Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74

NMCB HISTORY

Compiled by BUCN Trafton, A. H.

 

United States Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Seventy-Four was activated on April 28th, 1943 at the Naval Construction Training Center on Camp Perry in Williamsburg, Virginia. LCDR Fremont G. Elliot assumed command of the battalion at that time and lead them throughout most of World War II.

 

Shortly after commissioning, on May 5, 1943 the battalion departed Camp Perry and moved to Camp Endicott in Davisville, Rhode Island to commence technical training. The training included the commando course, packing a regulation field pack, judo, machete handling, rapid construction of field fortifications and instruction in first aid. The nearby Sun Valley riffle range was also used for teaching basic to advanced marksman ship for the members of the battalion. The battalion later moved to Camp Parks, California to resume more training until their arrival at Port Hueneme, California on August 1st, 1943. The battalion marched, drilled and was assigned its first construction equipment for the war.

 

The battalion was put out to sea to invade Tarawa Atoll on October 30, 1943.

D-Day was November 20th.  The first Seabees of NCB-74 landed three days later and immediately began reconstructing a 4400-foot runway on Betio, largest island of the Atoll. U.S. fighter planes landed on the airstrip 15- hours after repair work had begun. By mid-December, NCB-74's Seabees had resurfaced and ex- tended the strip to 6600-feet to accommodate heavy bomber traffic. The construction crews were under enemy fire most of the time.

 

The coral atoll was devastated by the fierce assault. Unexploded shells and bombs, booby traps, decaying food dumps and wreckage covered the island. Seabee teams uncovered buried bombs and shells and then detonated them. Booby traps were removed and wreckage was bulldozed out of the way. Aided by native Gilbertese, the Battalion buried more than 3000 bodies.

 

 Seabees restored docks and built jetties, tank farms, pipe lines and more than 10-milesof roads. They dug wells and built power lines and added to camp facilities. The Battalion received the Navy Unit Citation for restoration of the bombed-out Japanese airstrip. 

 

Tarawa became the stepping off point for the invasion of the Marshall Islands early in 1944. Kwajalein and Eniwetok were recaptured in January and February, respectively. Seabees immediately moved in and began restoration and expansion of the highly developed Japanese facilities. They repaired and enlarged a 250- foot wide dock on Kwajalein, restored a boat slip and built a 300-foot quay with pontoon arms on Berlin Island. Other docks and wharves were restored and enlarged.

Camps and buildings were erected on six islands. Nearly every type of military structure was represented. Diesel generators provided power to five islands. of the atoll. Crews were constmt1y busy dynamiting dangerous coral heads and ridding the reef edge of smalI wrecks and hulks. Pontoon men built large tank and cargo barges and constructed a floating dry-dock. Two large tank farms were erected. The Battalion built and surfaced several miles of roads.

While much of this construction was in progress, the battalion began redeployment to Oahu. The first echelon departed Kwajalein June 4, 1944. The last echelon joined the Battalion at Moana-lua Ridge, Oahu on Oct. 11. Small construction tasks occupied the Seabees up untiI November, when the Battalion moved to Kaneohe Naval Air Station, Oahu. Attached to the 31st Naval Construction Regiment and the Second Naval Construction Brigade, the Battalion built a 5200-foot fighter strip at Kaneohe. The task required the excavation of over 320,000 cubic yards of earth and rock, and necessitated a great deal of blasting. The Seabees also built fuel tanks, housing, and camp facilities.

The Hawaiian interlude ended on May 20, 1945, when the Battalion once again sailed for the Western Pacific. The main body of the Battalion sailed aboard the USS Bingham, and four day later the rear echelons followed on seven LST's. Traveling via Eniwetok, Saipan, and Ulithi, NCB- 74 reached Okinawa on June 24 and 26, 1945.

On June 24, the Battalion was attached to the Thirty-Seventh Naval Construction Regiment and the Eighth Naval Construction Brigade. Okinawa in the summer of 1945 was a Seabee crossroads. NCB-74 shared the sizable island with 35 other construction battalions, and construction projects were many and varied.

Assisting other battalions of the Thirty-Seventh Regiment, NCB-74 helped build the 7000- foot Yonabaru airstrip. Crews of the Battalion quarried and hauled coral, laid the base coral course on the airstrip, and constructed taxiways and hardstands. Adjacent to the airstrip, they built tide-gates and a seawall

In late June and early July, sniper fire and night infiltration attempts by the Japanese required 'the Battalion to exercise around-the-clock vigilance. Late in July, this menace ended. The battalioncontinued construction of the Yonabaru project until October.

In the rapid demobilization of the autumn of 1945, increasing numbers of battalions were returning home. Naval Construction Battalion 74 was inactivated on October 31, 1945, on the island of Okinawa.

On December 3, 1966, after a lapse of more than 21 years, U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 was returned to the list of active Seabee battalions in a recommissioning ceremony held on board the U.S.  Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi adopting their motto “Does More”. Rear Admiral A. C. Husband, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, D. C., turned over the command of the new Battalion, as well as the Battalion's Colors, to Commander Gordon W. Schley, NMCB-74's Commanding Officer.

After a brief training period , the battalion deployed to Camp Haskins, South Danang, RVN in June of 1967. During this first deployment of its recommission, the battalion distinguished itself by outstanding performance on such projects as construction of the Ammunition Supply Point 2 and a massive heliport for the First Air Cavalry. The battalion returned to homeport in January of 1968 for reoutfitting and retraining.

In July of 1968, NMCB 74 commenced its second RVN deployment to Camp Shields, Chu Lai. During the early months of this deployment it received the coveted  “E” designating it the “Best of Type” of the 14 Atlantic Fleet Seabee battalions. The battalion was also awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Medal. The battalion constructed concrete aprons, barracks, POL facilities, hangars, ammunition supply point facilities, roads, and a variety of other projects in support of the combat troops. Three large details deployed the DMZ to build sea-huts and to crush rock for road upgrading.

In July1969,the battalion was deployed to Quang Tri Combat Base only to be moved after a six week stay. Leaving a 220-man detail in Quang Tri to perform important road work, NMCB 74 moved to Camp Hoover in Danang. Companies were engaged in work on hospitals, ASP-1, ASP-2, cantonment, barrack, and installing utilities
in several locations throughout the area. Besides Detail Alpha in Quang Tri, several other details left the home base. Detail Echo constructed revetments at Cam Rahn Bay in record-breaking time. Three detachments built cantonments at Hills 37, 55,and 65.One of the biggest projects was the construction of the 730 Cau Do Bridge located two miles south of Danang.

Seabee Team 7403 was located at Chau Doc, whiIe 7404 went to Kusie in the United States Trust Territory Islands in the Pacific.

During this deployment, the battalion received her third Navy Unit Commendation Medal for work during the devastating Hurricane Camille which struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast on 17 August 1969. The battalion returned to Gulfport in April 1970 upon completion of a third RVN deployment.

For the second consecutive year, the battalion found themselves helping out in disaster recovery operations as Hurricane Celia struck Corpus Christi, Texas on August 3rd, 1970. 35 men were flown to Corpus Christi, Naval Air Station to set up emergency generators 20 hours after the call for help had reached the battalion. An additional 63 men arrived at the air station on August 5, to start repairing roofs and demolishing buildings and houses that were beyond repair.

The battalion was deployed on 20 October to Bien Hoa, Vietnam in five flights. With Bien Hoa as its main base camp, the major details were established and deployed throughout the Mekong Delta. With the battalion's main camp established the details set out to work at their respective jobsites. Just like Details Golf at Nam Can and Hotel a t Long Phu, Detail Charlie, located in Cho Moi, had the job of building a Navy base to support and operate Vietnamese River Patrol Boats and Swift Boats. This was part of President Nixon's accelerated turnover to the Vietnamese (ACTOV) program. The spread out Details of NMCB74 completed a 3,00 foot runway at Nam Can, the opening of route 341 under constant threat of enemy probes and landmines, and a base camp for the Vietnamese radar operators and security.

Following the Vietnam War, NMCB 74 continued to serve her country. The battalion participated in peacetime construction efforts around the globe.  After an extended homeport, NMCB 74 deployed to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico as the Atlantic Fleet Alert Battalion. The main body consisted of 250 men station at the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station with details sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Thurmont, Maryland; Antigua, West Indies, Canal Zone, Ft. Allen Puerto Rico; and Andros Bahamas Islands. Three Seabee teams were located in Vietnam, Yap, and Lake Titicaca Bolivia where a hospital barge was erected, where that team received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its work.

 

In March 1973 the entire battalion deployed to a tiny coral atoll called Diego Garcia, the largest of the five islands making the Chagos Archieplago. While on Diego, the battalion was involved in the construction of a Naval communications station, the erection of antennas, construction of Bachelor Enlisted quarters and Bachelor Officer quarters, the erection of two petroleum tanks on the POL causeway,  the completion of the Industrial Site, the completion of NAVCOMMSTA Admin building and the beginning of paving the main road of the island. During their time on Diego Garcia, NMCB 74 was awarded the Navy “E” designating her “Best Type” of the Atlantic Fleet Seabee battalions. The battalion returned to homeport in November 1973.

 

Following homeport, the battalion was deployed to Camp Covington, Guam in May 1974. Details were sent to Adak and Point Barrow, Alaska; Yokosuka and Atsugi Japan; San Miguel, Philippines; and the Midway Islands. Military readiness for Main Body was the emphasis of the deployment, while the details were involved in various construction projects. The main body successfully completed a full battalion mount out as required in their role as Backup Pacific Alert Battalion. The mount out was given an “excellent” by the 30th NCR. The battalion was then re-designated as the Pacific Alert Battalion in October, a role which was held until they returned to homeport in early January of 1975.

 

In July of 1975, the battalion was deployed to Silver City, Rota, Spain. Detatchements for the European deployment included Sigonella, Sicily; La Madellena, Saridina; Holy Loch and Edzell, Scotland; Nea Makri, Greece; Souda Bay, Greece; and Haiti. The battalion returned to homeport in March of 1976, where it was again awarded the Navy “E”, best of type of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees.  They made a deployment to Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan in September of 1976, and returned in May of 1977.

 

After much technical training in preparation for Diego Garcia, the battalion left homeport in November 1977. The battalion was tasked with nearly 40 major construction projects. During this time, NMCB 74 became the first battalion since the Vietnam War to move 1,000,000 cubic yards of fill in a deployment.

 

The next stop for the “Does More” battalion took them out the West Pacific area to Guam in January of 1979. The personnel of the battalion were scattered throughout the area with dets located at Atsugi, Yokosuka and Misawi, Japan’ Hawaii; Adak, Alaska; and Diego Garcia. A civic action team was also deployed to the island of Palau, in the chain of the Western Caroline Islands. They then returned to homeport in September, for a 6 month training period.

 

The battalion departed for Rota, Spain in March of 1980 and had a number of detachments which included Sigonella, Sicily; Holy Loch, Scottland; Nea Makri, Greece; and of course Diego Garcia, yet again. The top priority of the deployment  was the Pier Project in Rota, which was completed one month ahead of schedule. Upon returning to homeport in August of 1980, 74 started to prepare for the next deployment. Special skills and training were emphasized and a special unit was established. SWAC (Special Warfare and Construction) training enabled the battalion to be especially prepared for disasters and emergencies.

 

NMCB-74 arrived in Puerto Rico with its main body on May 15th, 1981. The Pier II Project and important road work at NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads were included in this deployments tasking.

 

In January 1982 the battalion returned to Gulfport for and extensive homeport training period. The emphasis was on the need for safety , quality, exercising construction management and training inexperienced personnel. The battalion was tasked with 12 projects during this period totaling more than 2000 man-days of efforts.

 

In July  of 1982, NMCB 74 deployed to Okinawa, with details in Subic bay, and Yokosuka, Iwakuni and Sasebo, Japan. The battalions arrival to Camp Shields marked the first time in more than five years that a full battalion deployed there. 74 was tasked with the Camp Shields Armory and Admin Building. The battalion returned to homeport in April of 1983.

 

They began another training period to prepare for the upcoming deployment. In July the battalion was called upon to provide a 93 main detail for a joint operational exercise in Honduras. On the 16th of August, the detail set sail for Central America. A major tasking of the det was to expand an existing runway to make it C-130 capable. In October the remainder of the battalion deployed to Puerto Rico with detachments to Vieques Islands, Andros, Guantanamo Bay and Bermuda. Construction tasking’s included  50 project sites. The battalion returned to homeport in May of 1984.

 

Another short training period began, and on October 6th, a special 10-man detachment deployed to Darkar, Senegal. The detail was tasked with the rehabilitation of the local hospital’s Maternity Ward. They were there working for a little over a month and returned on the 28th of November. Shortly after the details return, the battalion deployed to Rota, Spain with detatchments  located in Sigonella, Sicily; Nea Makri, Greece; Souda Bay, Crete; Naples, Italy; and Holy Loch, Scotland.

 

The “Does More” battalion returned to homeport in June 1985, and immediately started into their homeport training schedule. On the 2nd through the 8th of September, the battalion provided assistance in the clean up operation of the Gulfport area from the effects of Hurricane Elana. For their efforts NMCB 74 received the Humanitarian Service Medal.

 

In April of 1986 the battalion arrived on the island of Guam for the lengthy 9 month deployment. Detachments included Diego Garcia; Thurmont, Palau and Midway. The Seabees on Guam supported the U.S. Coast Guard with the construction of a new Loran-C station. The project saved an estimated $700,000.00 per year in reduced personnel and operating costs. It also eliminated 19 isolated duty billets on the island of Yap. The battalion received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon for it’s support.

 

On December 1986, NMCB 74 finished its yearly cycle with the ending of another deployment and the beginning of another training homeport period. The new homeport evolution included a full battalion mount out for field training to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, in May 1987. This Field Training Exercise (FTX) was the first fully mount out by an NMCB since the Vietnam War.

 

In June of 1987, the “Does More” Battalion deployed to Sigonella, Sicily with details in Nea Makri, Souda Bay, Naples, Subic Bay and Cairo. The following deployment in August of 1988 was Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico with details in Panama, Guantanamo Bay, Andros and Vieques. Short term “Deployments for Training” were accomplished during this deployment for Nevis Island, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Dam Neck and Jamaica. The battalion was involved in helping Jamaica recover from the devastation of Hurricane Gilbert, During this deployment, NMCB 74 received the Golden Anchor for excellence in retention.

 

 Following a highly successful homeport training period from March to September 1989, the battalion set out for Okinawa. It was a seven month deployment with detail in Adak, Iwakuni, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Pohang, Oman, and Yap. The battalion returned to home to Gulfport in April, 1990, receiving high praise for a superior deployment.

 

NMCB 74’s most trying endeavor since Vietnam came in December 1990 when the battalion deployed to the Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The training that the battalion underwent in homeport proved invaluable as the men successfully supported the FIRST Marine Expeditionary Force Operating from Camp Nomad, Ras al Mishab. Among the battalion’s projects were the construction and maintenance of 30 miles of the 200-mile long main supply route, building one of the largest ammunition facilities in the world, a 1,500 foot stabilized soil runway for C-130 aircraft, two large camps for Marines, and support for NMCB 5 in building a 15,000-man camp known as "Wally World." The battalion’s most notable achievement, however, was Bravo Company’s construction of tank and artillery mock-ups in support of Task Force Troy, Commanding General Norman Schwarzkopf’s successful decoy that was deployed to disguise the main thrust of the allied assault on Iraq. In May 1991, the battalion returned to Gulfport with celebration and accolades for an outstanding deployment.

 

Upon returning to homeport, the battalion completed a successful training period during which seven major civic and military projects were completed and extensive training evolutions were held.

 

In Mid-January 1992, NMCB 74 deployed to Naval Air station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, with details located in Guantanamo Bay; Andros Islands; Vieques Island; Rodman, Panama; British Defense Force Headquarters, Barbados; and NAS Bermuda. In addition to that, the battalion sent out a Deployment for Training (DFT) shortly after they had settled to Honduras, Guatemala and Columbia. During deployment, the battalion conducted a modified field training exercise with focus on weapons familiarization and basic combat skills. All members participated in a live fire exercise on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. The battalion returned to homeport in August 1992.

 

After a slightly longer homeport than had in the past, NMCB 74 deployed to Okinawa  in March of 1993.  Fearless had details located in Adak, Atsugi, Chinhae, Iwakuni, Pohang, Fuji, Cat Fiji, Sasebo and Yokosuka. Construction projects had 36,000 direct labor man-days on 35 major projects spread out through PACOM. During deployment the battalion attained a 37% direct labor percentage, by aggressively employing their horizontal construction capabilities.  They conducted a field training exercise concentrating on patrolling, convoys, camp security and chemical attack procedures. Military training also included 121 members attending a one week, small infantry training course at the Okinawa Northern Training area; range training was the primary subject. After a successful deployment, NMCB 74 returned home in October of 1993.

 

In July of 1995, FEARLESS deployed to Camp Shields Okinawa for the second time in 3 years. The battalion sent out Dets to Adak, Alaska; Bangor, Washington; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Iwakuni, Japan; Pohang, Korea; and Sasebo and Yokosuka, Japan. The battalion executed over 30,200 man-days of direct labor in Okinawa and the Detail sites. The most difficult project that reached near completion was the Medical Records Storage Facility, which had been troubled with redesign efforts, and a construction budget right up against the thresh hold. Other projects included completion of an Aircraft Calibration Pad, two K-Span facilities, over 10,000 cy of crushed stone. In addition the Water Well Drilling Team to Pohang, Korea to increase the availability of potable water to the Marine Expeditionary Group. Training during deployment were General Military Training (GMT) classes, in-rate skill training, and Communication/Command Post exercise. After a busy 7-month deployment, the battalion returned to homeport in February 1996.

 

NMCB 74’s 1996-1997 deployment started in September at Camp Moscrip, Puerto Rico, with details deployed to Vieques Island, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Andros Island, Bahamas; Norfolk, Virginia; and Jacksonville, Florida. DFT teams were sent to Haiti, Belize and Panama to support humanitarian operations, enhancing the quality of life and U.S. Relations in those poverty stricken areas of the world. The men and women of FEARLESS demonstrated their ability to go anywhere and perform any mission with style and flexibility. By combining efforts with other engineering units, they formed a truly joint team to complete the missions of the deployment. The battalion met the completion date for the new SECOND Fleet Headquarters,  accelerated the construction of a 5.5 mile road and bridge in Haiti, and to construct migrant camps in Guantanamo Bay. In addition to all the work, FEARLESS had a hefty training schedule, with ranges, GMT’s, and in-rate skills.

 

In January 1999 the battalion deployed to Camp Moscrip, Puerto Rico; with details in Vieques, Sabana Seca, Guantanamo Bay, Norfolk, Andros Island, Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; DFT Teams were sent to Guatemala, Haiti, Domnica and Great Inagua. Task oriented details were deployed to Honduras and Guantanamo by for Operation Sustain Hope. During this deployment, FEARLESS was assigned a hefty 48 construction projects throughout the details with 25,000 man-days. But they were not doing it alone, two-hundred fourteen Seabees from nine NCF reserve unites were assigned to augment NMCB 74 and help complete the assigned tasking.

 

During its 2000 deployment to Okinawa, NMCB 74 sent a DFT to the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand as part of Cooperation and Readiness Afloat (CARAT) exercise 2000. The battalion also participated in recovery efforts after Typhoons Jelawat and Saomai on Okinawa, and set records for rock blasting as part of a joint construction operation on Annette Island, Alaska. In recognition of its superb construction efforts throughout the Pacific Rim, NMCB 74 was once again selected to receive the Battle "E" award, its fourth in eight years.

 

In October 2002 the battalion deployed to Camp Covington, Guam initially deploying five details from the Caribbean to the Pacific. Shortly after deploying to Guam in early October, the battalion’s Air Det Heavy redeployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in central Kuwait. The primary tasking was the construction of the F/A-18 Parking Apron and Taxiway project for the 3rd Marine Air Wing. The enormous 22-acre project had a mission critical, operational ready date of mid-January, 2003. The rest of the Battalion received the call once more to re-deploy their SLRP, AP, and OPP to Kuwait in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM where they made significant and critical contributions to FIRST Marine Expeditionary Force’s (I MEF) successful campaign to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime and liberate the people of Iraq.

 

NMCB 74’s 2004 deployment started in February with project sites across Europe. 335 personnel deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II (OIF II) as DET SWA until becoming the “main body” site and Rota a Detail site. DET SWA convoyed into Iraq, sending Details to Ar Ramadi, Al Asad, and Fallujah. By the end of April, the Detail sites of Ar Ramadi and Al Asad were turned over to NMCB 14. DET SWA built and fought alongside the Marine Corps, constructing bunkers, berms, and bypasses, and then shifted focus once again to perform clean up operations. The Fearless Seabees completed several traditional contingency projects including the construction of a Thousand-Man Tent Camp for the Fallujah Brigade and a frontier outpost for the Iraqi Border Patrol.

 

In October 2005, the Battalion was ordered to deploy a Heavy Air Detachment in support of Operation Lifeline; earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan. Project work began on 27 October 2005 and continued until 14 December 2005. Various types of humanitarian relief and disaster recovery related projects were completed. The Detachment was primarily tasked with the removal of earthquake related structural and geological debris at numerous school sites within the Muzzaffarabad area. Additional support was provided in the form of tent camp latrine construction and installation, camp maintenance support for the Disaster Assistance Center Pakistan (DAC PAK) staff, the 212th M.A.S.H. and the 267th Quartermaster (Aircraft Refueling) Detachment, and shelter construction in the “Adopt-a-Village” initiative. Advanced Based Functional Component (ABFC) projects included sea huts, shaving tables, heads, urine tubes, and tent decks.

 

By the end of deployment, the Fearless Seabees were assigned to a total of 13 different sites stretching from the west coast of the United States to Africa. Throughout the deployment, the men and women of NMCB-74 provided high quality, cost effective, and at times strategic construction and contingency support to both U.S. Pacific and Central Commands. Following the lead of Commander Mark Libonate, the Seabees of this Command demonstrated unparalleled levels of professionalism through every challenge they faced.

 

In October 2006, NMCB 74 deployed to Southwest Asia and Guam.  The battalion deployed to two primary sites in Iraq and Guam and six detail sites including Whidbey Island, San Nicholas Island and four sites in Southwest Asia.  While deployed to Iraq, NMCB 74 repaired a runway in Al Taqqadumm, helped train multi-national forces and provided multiple combat out-posts with electricity, lights and running water, along with boosting the security of the facilities.  In Guam the “Fearless” Seabees took on a very strenuous laundry facility project along with the rock quarry.  NMCB 74 returned home in April 2007 and was 100% mission complete by the end of deployment.

 

By February 2008 NMCB 74 once again deployed, this time around the world. They reached across 10,000 miles and 10.5 time zones to SOUTHCOM, and EUCOM AOR’s demonstrating our ability to build and fight, anyplace, anywhere. Working in 27 different geographic locations with 15 separate Det site locations, 4 different continents, and serving 11 different supported commanders, Fearless Seabees made an immediate and relevant impact to numerous worldwide military forces and thousands of citizens. The shear distance across all Det sites is daunting; while Fearless Seabees in Afghanistan end their day on the jobsite, Seabees from Guantanamo Bay rise to start their day. In a 24-hour time period, Fearless Seabees are literally “awake” 24 hours/day supporting 3 combatant commanders with high quality, responsive construction. The battalion returned to Gulfport in August 2008.  

 

After a successful training cycle in homeport, NMCB 74 deployed again for a CENTCOM deployment. The battalion spread throughout Afghanistan in August of 2009 for an eight-month extended deployment.  NMCB 74 drilled numerous water wells, including the first known artesian well in Afghanistan, provided site work and vertical buildings at Camp Leatherneck, and small Combat Outposts throughout Helmand Province providing winterization construction and Initial Operating Capability for multiple Marine Battalions. NMCB 74 also deployed two Dets to support Joint Special Forces throughout the country with numerous IOC construction projects and camp support. 

 

The battalion’s Convoy Security Element was employed to provide 24 hour a day protection on a hostile stretch of road as Det Gypsum conducted a 45 day operation to improve a Major Supply Route in the Helmand Province.  This project directly affected the ability of Coalition Forces to maintain Freedom of Movement within its Area of Responsibility.  NMCB 74 also led the charge by being the first Seabee battalion in OEF to deploy for eight months, when it was tasked with a two-month deployment extension, but accepted it in stride and completed their fourth CENTCOM deployment in April 2010 with 100% mission accomplishment.

 

Because of the extension to the 2009-2010 CENTCOM deployment, NMCB 74 faced an accelerated homeport training period in preparation for its EUCOM/AFRICOM deployment.  Despite the shortened homeport cycle, the Battalion accomplished all of the required training, and in October of 2010, performed exceptionally well at Battalion FTX, which was noted as the best FTX the 20th SRG had witnessed in many years.

 

By mid December 2010, NMCB 74 was once again deployed.  This time it was sent to relieve NMCB 7 in the EUCOM/AFRICOM Areas of Operation.  The main body was stationed at Camp Mitchell aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain in support of Combined Task Force 68.  It sent a total of ten detachments to Croatia, Romania, Macedonia, Togo, Nigeria, Morocco, Italy, Senegal, Cameroon and Gabon.  A large Detachment was forward deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti in support of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.  The Horn of Africa Detachment conducted operations in Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and The Gambia, and also supported Joint Special Forces.  Throughout the area of operation, FEARLESS Seabees supported commands through Exercise Related Construction, Humanitarian Civic Assistance projects and Humanitarian Assistance.  The battalion built schools, renovated operations centers, constructed Military Operations in Urban Terrain training facilities from the ground up, drilled Water Wells, built and maintained tent camps and completed numerous other projects.  The entire battalion returned to Gulfport in August of 2011 having once again completed 100% of its tasking.

 

FEARLESS 74 deployed to the Pacific Region in June of 2012 for a final time before decommissioning in 2014. Successfully overcoming significant personnel dispersion, as well as command and control, material, and fiscal challenges, FEARLESS 74 seamlessly operated in a joint environment and greatly increased supported commander operational requirements. FEARLESS 74 dispersed around the world with fifteen operating locations spanning over the PACOM Area of Responsibility and seven time zones. Immediate impact was made with CCAD Cambodia’s support of Pacific Partnership 2012, Cambodia, a humanitarian mission focused on improving medical, educational, and public works facilities. Also DET sites joined in as a part of TSCP, the forefront of the DoD’s “Pivot to the Pacific” by school renovations in Palawan, Philippines, Timor Leste, and Yap. Many base improvements were also made in the Main Body site, Okinawa, as well as detail Guam. At the end of the six months, FEARLESS redeployed to Gulfport in January 2013.

 

NMCB-74 has been selected "Best of Type" among the Atlantic Fleet battalions ten times during its history. It was awarded this honor under CDR Gordon W. Schley for fiscal year 1968, CDR James E. Bodamer in 1973, CDR Daniel B. Leonard in 1976, CDR Arthur W. Fort in 1978, CDR B. Daniel Neal in 1993, CDR Ronald W. Hertwig Jr. in 1994, CDR William M. Peacock III in 1999, CDR Francis P. Castaldo in 2000, CDR Clifford M. Maurer in 2003, and CDR Craig S. Prather in 2007. The battalion also received the Society of American Military Engineers’ Peltier Award, honoring the best active duty battalion, in 1978, 1994, 1999, and 2003.  In 2003 the Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.