Seabee Project Plays Vital Role in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Navy NewStand
Story Number: NNS030508-04
Release Date: 5/8/2003 9:04:00 AM
By Journalist 2nd Class (AW) Traci Feibel and Journalist 1st Class Stan Travioli, 1st Marine Engineer Group Public Affairs
5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (NNS) -- What was once an open stretch of sand across a portion of a jointly owned air base, is now a critical parking apron for fighter jets traveling between the sea and the war scene.
Beginning in the early days of October 2002, the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 arrived to undergo a 90-day concrete placing project in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Working non-stop, the Seabees constructed a 12-inch thick aircraft parking apron nearly 20 acres in size - the largest concrete placing project for the United States since World War II.
"We worked literally around the clock for 84 days. In the first 60 days, the only day the troops had the whole day off was Christmas day," said NMCB-74's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Cliff Maurer. The Christmas holiday lasted 18 hours, similar to a typical workday for Seabees on deployment, although this particular job site was running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Seabee crews had to move well over a million cubic feet of earth. Some portions of the concrete pad had to be raised more than six feet to make it level. The earth leveling work had to be done six inches at a time.
A laborious process, the 'Bees place fill material, roll it flat, check it for the proper compaction and then continue to place another six inches.
"We collapsed the local market's fill material," said Chief Builder (SCW) Wayne Jensen, one of the site foreman.
The local concrete makers couldn't keep up with the Seabees, either. The four local companies hired would bring as much product as they could each day, but it was never enough. "We poured as much as they supplied," said Jensen.
"At one point, we actually had some down time, because they just couldn't bring us the material as fast as we could place it," Chief Builder (SCW) Ray Roberts echoed.
NMCB-74 completed the largest single-battalion construction project executed in the last 30 years, working non-stop through dust storms, rainstorms and extreme desert winter chilling temperatures. Exceeding a battalion's normal tasking for a full six-month deployment, it was completed in true Seabee fashion, using only a third of a normal-sized battalion, and in half the time.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in early January, and various dignitaries accompanied Rear Adm. Charles R. Kubic, commander of the 1st Naval Construction Division and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Engineer Group, opening the pad to the Marine Corps attack jets.
"That made it all worthwhile when the first F/A-18 (Hornet) pulled on to the pad," beamed Jensen.
The fighters now have a place to touch down or park for a day's rest during the ongoing flight operations of Operation Iraqi Freedom in a vital location, proving Seabees continue to follow their often unrecognized tradition; building something from nothing, in order for the rest of the U.S. and coalition forces to utilize, without ever knowing the heart and sweat ingrained into the project. In this case, the concrete under their wheels.
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