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U.S. NAVAL MOBII.E CONSTRUCTION

BATTALION THREE

CAMP HASKINS SOUTH

DANANG, REPUBLIC OF VI ETNAM

NOVEMBER 1970-APRIL 1971

U. s. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE FPO San Francisco 96601

S-3 3100 Ser 1029A 23 July 1971

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

To: Commander, Naval Construction Battalions, u. S. Pacific Fleet

Subj: NMCB THREE Deployment Completion Report; forwarding of

Ref: (a) COMCBPACINST 5213.lE (b) COMCBPAC spdltr 3120 ser CB31A:06Z of 14 SEP 1970

Encl: (1) Administrative Summary (2) Equipment Summary (3) Training Summary (4) Labor Distribution Summary (5) General Construction Summary (6) Construction Photographs (7) Construction Item Summary (BJ Progress and Performance Chart (9) Fiscal Summary of Construction Operations (10) Logistical Summary (11) Lessons Learned

1. Enclosures (1) through (11) are forwarded in accordance with reference {a).

2. Unit Location. In accordance with reference (bl, U. S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion THREE was deployed to Camp Haskins (South), Oanang, Republic of Vietnam.

3. Unit Movements

1 October 1970

14 October 1970

Seabee Team 0317 deployed to Yap, Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands via government aircraft.

First increment of NMCB THREE Advance Party departed Port Hueneme, California, by air and arrived at Camp Haskins {South) , Republic of Vietnam on 16 October 1970.

27 October 1970

31 October 1970

3 November 1970

4 November 1970

4 November 1970

9-14 November 1970

16 November 1970

26 November 1970

Seabee Team 0319 deployed to Xuan Loe, Republic of Vietnam via government aircraft.

Second increment of NMCB THREE Advance Party departed Port Hueneme, California, by air and arrived at Camp Haskins (South), Republic of Vietnam on 2 November 1970.

Detail Aquarius Advance Party departed Camp Haskins (South) for Chau Doc and Tan Chau ACTOV Bases to accomplish con­struction turnover from NMCB SIXTY-TWO.

Detail Centaurus departed Camp Haskins (South) for Phu Bai to dismantle and prepare the Phu Bai asphalt plant for shipment to Guam, M. I.

Detail Dorado departed Camp Haskins (South) for Binh Thuy and Bien Hoa to provide admin­is tr ati ve and logistical support to NMCB THREE details in Military Regions III and IV.

NMCB THREE Main Body Flights consisting of three passenger flights and two cargo flights departed Port Hueneme, Cali­fornia, and arrived at Camp Haskins (South) , Republic of Vietnam.

Detail Aquarius Main Body de­parted Camp Haskins (South) for Chau Doc and Tan Chau ACTOV Bases to begin construc­tion of dependent shelters and punchlist construction items.

Detail Indus departed Camp Haskins (South) for Monkey Mountain for the purpose of bulldozing a pioneer road on Hill 696 and grading an antenna site on Hill 600.

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2 December 1970

4 December 1970

4 December 1970

8 December 1970

10 December 1970

10 December 1970

10 December 1970

12 December 1970

13 December 1970

15 December 1970

Detail Gemini departed Camp Haskins (South) for Railroad Bridge No. 1, Thua Tien Province to repair damages caused by enemy explosives.

Detail Hydra departed Camp Haskins (South) for Cam Ranh Bay and Nha Trang area for well drilling operations.

Detail Equinox departed Camp Haskins (South) for Bae Lieu to construct SEA huts for Seal Team ONE.

Detail Fornax departed Camp Haskins (South) for Ba To Air­field to install airfield matting on airstrip and park­ing apron.

Seabee Team 0318 deployed to Ben Tre, Republic of Vietnam via government aircraft.

Detail Equinox returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Bae Lieu after completing its assignment.

Detail Jupiter departed Camp Haskins (South) for Chu Lai to do shoulder work on QL-1 between Tam Ky and Thanh Quit.

Detail Libra departed Camp Haskins (South) for Hill 37 to continue the reconstruction of London Bridge.

Detail Gemini returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Railroad Bridge No. 1 after completing its repair.

Detail Borealis Advance Party departed Camp Haskins (South) for Bien Hoa to prepare for the move to the ACTOV base site at ca Mau.

18 December 1970

10 January 1971

11 January 1971

15 January 1971

18 January 1971

26 January 1971

27 January 1971

31 January 1971

8 February 1971

Detail Centaurus returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Phu Bai and continued to clean and stage the asphalt plant at the Deepwater Pi er in Danang.

First increment of Detail Borealis Main Body departed Camp Haskins (South) for Ca Mau ACTOV base site.

Detail Orion departed Camp Haskins (South) for Hue to provide technical assistance on the North Hue Loop road.

Second increment of Detail Borealis Main Body departed Camp Haskins (South) for Ca Mau ACTOV base site.

Detail Mercury departed Camp Haskins (South) for LZ Baldy to repair bridges and stabi­lize bridge approaches along QL-1 between Tam Ky and Thanh Quit.

Detail Kochab moved from Hawk Hill to Chu Lai to continue construction of culvert head­walls.

Detail Neptune departed Camp Haskins (South) for Cua Viet for construction of a fixed pier and sapper fence.

Detail Pegasus departed Camp Haskins (South) for Camp Tien Sha to commence the retro­grade of equipment.

Detail Indus returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Monkey Mountain after successfully pioneering a road and grading an antenna site.

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15 February 1971

19 February 1971

22 February 1971

23 February 1971

27 February 1971

28 February 1971

12 March 1971

16 March 1971

18 March 1971

19 March 1971

Detail Jupiter moved from Chu Lai to LZ Baldy to continue shoulder work on QL-1.

Detail Mercury moved from LZ Baldy to Hawk Hill to continue work on bridges on QL-1.

Detail Libra returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Hill 37 after completing London Bridge.

Detail Quasar departed Camp Haskins (South) for Hill 37 to carry out repair and paving operations on LTL-4.

Detail Regulus departed Camp Haskins (South) for LZ Stinson for well drilling operations.

Detail Jupiter returned to Camp Haskins (South) from LZ Baldy and continued to work on QL-1 shoulders from the main camp.

Detail Scorpius departed Camp Haskins (South) for Tu Hien VNN Base to install hardstand and pier ramp.

Detail Hydra returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Cam Ranh Bay and Nha Trang area after completing well drilling operations.

Detail Scorpius returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Tu Hien VNN Base after completing its work.

Detail Kochab returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Chu Lai after completing work on four­teen (14) sets of QL-1 culvert headwalls.

20 March 1971

21 March 1971

21 March 1971

22 March 1971

22 March 1971

22 March 1971

26 March 1971

29 March 1971

31 March 1971

31 March 1971

Detail Venus departed Camp Haskins (South) for Hieu Doc, Quang Nam Province, for well drilling operations.

Detail Mercury returned to Camp Haskins (South} from Hawk Hill after completing work on QL-1 bridges.

Detail Taurus departed Camp Haskins (South} for Chu Lai to install a pontoon berthing pier and POL tank facilities at the Chu Lai VNN Operations Base.

Detail Unicorn departed Camp Haskins (South) for Phouc Trach to repair SEA huts and install two (2) generators for Coastal Group 14.

First increment of NMCB THREE Advance Party departed Camp Haskins (South) for Port Hueneme, California.

Detail Regulus returned to Camp Haskins (South} from LZ Stinson after completing well drilling operations.

Detail Fornax returned to Camp Haskins (South} from Ba To Airfield after completing the installation of airfield mat­ting.

Second increment of NMCB THREE Advance Party departed Camp Haskins (South) for Port Hueneme, California.

Detail Unicorn returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Phuoc Trach after completing its work.

Detail Orion returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Hue.

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5 April 1971

6 April 1971

10 April 1971

10 April 1971

18 April 1971

19 April 1971

21-26 April 1971

22 April 1971

26 April 1971

20 May 1971

Detail Quasar returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Hill 37 after completing the work on LTL-4 up to the Hill 37 inter­section

Detail Neptune returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Cua Viet after completing the con­struction of a fixed pier and sapper fence.

Detail Taurus returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Chu Lai after completing pier and POL facilities.

Detail Venus returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Hieu Doc, Quang Nam Province.

Detail Pegasus returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Camp Tien Sha.

NMCB THREE Delay Party depart­ed Camp Haskins (South) for Camp Tien Sha to complete the retrograding of equipment.

NMCB THREE Main Body Flights consisting of three passenger flights and one cargo flight departed Danang, Republic of Vietnam for Port Hueneme, California.

Detail Dorado returned to Camp Haskins (South) from Binh Thuy and Bien Hoa.

Details Aquarius and Borealis returned to Port Hueneme, Cal­ifornia via MAC contract flight from Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam.

NMCB THREE Delay Party return­ed to Port Hueneme , California, from Danang, Republic of Vietnam.

4. Significant Events

19-31 August 1970

19-28 October 1970

5 November 1970

13 November 1970

15 November 1970

20 November 1970

22 November 1970

26 November 1970

30 November 1970

Predeployment visit to Repub­lic of Vietnam.

Battalion Equipment Evaluation Program (BEEP) conducted between NMCB SIXTY-TWO and NMCB THREE.

COR J. L. GODSEY, CEC, USN, Commanding Officer, NMCB THREE and UTCM J. H. HERRERA, Batta­lion Senior Enlisted Advisor, NMCB THREE departed for Camp Haskins (South), Oanang, Republic of Vietnam via MAC contract aircraft.

COR J. L. GODSEY, CEC, USN, Commanding Officer, NMCB THREE relieved CDR F. M. NEWCOMB, Commanding Officer, NMCB SIXTY-TWO as camp commander, Camp Haskins (South).

NMCB THREE commenced recon­struction of London Bridge on Highway TL-540 and Cooper Bridge on Highway ML-12 which were damaged by the flood waters of Typhoon Kate.

COR J. L. GOOSEY, CEC, USN, Commanding Officer, NMCB THREE departed for CONUS on emer­gency leave.

Unknown explosion at Cooper Bridge killed three Vietnamese civilians. No Seabees were involved.

Hill 37 near London Bridge received two (2) mortar rounds. There were no Seabee casualties.

COR J. L. GOOSEY, CEC, USN, Commanding Officer, NMCB THREE returned from emergency leave.

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30 November 1 December 1970

2 December 1970

12 December 1970

11- 16 December 1970

28-30 December 1970

29 December 1970

3 January 1971

4-5 January 1971

6 January 1971

Monsoon rains flooded QL-1 between Cau Do and Ba Ren. Cooper Bridge which was near completion was washed out again.

Detail Gemini commenced repair work on Railroad Bridge No. 1, in Thua Tien Province .

Detail Gemini completed repair work on Railroad Bridge No. 1.

CDR J. L. GODSEY, CEC, USN, and LCDR J. A. DAMM, SC, USN, Conunanding Officer and Supply Officer, NMCB THREE, and UTCM J. H. HERRERA, USN, Senior Enlisted Advisor, NMCB THREE, visited Detail Aquarius at Chau Doc and Tan Chau.

CAPT W. H. ZOBEL, CEC, USN, Commander, THIRTY-SECOND Naval Construction Regiment, visited NMCB THREE at Camp Haskins (South), Danang.

One (l) Seabee from NMCB THREE received minor injuries and two (2) Seabees received slight injuries when a mine exploded under a 5-ton dump truck on LTL-4.

Cooper Bridge was opend to vehicular traffic.

RADM A. R. MARSCHALL, CEC, USN, Conunander, THIRD Naval Construction Brigade, visited NMCB THREE at Camp Haskins (South), Danang.

NMCB THREE conunenced construc­tion on the aircraft shelters at FASU.

11-15 January 1971

12-16 January 1971

16 January 1971

18 January 1971

18 January 1971

21-22 January 1971

28 January 1971

29 January 1971

l February 1971

3 February 1971

UTCM J. H. HERRERA, USN, NMCB THREE Senior Enlisted Advisor, attended the Seabee Senior Enlisted Advisors Symposium at Navy Facilities Engineering Command Headquarters, Washing­ton, O.C.

LCDR E. C. LENZ, CEC, USN, Operations Officer, NMCB THREE visited Detail Aquarius at Chau Doc and Tan Chau.

Detail Libra received mortar rounds in their camp at Hill 37. There were no Seabee casualties.

Detail Libra received three (3) mortar rounds and small arms fire in their camp at Hill 37. There were no Seabee casualties.

Detail Borealis made initial landing at Ca Mau ACTOV base site.

COR R. L. SIEGLE, CEC, USN, and CDR B. L. YOUNG, SC, USN, Operations Officer and Supply Officer of COMCBPAC, conducted a Management Inspection in the Operations and Supply Depart­ments.

Detail Neptune at Cua Viet received seven (7) mortar rounds. There were no Seabee casualties.

Detail Neptune commenced pile driving on the Cua Viet pier.

Golden Gate Bridge was damaged by enemy explosives.

Detail Libra at Hill 37 received three (3) mortar rounds. There were no Seabee casualties.

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5 February 1971

5-11 February 1971

10 February 1971

14-16 February 1971

15 February 1971

19-22 February 1971

19-24 February 1971

26 February 1971

Golden Gate Bridge repairs completed by NMCB THREE.

NMCB THREE Commanding Officer and Senior Enlisted Advisor visited Details Aquarius, Borealis, and Dorado and Seabee Teams 0318 and 0319.

A Detail Jupiter equipment operator received a minor leg injury from shrapnel when a truck on QL-1 came under sniper fire.

LTJG P. F. McCOY and Mr. R. D. SPENCER of SSEO visited NMCB THREE in connection with SSEO operations.

A 5-ton tractor was heavily damaged and a low boy slightly damaged when it detonated a land mine on TL-540. There were no Seabee casualties.

LT A. P. MESTERHAZY, SC, USN, SKCS A. c. ABELON, USN, and SKC L. G. HERNANDEZ, USN, COMCBPAC Assistant Supply Officer and staff, conducted the Annual Supply Inspection of NMCB THREE.

CAPT E. H. MARSH, CEC, USN, MAJ L. J. URBAN, USMC, LCDR v. R. COSTON, CEC, USN, and LT R. M. ROHRBACH, CEC, USN, COMCBPAC Chief of Staff, Military Training Officer, Assistant Plans Officer, res­pectively, conducted Manage­ment Inspections of NMCB THREE.

A Dotail Borealis 2 1/2 ton cargo truck was sever~ly dam­aged when a booby trap placed under the seat exploded. There were no Seabee casual­ties.

20 February l97l

22 February 1971

22-24 February 1971

24 February 1971

27 February 1971

1-3 March 1971

RADM George REIDER, CEC, USNR, Commander, FIRST Reserve Naval Construction Brigade, was greeted by CDR J. L. GODSEY, CEC, USN, LCDR J. M. RUGLESS, CEC, USN, Commanding Officer and Executive Officer NMCB THREE, respectively, and LCDR N. T. THURMOND, CEC, USN, COM 32ND NCR REP ONG, at the Danang Air Base during his visit to the Republic of Vietnam.

London Bridge was opened to continuous vehicular traffic.

UTCM M. J. OLSEN, USN, COMCBPAC Senior Enlisted Advisor visited NMCB THREE at Camp Haskins (South).

RADM A. R. MARSCHALL, CEC, USN, and RADM F. M. LALOR, JR., CEC, USN, present and prospective Commander THIRD Naval Construction Brigade, respectively, visited NMCB THREE at Camp Haskins (South) . They were accompanied by CAPT w. M. ZOBEL, CEC, USN, Com­mander, THIRTY-SECOND Naval Construction Regiment.

One of Detail Neptune's J\mmi pontoons at Cua Viet was dam­aged by a sapper-placed limpet mine. There were no Seabee casualties.

CAPT A. L. DOMINY, CHC, USN, and CDR D. E. BECKER, MC, USN, COMCBPAC Chaplain and Medical Officer, respectively, con­ducted Management Inspections of NMCB THREE'S Medical/Dental and Chaplain's Departments.

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1-6 March 1971

2-5 March 1971

5 March 1971

6 March 1971

6-14 March 1971

8 March 1971

12 March 1971

LCDR E. c. LENZ, CEC, USN, and trrCM J. H. HERRERA, USN, NMCB THREE Operations Officer and Senior Enlisted Advisor, visited Details Aquarius, Borealis and Dorado.

LCDR J. P. BRENNAN, CEC, USN, EQCM L. A. MILLER, USN, and CMC T. J. ACKERSON, USN, COM JlST NCR Equipment Officer and Staff, conducted an Alfa Company Administrative Inspec­tion of NMCB THREE.

NMCB THREE celebrated the 29th birthday of the Seabees and the 104th anniversary of the Civil Engineer Corps.

Detail Borealis at Ca Mau re­ceived eight (8) rockets and heavy small arms fire. BU2 F. D. LUPO, USN, was killed in action and four (4) other Seabees were wounded. Two of the wounded required Medevac.

BUCS R. E. GRAVES, USN, and BUCS J. T. BAKER, USN, of COM JlST NCR Training Department visited NMCB THREE to discuss the battalion homeport train­ing schedule.

Detail Borealis received six (6) rounds of small arms sniper fire. There were no Seabee casualties.

A 40-ton grid roller detonated an estimated 30 to 40 pound mine on LTL-4. The roller sustained major damage. The equipment operator sustained injuries requiring Medevac.

19-26 March 1971

22 March 1971

22 March 1971

24 March 1971

28 March 1971

29 March 1971

29 March 1971

31 March 1971

CDR J. L. GODSEY, CEC, USN, and LCDR J. A. DAMM, SC, USN, NMCB THREE Commanding Officer and Supply Officer, respec­tively, visited Details Aqua­rius, Borealis and Dorado.

A material storage Ammi pon­toon and pile driving Ammi pontoon were severely damaged by sapper-placed limpet mines at the Detail Neptune con­struction site. There were no Seabee casualties.

An NMCB THREE 2 l/2 ton field truck detonated an unknown size mine on LTL-4. Four (4) Seabees sustained minor injuries.

Detail Neptune at Cua Viet re­ceived four (4) rounds small arms sniper fire. There were no Seabee casualties.

Detail Quasar personnel work­ing on LTL-4 were pinned down by small arms sniper fire for approximately five minutes. There were no Seabee casual­ties.

A culvert was blown on QL-1 just south of Thanh Quit. Damage temporarily repaired by NMCB THREE Detail Jupiter.

Detail Quasar personnel work­ing on LTL-4 were pinned down by heavy small arms fire for approximately twenty minutes. There were no Seabee casual­ties.

The culvert on QL-l blown on 29 March was replaced by Alfa Company personnel.

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3 April 1971

6 April 1971

10 April 1971

10 April 1971

10-13 April 1971

12-23 April 1971

13-14 April 1971

15 April 1971

18 April 1971

19 April 1971

An NMCB THREE equipment oper­ator sustained a wound and was Medevaced when hit by small arms sniper fire while working on QL-1.

NMCB THREE Detail Neptune com­pleted the pier and sapper fence at Cua Viet.

NMCB THREE completed the two (2) 30-foot aircraft shelters at FASU, Danang Airbase.

Detail Jupiter completed shoulder upgrade on QL-1 from Tam Ky to Thanh Quit.

CDR J. L. GODSEY, CEC, USN, and UTCM J. H. HERRERA, USN, NMCB THREE Conunanding Officer and Senior Enlisted Advisor, visited Details Aquarius, Borealis and Dorado.

LCDR W. E. ELLIS, CEC, USN, prospective NMCB THREE Execu­tive Officer, visited NMCB THREE at Camp Haskins (South) .

RADM F. M. LALOR, JR., CEC, USN, Commander THIRD Naval Construction Brigade, and CAPT w. M. ZOBEL, CEC, USN, Com­mander THIRTY-SECOND Naval Construction Regiment, visited NMCB THREE.

Camp Haskins (South) was turn­ed over to the u. s. Army 57th Transport Battalion.

CM3 R. N. CARPENTER drowned at the Detail Aquarius site near Chau Doc, Republic of Vietnam.

SW3 K. M. HATCHER of Seabee Team 0319 died as a result of injuries received in an air­plane crash near Xuan Loe, Republic of Vietnam.

23 April 1971

5. Major Problem

The Flag of NMCB THREE was relocated from Camp Haskins (South), Danang, Republic of Vietnam to Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California.

Many problems arose from having twenty-two details spread across the length and breadth of the Republic of Vietnam. However the most significant problem encountered throughout the deployment, one which was beyond the control of the battalion to solve, was simply transportation . When­ever a detail lacked for material, repair parts, personnel, or a multitude of other necessities, transportation to the site had to be arranged. In most cases, this meant request­ing services from another unit, be it fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, water barge or overland transportation required. As none of these units wer e specifically tasked with sup­porting NMCB THREE, and due to the fact that priorities assigned to the battalion ' s requests were below that of combat essential cargo, there was usually considerable delay in getting the cargo to the site . The same problem was encountered in arranging for job i nspection trips by ranking battalion personnel . Due to time limitations and the some­times great distances involved, transportation by helicopter was required. Again, problems of priority hampered the timeliness of these flights.

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