Island MCB 7 At Large 

***NOW HEAR THIS***

To: Members and friends of Island MCB 7 At Large

From: Dick Pelissier, Secretary/Treasurer

Subject: Fall/Winter 2008 Newsletter

Those of us who attended the Oregon reunion enjoyed our stay. We all appreciated Jim and Karen Crews efforts on hosting the reunion, and we thank both of them for a job well-done. They certainly endorsed our continued Seabee belief in the 'CAN DO' attitude.

During the reunion, we all enjoyed a wonderful stay at The Monarch Hotel. The hospitality room was just superb with a pool nearby. With the temperatures remaining in the 80s, many of us took advantage of the great weather and swam in the outside pool.

On one of our motor coach tours, we traveled the Columbia Gorge Trail, and hiked the Multnomah Fall Park. We later visited the picturesque Mount Hood and the Timberline Lodge as well as the Salmon fisheries along the way.
At the end of the tour, we traveled through Portland, the City Of Roses, with a few stops, including the beautiful rose gardens. We can all agree these excursions were both interesting and enjoyable.

For next year's reunion in Chicago, Illinois, Alan Nachman will be the host. Along with Alan, Denny Blaisdell will assist with the planning of next year's reunion. As you know, Alan was our guest speaker at the banquet in Oregon this year, and he did a wonderful job. The announcement date for the 2009 reunion will be posted at a later time.

Hopefully, we have all done our duty by going to the polls to vote for our choice of candidates in this year's presidential election.

Vietnam
In May of 1965, the Seabees numbered 10,000 men, when the first Battalions went across the beach at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. During the peak of the Vietnam conflict, Seabee strength reached 25,000 men in twenty-two Battalions, two Regiments, two Maintenance Units, and scores of Civic Action Teams.

Nearly $100 million worth of construction was completed by the Seabees in a three million, man-day effort. The types of jobs ranged from the construction of logistical complexes in DaNang and Chu Lai to Special Forces camps in remote regions. At Dong Xoai, CM3 Marvin G. Shields was awarded the Seabees' first and only Medal of Honor.

In 1970, Seabee activity in Vietnam drew to a close. The Navy's builder-fighters had made a lasting contribution to the people of South Vietnam. Seabee construction skills and medical assistance also contributed greatly in "civic action" programs.

While the Seabees supported the Marines and built a staggering number of aircraft support facilities, roads and bridges, they also paved roads providing access to farms and markets, supplied fresh water to countless numbers of Vietnamese through hundreds of Seabee-dug wells, provided medical treatment to thousands of villagers and built schools, hospitals, utilities systems, roads and other community facilities. Seabees also worked with the Vietnamese people, and taught them construction skills. These efforts helped the Vietnamese people become self-sufficient, and proved that the Seabees really were "builders for peace."

Seabees Today
Seabees continue to play a major role in the Global War on Terrorism. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Seabees repaired runway facilities at Camp Rhino and Kandahar in Afghanistan. Twenty-six Seabee units were deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 15 Seabees were killed. The construction of multiple 20-acre aircraft-parking aprons, munitions storage areas, a 48,000-square-foot concrete pad, bridges, a 1,200-person camp and the repairing of various roads are invaluable to coalition forces. There are currently about 18,000 Navy Seabees serving worldwide. Two thirds of today's Seabees are reservists. Active duty Seabees serve in eight active Battalions, two Amphibious Construction Battalions (ACBs) and two Underwater Construction Teams (UCTs).

The Seabee reserves are organized into twelve battalions, two support units and four regiments located throughout the United States. With a primary mission of providing continued construction in a war zone, the Seabees are ready to deploy on short notice to any point on the globe. Upon arrival, they work night and day.

Seabees also conduct humanitarian missions worldwide, including earthquake and hurricane recovery efforts in the United States. The true spirit of the Seabees is their "Can Do" philosophy. It is a timeless belief representing Seabees past, present and future.

Closing Remarks?
Some of us will soon be raking leaves and mowing the lawn for the last time this year. Now, in preparation for winter, it is time to prepare the snow blower or snowmobile, and even make plans for skiing. Before we know it, spring will be just around the corner.

For those of you who would like to sign up for Life Memberships, the current dues are: Age 40 and under are $180.00, Ages 41 to 69 are $155.00, and for age 70 and over, the dues are $130.00. Make checks out to 'Navy Seabees Veterans of America', and forward the checks to my mailing address, and I will make sure National receives your life membership checks.

As a reminder, if you have not sent your annual membership dues for 2009, the dues are $20.00 dollars to renew. Don't let your membership expire, and miss out on the 'CAN DO' quarterly magazine. Please forward a check to me, and make it out to: NSVA Island MCB7 At Large.

If you have an e-mail address and would like to receive the 'Now Hear This' newsletter by email, it would help to reduce the cost of mailings for our MCB 7 Island At Large organization. Those members without Internet access would still receive the newsletter by regular mail.

Re: Seabee Davisville Museum at www.seabeesmuseum.com.

Well, hope to see all of you Bees at the next reunion in Chicago. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Dick Pelissier