's activities while deployed to Hue/Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam, from May 1967 through January 1968, is forwarded pur­suant to reference (a)~

r/2,,(.1/Z R. L. FO~~ 7

Copy to: COKCJ3PAC (orig & 1) CINCPACFLT COESERVPA.C COMSEHVL.hNT COMCBLANT (2) COM3NCB COM30NCR COMjlNCR (2) COM32NCR (2) COM20NCR (2) COrl.21NC~ (2) CO 8B CEN PORHUE (2) CO NAVSCOLCONST SO fi .-. '/SC_OL Cl!:C OFF .::o NC:EL N;WE'.:\C::'.:NGCOM (Code 06)(2) J IR OF' N.\ VAL HIS TO RY DI~{ OF CONST NORTHERN AREA .\LL NJ.ICBs ALL GBMUs

CG TI~FPAC CGIIINAF COM NA VlrnRV CO.MNAVFORV REP DANANG

""

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SECTION I - CHRONOL03Y

16 Apr 67

26 Apr 67

3 May 67

8 May 67

17 May 67

22 May 67

24 May 67

26 May 67

31 May 67

2 Jun 67

8 Jun 67

20 Jun 67

27 Jun 67

30 Jun 67

30 Jun 67

NMCB THREE's pre-adTance party arrived at Phu Bai, RVN, to select a new advance base camp site.

One (l) CPO and seven (7) enlisted men arrived in Da Nang to establish logistic support for the construction of NKCB THREE's Gia Le Combat Base Camp west of Phu Bai.

First flight of NMCB THREE's adTance party depart Port Hueneme in C-ll8s for Phu Bai.

l.38 enlisted men and 4 officers of the advance party arrived on board at Gia Le Combat Base.

Commanding Officer, NMCB THREE, arrived at adTance base camp site. ~

First flight of main body departed Port Hueneme in C-130s for ,L /0 Phu Bai, RVN. 1:f"

Lowboy loaded with sandbags caught fire and burned as a re­sult of spontaneous combustion.

Seabee Team 0.309 departed CONUS for duty in RVN.

Final night of main body arrived in country.

Captain A. R. MARSCHALL, Commander THIRTIETH Naval Construc­tion Regiment visited the NMCB THREE camp.

Storm India detail established; consisting of 18 men assigned to upgrade Col Co Road between Hue and Tan My.

Seabee Team 0307 arrived in CONUS upon completion of their tour in RVN.

Captain A. R. MARsCHALL, Commander 30NCR, visited the NMCB THREE camp.

Storm Delta l detail established; consisting o! 8 men tasked to construct FSI components in support of FSI, I CQrps Advis­ory Office, Hue City.

During the 30 June - 2 July period, fifteen (15) members of the battalion participated in the 3d Annual Hue Olympice and won l gold, l silver and 9 bronze medals.

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2 Jul 67

4 Jul 67

4 Jul 67

4 Jul 67

7 Jul 67

10 Jul 67

11 Jul 67

13 Jul 67

20 Jul 67

26 Jul 67

2.7 Jul 67

31 Jul 67

Commander J. D. RUMBLE, Office or the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Commander T. JONES, Construction Directorate Command, Headquarters Saigon, visited the NMCB THREE camp.

Rear Admiral W. H. HEAMAN, COMCBPAC, Captain R. D. THORSEN, Commander, }lNCR, Captain A. R. MARSCHALL, Commander, 30NCR, and Commander D. H. BODTKE, Construction and Equipment Offi­cer, CBC, Port Hueneme, visited the NKCB THREE camp.

Storm Juliet detail established; consisting of 15 men assigned to construct and recondition bridges on Route #1 North and the Hue Bypass. ·

NMCB THREE held dedication ceremonies for the opening or the EM club.

NMCB THREE 1 s MARS Station was activated and began operations for all commands in the Gia Le Combat Base.

Storm Delta l detail increased to 12 men, transferred from Hue to begin construction of the 3d Marine Division's chapel.

Captain A. R. MARSCHAll, Commander 30NCR visited the camp.

Storm Quebec detail established; consisting of 13 men assigned to begin developing a rock crusher and quarry site.

Seven (7) man detail began construction of the Hue Armed Forces and GVN TV stations. The AFRTV station's initial telecast vas transmitted 6 August 1967 at 1700.

Commander c. c. HEID, Chief Staff Officer, 30NCR and Com­mander T. K. JONES, Construction Directorate Command, Head­quarters Saigon, visited the camp.

NMCB THREE water truck hit mine on Col Co Road; driver sus­tained minor injury.

Captain s. J. WYNNE Jr, COMNAVFORV Representative Da Nang, Lieutenant Colonel HUNTZINGER, .Base Development, and Com­mander WAGGONER visited the camp.

Commander R. L. FOLEY, Commanding Officer, NMCB THREE, assumed command of the THIRTY-SECOND Naval Construction Regiment at commissioning ceremonies of the regiment.

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l Aug 67

2 Aug 67

2 Aug 67

6 Aug 67

19 Aug 67

22 Aug 67

26 Aug 67

30 Aug 67

1 Sep 67

1-4 Sep 67

9 Sep 67

11 Sep 67

15 Sep 67

Storm Tango detail established; consisting of 14 men assigned to repair road and install culverts on Route #l North between Hue and Camp Evans.

Asphalt distributor caught fire in project material yard causing damages in excess of $3,000. 28 letters of apprecia­tion were awarded to personnel who prevented the fire from spreading throughout the project aaterial yard.

The 200 TPH rock crusher was placed in operation.

One (l) Purple Heart Medal was awarded.

Major c. J. TYSON, Military Training and Ordnance Officer, 3lNCR, and Lieutenant Commander F. M. NEWCOMB, Planning Offi ­cer, COMCBPAC, visited the camp.

Rear Admiral J. B. BARTLETT, Prospective Commander, THIRD NaTal Construction Brigade, and Captain J. M. HILL, Prospec­tive Commander, 32NCR, visited the camp.

Captain J. M. HILL relieved Commander FOLEY a.e Commander 32NCR. -

During a Viet CoDg mortar attack on the Phu Bai Combat Base, the battalion's camp was hit by one (l) 10.5mm howitzer round from friendly artillery. The round impacted in the enlisted berthing area, killing CMl J. W. WILKINSON and YN3 D. C. COKER, and wounding nineteen (19). BUC WARE, GYSGT LOPEZ and DT2 FERCH were cited for heroism.

Rear Admiral w. M. ENGER, Vice Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Rear Admiral J. B. BARTLETT, Commander, 3NCB, Captain c. w. TURNER, Pacific Division Southeast Asia, and Captain H. J. JOHNSON, PACDIV, visited the camp.

Due to increase4 Viet Cong activity in the immediate area personnel manned their &~ctor of the Gia Le Combat Base de­fensive perimeter each nig~t.

Due to increased Viet Cong activity in the immediate area personnel manned their sector of the Gia Le Combat Base de­fensive perimeter all night.

Personnel and equipment bivouaced with the 3d Marine Engineer Battalion, 3 miles west of Gia Le Combat Base on Route 546 came under mortar and small arms attack. No friendly casual­tires sustained. NMCB THREE grader damaged by mortar fire.

Commander FOLEY departed TAD as OIC of "Ghost Battalion", /

Quf#ftr -re,,

~16 Sep 67

18 Sep 67

20 Sep 67

24 Sep 67

27 Sep 67

29 Sep 67

l Oct 67

2 Oct 67

5 Oct 67

10 Oct 67

11 Oct 67

Site X, Quang Tri Province. Lieutenant Command T. L. LONEGAN assumed command as Acting Co111111anding Of'ficer, NMCB THREE.

Storm Yankee detail established; consisting of one (1) offi­cer and 29 enlisted men a8Signed to construct a 105,000 barrel tank farm at Tan My.

Due to increased Viet Cong activity in the immediate area per­sonnel manned their sector of the Gia Le Combat Base defense perimeter all night.

A 5-ton dump truck activated a mine 5.3 miles north of Hue on Route #l North. The Marine shotgun rider received minor in­juries.

The 3d Marine Division chapel built by NMCB THREE was dedica­ted in memory of the late Major General HOCHMUTH, Commanding General, 3d Marine Division.

The Marine Security Force at the NMCB THREE quarry site en­gaged an estimated VC battalion. Marines used 81mm mortars, 106mm recoiless rifles, automatic weapons and called in sup­porting fire from gunships, ARVN 105mm, howitzers and 15.5mm howitzers located in the Gia Le Combat Base. An airburst from a 15.5mm howitzer showered the NMCB THREE cantonment with shrapnel. There were no friendly casualties or property damage.

EON2 Dale R. BERG was fatally injured in an industrial acci­dent while working on the MAG-16 Phu Bai project.

One (1) Purple Heart Medal was awarded.

An NMCB THREE 5-ton dump truck activated a mine while working on Col Co Road repairs. A disembarked passenger received in­juries. A piece of tire from the truck went through a window of an adjacent NMCB THREE ~ton cargo truck, causing mul­tiple minor cuts to the driver.

NMCB 'l'HREE's Col Co Road detachment, Storm India, received 60-70 rounds of small arms fire and two M-79 rounds. There wer~ no casualties or property damage.

Forty (4o) letters of appreciation, signed by the late General HOCHMUTH, Commanding General, 3d Karine Division, were presented to personnel of the battalion.

NMCB THREE personnel manned the defensive periaeter due to increased Viet Cong patrols in the area.

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13 Oct 67

).8 Oct 67

23 Oct 67

31 Oct 67

l Nov 67

4 Nov 67

5 Nov 67

6 Nov 67

8 Nov 67

10 Nov 67

10 Nov 67

12 Nov 67

14 Nov 67

18 Nov 67

22 Nov 67

The Col Co Road detachment, Storm India, received seYeral friendly howitzer rounds striking trees in the camp area. There were no casualties or property damage •

Seabee Team 0308 arrived at Phu Bai upon completion of six months deplo)'Dlent.

Storm Delta l detail increased to 22 men and transferred to provide construction support for MAG-36. ,, -

Commander w. WILSON, COMCBPAC Operations Officer, and Lieutezr ant HENLEY, COMCBPAC Administrative Officer were on board for a management review and visit. /

''Ghost Battalion" disestablished. Commander FOLEY returned % and resumed command of NMCB THREE.

Work commenced on soil cementing and laying matting !or a 90,000 sq yd parking apron at MAG-36.

Three (3) drivers and one (l) mechanic detailed to NMCB ELEVEN in support of repairs to Route 561 at Dong Ba.

Five (5) culverts placed by NMCB THREE were destroyed on Route #1 North. The culverts were immediately replaced.

An NMCB THREE front end loader detonated a road mine on Col Co Road. No casualties were sustained.

An NMCB THREE fuel truck activated a road mine on Route #1 North. Two (2) personnel on the truck received minor injury •

C Company detail of 5 men, who were living and working at the Hue TV Station returned to base camp.

EOH2 Geter A. HENSLEY died of pneumoccal meningitis aboard the USS Sanctuary.

One (1) Purple Heart Medal was awarded.

Two (2) road mines were discov&red by our personnel working on Route #1 North. The container of one mine had been broken open by a road grader blade and powder spread on the road. The other mine was destroyed by a Marine EOD team.

Three (3) persons, believed to be Viet Cong, were seen near the NMCB THREE perimeter.

5

22 Nov 67

25 Nov 67

2 Dec 67

5 Dec 67

5 Dec 67

5 Dec 67

6 Dec 67

~10 Dec 67

15 Dec 67

16 Dec 67

20 Dec 67

An unknown number of Viet Cong were seen near the NMCB ~ rock crusher site. The camp went on a ~ alert; M-60s, M-79s and 40mm cannon were fired and the VC retreated.

An NMCB THREE front end loader detonated a road mine on Route #1 North resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle and minor injuries to the operator of another vehicle in the sa11e vicinity.

Rear Admiral A. c. HUSBAND, Chief of NAVFACENGCOM- and par~y arrived in camp.

At a convoy passing site four (4) mines, believed to be com­mand detonated dud bombs, were exploded simultaneousl~. Several men were knocked down by the blast and one man was carried 4o feet through the air. No damages or injuries were incurred.

Rear Admiral J. B. BARTLETT, Commander 3NCB, dedicated Camp Wilkinson in memory of CMl J. W. WILKINSON, killed during a mortar attack on the Phu Bai/Gia Le bases. Sixteen (16) Purple Heart Medals were presented to NMCB THREE personnel.

Commander c. R. WHIPPLE, Public Works, Subic Bay, the pro­spective NMCB THREE Commanding Officer, visited Camp Wilkin­son.

The rock crusher/quarry site received .36 rounds of 82mm mortar fire. Five (5) Marines and one (l) Kit Carson Scout were killed, and five (5) Marines and four (4) NMCB THREE personnel were wounded. Four (4) pieces of equipment were damaged. EOl A. B. COLEMAN was cited for heroism.

Seabee Team 0309 returned to the main body at Camp Wilkinson upon completion of their tour in Vietnam.

An unknown number of persons, beiieved to be Viet Cong, were spotted near the Camp Wilkinson perimeter. The group was driven off by M-60 machine gun fire and M-16 rifles.

NMCB THREE•s advance party consisting of one (1) officer and~. 24 enlisted men departed Camp Wilkinson for Port Hueneme.

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r

22 Dec 67

23 Dec 67

1 Jan 68

8 J,.tn 68

12 Jan 68

12 Jan 68

12 Jan 68

15-27 Jan 68

16 Jan 68

22 Jan 68

22 Jan 68

25 Jan 68

NMCB THREE completed construction of the 3d Marine Divi­sion• s 1,000 seat amphitheater in time tor the Chris Noel Christmas Show.

EON3 Nicholae G. WALZ and EON3 Lester L. WILLIAMS of NMCB THREE died instantly as a result of a VC m~ning incident.

One (1) Navy Commendation Medal and one (l) Navy Achieve­ment Medal with Combat V, and six (6) Purple Heart Medals were forwarded to current commands of former NMCB THREE personnel for presentation.

NMCB EIGHT' s advance party arrived on boar.d at Camp Wilkinson.

Commenced BEEP.

The NMCB THREE operations officer and A Company Commander were performing a road reconnaissance for the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division when the second vehicle of their con­voy, carrying· the NMCB EIGHT operations officer, A Company Commander and operations chief, struck a mi.De. All three NMCB EIGHT personnel were wounded.

Three (3) dump trucks and three (3) operators and one (1) mechanic returned from TAD to NMCB ELEVEN where they had been working in support of Route 561 construction.

136 letters of commendation were awarded at morning quar­ters. 24 from 3NCB, _34, from 32NCR and 78 from co, NMCB THREE for outstanding performance during the deployment.

The inhabitants of the ialand of Phu Luu gave a party for selected NMCB THREE personnel in appreciation for the assistance provided them through the civil affairs program.

The rock crusher/quarry site was officially dedicated as Camp Coker in memory of YN3 COKER who was killed during a mortar attack on the Phu Bai/Gia Le complex.

Completed BEEP.

Set Condition Alpha at 02.50 and Condition I at 0245 for 35 minutes due to nine (9) mortar and artillery rounds impact­ing near the Camp Wilkinson perimeter.

7

25 Jan 68

28 Jan 68

28 Jan 68

28 Jan 68

29 Jan 68

29 Jan 68

~ 31 Jan 68

31 Jan 68

l Feb 68

~ l Feb 68

Storm Tango detail disestablished.

Five (5) Purple Heart Medals were awarded.

First flight of NMCB THREE main body eaplaned in C-124 air­craft for Clark AFB.

Illumination and 18 rounds of M-16e fired at unknown person moving on NMCB THREE perimeter.

Person sighted just outside NMCB THREE perimeter. Indivi­dual fled upon illumination of the area.

One (1) Navy Commendation Medal for heroism and five (5) Purple Heart Medals were awarded by the co, NMCB THREE.

Gia Le Combat Base received 20 to 30 rounds of 122mm rockets during the early morning hours. Four (4) rounds received in the NMCB THREE camp. EONCN Lawrence N. STANGEL killed in action, EON3 Gary W. BERT and CN Delbert T. BYES wounded. EOH2 Roger K. Smiley, also wounded, was cited for heroi&11. Three (3) NMCB Eight personnel were wounded. Engineering building and C Company office destroyed, others damaged. Sixteen (16) letters of commendation were awarded to person­nel who in the face of enemy fire prevented the fire caused by the attack from spreading throughout the administrative complex. Personnel went to mortar shelters and then manned the perimeter for the remainder of the night.

Gia Le Combat Base received rocket fire during midday. NMCB THREE went to Condition A1pha but no rounds received in the camp area. Two (2) enemy ground attacks were repelled. The first between bunkers 6 and 8 de!ending the A Company equip­ment yards and the second by Headquarters Company personnel, who defended a substantial sector of the 3d Marine Shore Party perimeter throughout the night. Illumination round cannisters fired by friendly forces separating in flight caused damage to the main command post and narrowly missed striking the alternate and 32NCR command post.

The camp area received two (2) rocket rounde during the lunch period. SN Richard L. BLEVINS was killed in action. One (1) member of NMCB EIGHT was wounded in action. At the same time, NMCB THREE's fourth flight to CONUS was mortared while emplaning at the Phu Bai Airport.

NMCB THREE was relieved at Camp Wilkin.son by NMCB EIGHT.

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1-7 Feb 68

3 Feb 68

5 Feb 68

7 Feb 68

14 Feb 68

Mamied the perimeter all night due to increased Viet Cong activit;y.

Storm Yankee and Storm India details disestablished.

NMCB THREE's seventh flight to CONUS received two (2) small arms rounds while taking off from Phu Bai Airport.

Last flight of NMCB THREE personnel departed Vietnam.

Delay party of l officer and 3 men, who remained to ship battalion gear to CONUS, departed Vietnam •

9