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New York City Honors NMCB 21 Seabees With 'Freedom Award'

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050711-08
Release Date: 7/11/2005 6:15:00 AM

By Journalist 3rd Class Ron Kuzlik, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21 Public Affairs

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (NNS) -- The City of New York honored four Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 21 with the “Freedom Award” in a ceremony at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College June 29.

Lt. Douglas Luback, Chief Construction Mechanic Patrick Sabatini, Construction Mechanic 1st Class Daniel Johnson and Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Anthony Carrube were recognized by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for their active-duty service in the global war on terrorism.

The four Reservists are full-time municipal employees with the New York City Department of Sanitation. The City cited the NMCB 21 Seabees for “recognition of your active-duty status in the war on terrorism in which you were called upon to preserve our nation’s safety, freedom and liberty.”

Sabatini, Johnson and Carrube were mobilized in January 2003. Following three weeks of advanced training at Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Miss., they reported to Al-Jaber, Kuwait, until three days after the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19.

They faced mortar attacks and intermittent sniper attacks from insurgent forces while constructing a water treatment plant, a landfill, and rebuilding a school and soccer field for Iraqi children in Umm Qasr and As Samawa, Iraq. They returned home in July 2003.

Luback was mobilized in July 2004 for nearly two months of advanced training in Port Hueneme, Calif., before he reported to First Marine Engineer Group (I-MEG) in Kuwait. He then served as the naval liaison officer at various locations in Iraq, including Forward Operating Base Blue Diamond in Ar Ramadi before returning home in March 2005.

“They have defended our nation in the war on terrorism; they have returned safely home to us; and they have now rejoined the ranks of New York's Strongest,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

Vito Turso, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Public Information and Community Affairs, further praised the Seabees.

“The City of New York is taking the time to say ‘thank you’ for these men who placed themselves in harm's way to secure our country’s freedom and liberty," he said. "They have served admirably in the armed forces in the war against terrorism. Today, they are receiving the ‘Freedom Award’ as a small token of our appreciation and gratitude for their service.”

NMCB 21 is based at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J., with detachments at Naval Reserve Centers in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Its mission is to train for mobilization readiness and construction operations in support of Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.