DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY U. S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION SEVENTY-ONE FPO NEW YORK NMCB71: S3: jmm 5213 Ser March 1 972

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2 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY U. S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION SEVENTY-ONE FPO NEW YORK NMCB71: S3: jmm 5213 Ser March From: To: Subj: Commanding Officer, U. s. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVENTY-ONE Commander, U. S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica Deployment Completion Report; submission of Ref: (a) TF 43 OPORD 1-71 (b) COMCBLANT OPORD 1-72 Encl: (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 NMCB-7l's mission was to supply construction support to the Operation Deep Freeze Program. 3. UNIT MOVEMENT. 28 September October October 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. i

3 NMCB71: S3: jmm October October October November November December December December December January February February February February February March 1972 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. ii

4 NMCB7l :S3: jmm SIGNIFICANT EVENTS. 10 October November 1971 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. 25 November 1971 Thanksgiving Day. routine. Battalion observed Holiday 10 December December 1971 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. 25 December 1971 Christmas Day. routine Battalion observed holiday 1 January January January January January January January January January 1972 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. i ii

5 NMCB71: S 3: jnun February February February February February February February l February 1972 ' 25 February February 1972 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 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 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) -- i"

6 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 PAGE III, TRAINING IV. A. GENERAL B. CROSS RATE TRAINING C. IN-RATE TRAINING D. SAFETY TRAINING E. PLANNING FOR HOMEPORT LABOR DISTRIBUTION V. A. GENERAL B. PROGRESS AND PERFORMANCE REPORT C. POL LINES D. SCOTT BASE ROAD v

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) E. ELLIOTT QUAY PROTECTIVE FACING F. NAVAL CIVIC ENGINEERING LABORATORY SUPPORT G. SUPPLY OPERATIONS H. BUILDING DEMOLITION I. CHARTS PAGE VII. LESSONS LEARNED A. ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL B. TRAINING C. OPERATIONS D. SUPPLY AND LOGISTICS vi

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9 U. S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION SENVENTY-ONE ANTARCTIC CONSTRUCTION GROUP OFFICERS AND CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS OFFICERS CDR W. E. CROSSON, CEC, USN COMMANDING OFFICER 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 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 ENS J. M. ZACHARY, CEC, USN SIPLE STATION PROJECT OFFICER LEGAL OFFICER SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER ENS T. L. SYLVESTER, CEC, USNR ALFA COMPANY COMMANDER ASSISTANT SIPLE STATION PROJECT ASSISTANT SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER CUCM L. W. EOCS L. W. HON, USN SROCK, USN CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISOR OPERATIONS CHIEF SAFETY CHIEF ENGINEERING CHIEF ACTING ALFA COMPANY COMMANDER BLASTING SUPERVISOR SWC H. E. AMICK, USN BUC R. A. BONIELLA, USN EOC O. J. DEROCHEA, USN POLE STATION PROJECT CPO DELTA COMPANY CHIEF ALFA COMPANY CHIEF BUC V. W. HAIFLEY, USN DELTA COMPANY BUILDER PLATOON CPO 1-1

10 CEC C. E. PILLOW, USN UTC O. K. SMILEY, USN YNC R. R. SMITH, USN EOC R. J. WRIGLEY, USN BRAVO COMPANY CONSTRUCTION ELECTRICIAN PLATOON CPO. BRAVO COMPANY CHIEF ADMIN/PERSONNEL OFFICER PETER SNOW MILLER SPECIALIST (SOUTH POLE STATION) 1-2

11 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 E E E E E NON-RATED TOTAL OFFICERS B. REENLISTMENT SUMMARY NUMBER ELIGIBLE NUMBER REENLISTED PERCENT l. USN A. DPPO B. OTHER SUB-TOTAL I USNR A. 2 x B. VOLUNTEER c. INVOLUNTARY RECALL SUB-TOTAL GRAND TOTAL ~================-=== Number of separation interviews given: NON-CAREER CAREER 1 4. Career: Number Eligible 2 Nwnber Reenlisted 1 Percent

12 C. SAFETY 1. Stand-up Safety Meetings: Number 88 Total Attendance Deployment Accident Summary: On_ Dut'.t. Off Duty First Aid Cases Lost Time Accidents Vehicle Accidents $404 D. DISCIPLINE. 1. NUMBER CASES HEARD AT CAPTAINS MAST NUMBER CASES AWARDED NJP 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 Damage or Destruction of Government Property 2 e. Article Drunk and Reckless Driving 1 f. Article Wrongful Appropriation 1 g. Article Assault 1 h. Article 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. 1-4

13 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. 1-5

14 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. 1-6

15 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. 1-7

16 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 Number treated at Sick Call On sick list monthly Number of new VD cases 0 b. Total VD cases this deployment 0 2. DENTAL DEPARTMENT a. Patients Treated b. Total Procedures c. Number of patients in each Dental Classification (average): Class I 118 Class II 57 Class III.(5 Class IV 5 Class v 0 3. CHAPLAIN'S ACTIVITIES a. RELIGIOUS SERVICES NO. SERVICES AVG ATTEND TOTAL ATTEND PROTESTANT ROMAN CATHOLIC OTHER

17 b. COUNSELING Total Number Sessions Number of Individuals only c. Number of Red Cross Messages H. PUBLIC AFFAIRS: 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. was published in the Navy Times. One article on Cold Weather Blasting 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. 1-9

18 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. CDR w. E. CROSSON, ; Meritorious Service Medal Seabee of the Month November LUCZYNSKI, M. EOCN December CHURCH, L. w. E January BAIM, G. W. BU OFFICER PROMOTIONS To Lieutenant: John P. HEINSTADT 4. ADVANCEMENTS IN RATE. To: E2 0 E3 9 E4 3 ES 3 E6 0 E7 0 EB 0 E