U.S. NAVAL MOBII.E CONSTRUCTION BATTALION THREE

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: Ref: Encl: NMCB THREE Deployment Completion Report; forwarding of a) COMCBPACINST 5213.lE b) COMCBPAC spdltr 3120 ser CB31A:06Z of 14 SEP 1970 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. r \ l

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. I \ l I \

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. { I

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. { \ ', \

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. I l

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. I l \

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.

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 The Flag of NMCB THREE was relocated from Camp Haskins South), Danang, Republic of Vietnam to Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California. 5. Major Problem 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.