There were seven wet gap bridges on Route 7 between Al Nasiriyah and Al Kut that had no viable bypass and, should they be destroyed, I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) would expend all their float bridging just to reach Al Kut. The primary obstacles to 1 MARDIV’s mobility were crossing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and the Saddam canal among other obstacles. It was designated the main effort in support of 1 st Marine Division’s (1 MARDIV) mobility. Task Force Mike was the lead element and consisted of the 30 th NCR(-) and elements from NMCBs 4 and 74 and Underwater Construction Team 2. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Forces Central Command area of responsibility to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. 9, 2009) Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 and Air Force airmen of Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Detachment 4 maneuver 463L pallets with Seabee equipment into an Air Force C-17 for transportation. The concept was updated, and a composite staff deployed to Kuwait in late 2002. The MEG command concept was conceived in the mid-1990s to organize and provide command and control of I MEF’s augment engineer forces for potential Korean contingencies. MEG forces which augmented the Marines’ organic engineers, totaled approximately 5000 troops and were primarily Seabees but did include Army engineers. They were under the Marine Engineer Group (MEG) which reported to the First Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). Seabees were organized into three regimental sized task forces tailored to specific capabilities, Task Forces Mobility (Mike), Construction (Charlie) and Enduring (Echo). The Seabees arrived in Kuwait as early as September 2002 and completed major construction projects to bed down Marine forces and were ready to go when the execute order came. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) officially began on March 20, 2003. Task Force Mike was the lead element and main effort for the Seabees in OIF-I.Ģ023 is the twentieth anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as the continuation of Seabee efforts in Afghanistan. 1 Comment Posted in #LestWeForget Tagged military history, military museums, museum collection, Naval History and Heritage Command, Navy History, navy museums, Seabee Archives, Seabee history, US Navy Seabee Museum Operation Iraqi Freedom at Twentyīy CAPT Bill Rudich, CEC, USN (Ret.), Commander of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) which was designated as Task Force Mike. He was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25, Rock Island, Illinois. Tharp was killed on 12 July 2006 as a result of enemy action when his dismounted patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device while operating in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. They were assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 from Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.īU1 (SCW) Jerry A. Jaenke were killed June 5, 2006, as a result of enemy action when their HMMWV hit an improvised explosive device while on a convoy in the Al Anbar Province. Based in fort McCoy, WI, NMCB 25 deployed to Iraq in March 2006 to support reconstruction efforts as they repaired bridges and runways, drilled water wells, built a medical facility and sustained convoy operations.ĮO1 (SCW) Gary T. Rovinksi, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jamie S. WT2c Charlie Walton Leave a comment Posted in Archivist's Attic Tagged military history, military museums, museum collection, Naval History and Heritage Command, Navy History, navy museums, Seabee Archives, Seabee history, US Navy Seabee Museum, WWII #LestWeForget – Mourn the Loss of Threeĭuring a few short weeks in June and July 2006, three members of NMCB 25 were killed as a result of enemy action - Equipment Operator 1st Class Gary T. The LSTs were destroyed by enemy attack and six Seabees were killed in action. A few days later unofficial word reached Captain Benline, CO of the 70 th Naval Construction Battalion of the loss of two ships in the convoy. The men shipped out partly aboard two LST’s and partly in a truck convoy. On 20 June 1943, the 70 th Naval Construction Battalion, while at Arzew, Algeria, was ordered to send Company “D” officers and men, plus one quarter of Headquarters Company and the junior medical officer to Base X-Ray (Bizerte). No more march fearless thru the war light night. No more shall they awake to martial drum, Who thought so lightly of their lives – and death! With those who from the cruel wars have come –īright, glowing youths of fresh and vital breath How crowded is the heavenly House of Light
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