Island MCB 7 At Large 

Subject: Spring/Summer 2009 Newsletter

Well, I think we finally have seen the end of winter. At least, it appears to be the situation here in New Hampshire. This is the last week of April, and we were recently blessed with 80 and 90 degrees during this past weekend to help cure our cabin fever. I hope all of you fared well over the winter months.

Some of you may be aware of the Camp Lejeune Water Study. I know there are many of us, who spent a period of weeks training there. I am including an excerpt regarding the progress of this study. This article was sent to me as a press release, and I believe this is important for anyone, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune during the years listed. Please pass this study along.

The United States Marine Corps encourages all those who resided at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1957–1987 to register at www.marines.mil/clsurvey to receive updated information and notifications regarding the ongoing Water Study. (Please cut and paste the address into your browser.) If you know of any family members or friends who were at Camp Lejeune during this period, please encourage them to register.

The Marine Corps is reaching out to other government agencies in an attempt to reach Marines, civilians and family members, who resided at Camp Lejeune, NC between 1957–1987. In response to this effort, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be sending out letters on our behalf. The IRS has not disclosed any addresses or other tax information and has no involvement in the matter aside from forwarding the HQMC letter. If you receive a letter from the IRS, and are already registered, no action is required. If you are not registered, please go to https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/CLNR-Privacy.aspx (cut and paste into your browser) or call our toll free hotline: 1-877-261-9782. If you are already registered and need to update your information, please call the toll free hotline at the number provided.

Did you know that the first SEALs were Seabees?

Today's SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) teams have traced their history to the first group of volunteers selected from the Naval Construction Battalions (SeaBees) in the spring of 1943. These volunteers were organized into special teams called Navy Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs). The units were tasked with reconnoitering and clearing beach obstacles for troops going ashore during amphibious landings, and evolved into Combat Swimmer Reconnaissance Units (CSRUs).

Rhode Island Declares March 5th "Seabee Day" The year was 1942 in the dark days of the beginning of World War II. At the newly constructed Navy base in Davisville, Rhode Island, RADM Ben Moreell, CEC, founded the U.S. Navy Seabees. During the same year, the famous Seabee "Fighting Bee" logo was created at Davisville by Rhode Islander Frank Iafrate. And, we can not forget the humble, Quonset Hut and its efforts of war with the Seabees. The hut was created at Davisville, and named after the point of land on which the base stood, Quonset Point. Over the past 67 years, the Seabees have been "builders for peace" throughout the world.

 In recognition of that historic event, the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations have declared March 5th, "Seabee Day." This day will annually be set apart as a day known as, "Rhode Island Seabees Day." According to the Resolution, "The day shall be observed by the people of this state with appropriate ceremonies and activities that celebrate the many contributions of the Navy Seabees."

This will help to preserve the heritage of people today and future generations.

 The staff of the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park have worked closely with our local legislators, and appreciate their help and support in getting this legislation enacted into law.

Memberships Information and Closing Remarks

For those of you who would like to sign up for Life Memberships, the current dues to age 40 are $180.00, ages 41-69 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 to me, and I will make sure National gets your life membership payment.

As a reminder, the annual members’ dues are $20.00 dollars to renew for 2009-2010. Some of you have yet to send your dues for 2008-2009. Also, as announced by Mel Ramige, National Secretary for NSVA, a new 3-Year Membership Dues structure is now offered. For a 3-year membership, the dues are $50.00 dollars. As another option, you can always sign up for a Life Membership in lieu of the annual dues. To pay your choice of dues, please forward a check to me, and make it out to: NSVA Island MCB-7 At-Large along with an application, if you are applying for a new membership.

If you have an e-mail address and would like to receive the ‘Now Hear This’ newsletter by e-mail, it would help to defray 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. This edition will consist of an online newsletter and mailed newsletter, but not both. Our intent is to hopefully move forward in the future with an e-mail copy to all members who have access to e-mail.

May all you Bees enjoy the summer. Be safe and enjoy the barbeques, swimming and boating.

Hope to see all you Bees at the Chicago reunion in September. Until then, keep the ‘CAN DO’ attitude.

‘ONCE A SEABEE ALWAYS A SEABEE’

Sincerely,

Dick Pelissier