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Seabees Aid in Rescue of U.S. Ambassador

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081031-16
Release Date: 10/31/2008 11:14:00 AM

By Steelworker 3rd Class Siamac Moghaddam, Det. Sao Tome Public Affairs

SAO TOME, Africa Partnership Station (NNS) -- In one of the worst downpours in recent Sao Tomean history, Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 answered the State Department's call for help Oct. 25, rescuing several personnel including the U.S. ambassador to Gabon and Sao Tome.

That day, the tiny island nation of Sao Tome and Principe was suddenly hit by a major tropical storm. The storm closed Route Nacional 1, the sole road connecting the capital city of Sao Tome with the southern half of the country, due to a heavy mudslide.

At the time, Ambassador Eunice Reddick, her staff, and the mayor of the city of Angolares were returning from a lunch reception on the southern end of the island of Sao Tome. On the way back to their hotel, the ambassador's party encountered a mudslide that completely covered the road, closing the only passage north and stranding the personnel for more than five hours. As the rain continued to come down, they realized conditions were worsening and were trapped by 30 meters of waist-high mud, limiting their movement.

"The heavily mountainous terrain at that location, and the continuing rain, gave indications a further mudslide was imminent," Reddick stated in an e-mail.

After evaluating the situation, the defense attaché contacted the Seabee team. After explaining the situation, Steelworker 1st Class (SCW) Eugene Burston, Construction Mechanic 2nd Class (SCW/FMF) Wade Pendley, Equipment Operator 2nd Class (SCW) Kenneth Hoffman and Constructionman Donald Guffey volunteered to help.

The Seabees loaded up in two half-ton pick-ups and traveled approximately 30 kilometers at night down a winding mountain jungle road in the middle of a tropical storm with limited visibility.

"When we got the request, it wasn't even a question. We just packed up and headed south," Burston said. Just north of the U.S. embassy entourage's position, the Seabees discovered a mudslide 50 yards wide and 9 feet high covered with waist-high mud and downed trees.

After assessing the situation, the Seabees ran a chain from their truck and walked across the mud field with only the aide of flashlights to provide a chain hold for people to cross.

"The Seabees personally came to our aid and escorted, and carried, us across the mud field. Approximately 50 civilians were able to cross to safety," wrote Reddick in an e-mail.

"The Seabees traversed the mud fields several times through the tropical storm that evening to ensure the safety of all persons on either side of the mud slide. All the while, they disregarded their personal safety to ensure the safety of myself and my entourage in spite of a worsening storm and the real threat of another mudslide."

"The Seabees risked their lives to save the ambassador, her team and Sao Tomeans stranded behind the mudslide," Air Force Lt. Col. Rene Dechaine, the Embassy's defense attaché said. "We were all waiting for another mudslide to come. Everyone was extremely lucky that they showed up. Because of them nobody died or was injured."

When it comes to disaster relief, Seabees consider themselves second-to-none. From Hurricane Katrina to the Pakistani earthquake, Seabees have been at the front lines providing humanitarian assistance and support to those in need. NMCB 4 is deployed to Sao Tome and Principe in support of African Partnership Station.