Seabees return to Gulfport

SUN HERALD ^ | March 1, 2009 | By J.R. WELSH

[Islander7]

Tashiana Johnson, 8, holds a sign for her father,
Gerard Johnson of Naval Mobile Construction
Battalion 7
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GULFPORT — A plane carrying 310 Seabees was greeted by jubilant family members Saturday afternoon when about half a contingent of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 returned from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A unit spokesman said no casualties occurred among the Gulfport-based Seabees during their battle-zone tour. They were part of 600 Seabees from NMCB 7 deployed to the Middle East. The remainder are expected to return home in mid-March.

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The Seabees had originally deployed to Iraq, but later were moved in a major U.S. buildup as part of the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. In Iraq they had supported the First Marine Expeditionary Force.

Once in Afghanistan the Seabees served in Hellman Province, in the country’s southern region. They built military bases for U.S. troops and for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, which includes British, Dutch and Danish troops. As part of a surge of more than 20,000 troops into southern Afghanistan, the mission by NMCB 7 members included construction work on a new, 403-acre forward operating base.

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[Islander7]

“It was amazing,” said Melissa Smith, wife of Construction Mechanic First Class Steven Smith, a veteran Seabee who has made seven deployments in his career. “For us it was bitter-sweet, because this was his last deployment.”

In September CM1 Smith will be retiring from the Navy. He plans to work offshore for an oil company and move his wife and two young daughters back to their native North Mississippi.

[Islander7]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Welcome Home! :)

[WKB]

(A unit spokesman said no casualties occurred among the Gulfport-based Seabees during their battle-zone tour.)

Best part of all!!!

[LibLieSlayer]

Welcome Home and GOD bless them all!!!!!

LLS