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Deployed Seabees Celebrate 64th Birthday in the Desert

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060412-08
Release Date: 4/12/2006 12:49:00 PM

By Chief Journalist Jeffrey J. Pierce, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21 Public Affairs

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 21 and Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 2 joined together in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in March to celebrate 64 years of Seabee history.

For many, it afforded them the chance to catch up with friends that they had served with before.

“It was good to see several different commands in attendance,” said Utilitiesman 1st Class Dennis Maine, of NMCB 7. "When you’re deployed you don’t normally run into personnel from other battalions. I ran into a friend of mine who’s with ACB 2. We worked together when we were both with NMCB 133, and we were able to catch up on what we’ve been doing since we served together.”

Food was provided by the U.S. Army’s dining facility (DFAC) and consisted of steak, chicken, ribs, shrimp, potatoes, rice, peas, green beans and corn bread.

In a gesture signifying esprit de corps and gratitude for their hard work, battalion chiefs and officers manned up on the opposite side of the table to serve the troops as they came through the line.

After the meal, a cake-cutting ceremony was held, where, in accordance with tradition, the oldest and youngest Seabees in attendance cut the cake. This year, the youngest Seabee was Builder Constructionman Sharon Rodas from NMCB 7, at age 18.

Conversely, Builder 1st Class Peter Johnson from NMCB 21 was the oldest Seabee among the attendees, at age 55. To mark the occasion, each received a plaque adorned with a camel.

“I liked how they pair the oldest and youngest Seabee,” said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Bredt Allen from NMCB 7. "You have one person at the start of their career and one nearing the end of theirs cutting the cake together.”

Guest speaker Vice Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, thanked the Seabee audience for allowing him to address them during their birthday celebration and emphasized that it was the Seabees that were leading the way, and the eyes of the entire Navy were focused on them.

“It was a nice break from the routine,” said Engineering Aide 3rd Class Cassandra Roberson, of NMCB 7. “The food was good, the activities were fun, and overall, I felt everyone had a great time gathering together.”

“It was a great day to get together, enjoy the camaraderie and share in the Seabee heritage,” said Lt. Michael Jorgenson, of NMCB 21.