Free Republic

By Journalist 2nd Class Barbara Silkwood, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 Public Affairs NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- Nearly a month after Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 deployed to Southern Louisiana in support of Joint Task Force Katrina relief efforts, the Seabees continued working in October with Parish residents and local government officials to help rebuild the surrounding communities as quickly as possible. Crews from NMCB 40's Air Detachment finished a project restoring St. Rosalee elementary - one of the largest schools in the New Orleans Archdiocese. “After the storm hit, debris, roofing and fallen trees scattered the courtyards,” said...

PLAQUEMINE PARISH, La. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 built a 500-man tent city in September for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials in Plaquemine Parish so the officials could relocate from temporary accommodations at Belle Chasse Primary School. The tent city, which includes air conditioned tents, showers and a 40 ft. by 60 ft. dining facility, will allow FEMA to conduct their day-to-day operations while Belle Chasse Primary School concentrates on getting their students back in class. “Disaster recovery is part of our job,” said Steelworker 1st Class (SCW) James Reddinger, project crew leader. “And we know...

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 began deploying a detachment of 125 personnel to Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 1 to provide humanitarian assistance and conduct debris removal in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The detachment will lend support to the 22nd Seabee Readiness Group in disaster recovery operations. Twenty-seven NMCB 40 Seabees comprised the first group to deploy to the Gulf Coast, with the remaining Seabees scheduled to deploy sometime during the same week. NMCB 40 is currently at its homeport for a 10-month training period.

                      Bearing Duel 2004 Seabee Daniel Trammel mans a defensive firing position during Exercise Bearing Duel 2004 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman John P. Curtis lllllllllllllll Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 rush an "injured" man to medical during a mass casualty drill at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Aug. 31, 2004. The battalion participated in Exercise Bearing Duel 2004, which provides an opportunity to train in realistic field environments while preparing for contingency operations and future deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman John P. Curtis lllllllllllllll Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction...