Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 is a United States Navy Construction Battalion, otherwise known as a Seabee Battalion, based out of Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi.

WWII - Iwo Jima: 133 Naval Construction Battalion

Fig. 1

Fig.2: LSM 206 was loaded with A Co 133's Shore Party equipment & 3 D8s at approx. 0935 were landed on the wrong beach Red Beach 2

Fig.3: LSM 202 was loaded with B Co 133's Shore Party equipment and D8s. 133's Shore Party left side of photo

Fig.4: 133 Plaque from the estate of Lt Col Joseph J. McCarthy It is zinc and probably cast from expended ammunition clips.

The unit was commissioned on 17 September 1943 at Camp Peary, Virginia, as the 133rd Naval Construction Battalion (NCB). After 7 months of training at Davisville, Gulfport and Port Hueneme the Battalion's first overseas assignment was NAS Honolulu (May-Oct 1944). On the 15th of October 1944 the Battalion received word that it was going to be attached to the 4th Marine Division.^[1] October 30 the Battalion was posted TAD to the 4th for the Assault on Iwo Jima, which happened on 19 February 1945. Before joining the 4th at Camp Maui, the men were put through the Pacific Jungle Combat Training Center (CTC) on Oahu.^[2] And once assigned to the 23rd Marines the Battalion was de-organized with each Company posted to a different component of the 23rd before receiving their SP training. The Battalion's Shore Party assignment was to provide the beach support required by the forward lines of the 23rd,24th, and 25th Marines. The assault for Iwo was based upon Tinian where the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions assault was "reinforced" by the 18th and 121st NCBs. On D-plus 3 the Jap airfield was secured and the Seabees had it operational in a few hours.(Fig. 1 indicates the Marines planned to have control of Iwo Jima in 3 days also) For Iwo the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions were "reinforced" by the 133rd and 31st NCBs. Marine planning maps indicate that O1 (objective Day 1) Motoyama Airfield #1 would be secured and 133 was assigned to get it operational.^[3] However, on D plus 5 that assignment was given to the 31st NCB due to the losses 133 had suffered. The next day 62 NCB landed, with the 3rd Marine Division (which was the assault reserve Division), and became the lead Battalion for Airfield #1. The 31st was assigned Airfield #2 and the 133rd was given Airfield #3. In just seven days the heavy equipment of the 3 combined Battalions had Airfield #1 operational. The battle for Iwo Jima took 26 days. During that time the 133rd suffered 328 casualties, with 3 officers and 39 enlisted killed in action while an additional 2 were MIA.^[4] It was the price paid for having the distinction of being the only "non-Marine" unit in Marine Corps history to be ordered into USMC fatigues and land Battalion Strength in an Assault as a Marine unit.^[5] They were deployed as a USMC Pioneer Battalion. Those losses were the highest for any Seabee unit ever. 133 NCB was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation^[6] for its part in the Battle. Before that happened the Battalion crushed over 100,000 tons of rock, moved over 1 million cubic yards of earth, laid 5,800 feet of drainpipe, installed 4,000 feet of conduit and poured 725 yards of concrete.^[7] 133 leveled the site and built the entrance of the 4th's Cemetery on Iwo. In December 1945, with the military down-sizing from WWII, the Battalion was decommissioned due to the reduced need for the existing Naval Construction force.

The 133rd that landed on Iwo Jima had an Insignia drawn by Hank Porter at the Walt Disney Studios Insignia Department. A second class Jack E. Dorn - 3rd platoon D Co. sent a request to the Disney Studios on 9 December 1944. The Studios received it on 26 December and sent the completed design to the Battalion in June 1945. The Battalion was still on Iwo Jima when it was received. That insignia was of a Seabee walking, carrying a Hammer and Monkey Wrench while chewing his Stem-of-Oats.^[8] "RAIN-MAKERS" was the moniker those men used as they felt it Rained everywhere they went.(the Fightingfourth website states it "Rained-how it Rained" at Camp Maui and on Iwo it poured on D-plus 3) It also was the name they used on the Unit History published in 1946.^[9] (click on 133 external link very bottom of page) see p. 6 for Disney Insignia, p. 49 for PO2 Dorn, p. 96 for Jungle Training, p. 97 Camp Maui

The 133rd NCB and the 4th Marine Pioneers were the primary units that composed the Assault Battalions Shore Party for the 23rd and 25th Regimental Combat Teams (RCT), 4th Marine Division Yellow and Blue beaches.^[10] (the 24th RCT was the Division's assault reserve) The 4th Marine Division had just one Pioneer Battalion, the 4th, which was assigned to the 25th RCT. Therefore another Pioneer Battalion was needed for the 23rd RCT's Assault and the Marines thought 133 would satisfy that need.^[11] Choosing the Seabees for the Shore party was a fortuitous decision by the Marines that has gone mostly unrecognized. The Seabees brought with an organic element the Marines did not have i.e. bulldozers with winches and D8s 132-148 Hp compared to the Marine's TD 18s 72-80 Hp. Afterwards the Combat Reports recommended all USMC bulldozers be equipped with winches as they had none. It's history that "on the Beach at Iwo, bulldozers proved to be worth their weights in Gold"^[12] and the Seabees had the biggest and the best.(Fig. 8)

Hq Co was posted to the 23rd Marines support group and was the HQ for yellow beaches 1 and 2.^[13] They came ashore at 1445 from the APA 196 - USS Logan. The Company's 2 security sections were put on the line until their ratings were needed on the beach.(Fig. 1)

A Co was posted to 1st Battalion 23rd Marines or 1/23 which was the Left Assault Battalion for yellow beach. D-day they landed a 0935 on yellow beach 1 from APA 158 - USS Newberry and LSM 206. 1/2 of A Co 4th Pioneers was posted to A Co 133 to share their combat experience and knowledge.(Fig. 2 & 9)

B Co was posted to 2nd Battalion 23rd Marines or 2/23 which was the Right Assault Battalion for yellow beach. They also landed at 0935 but on yellow 2 from the APA 207 - USS Mifflin and LSMs 202 and 145. The other half of A Co 4th Pioneers was posted to B Co 133.(Fig. 3 & 9)

C Co was posted to the 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines or 3/23 which was the reserve Assault Battalion for yellow beach. They landed D-day at 1220 from the APA 154 - USS Lowndes. Their security section advanced to the edge of the airfield. (Anecdotally-click on Joseph J. McCarthy and Fig. 4. Historical note: A WWII Seabee Security Section was the equivalent of what is today called a Heavy Weapons Platoon.) The beach-master made C Co Commander the Commander of yellow beach 2 on D-plus 6.

D Co was posted to the 4th Pioneer Battalion's reserve. The 25th Marines lists them in their "support group". However, the 4th Marine Div. Operations Report of April 1945 places them in the 25th's "Assault reserve" with 2/25. They landed at 1600 on blue 2. They were "tactically disposed" and told to dig in.^[14]

The Unit Histories of both the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions state that the conditions on the beach for the (Red Patch) Shore Parties and the (yellow patch) USN Beach Parties were worse than the front lines. D-day all personnel were initially employed to aid the evacuation of casualties. From D-day until D-plus 5 the men were on duty 24 hrs a day and by D-plus 3 were nearly dropping from exhaustion. D-plus 5 to D-plus 8 the men worked 4 hrs on 4 hrs off. From D-plus 8 to D-plus 14 they worked 4 hrs on 8 hrs off. On D-plus14 they were put on 8 hr shifts. The Corpsman, Security sections, Equipment Operators and Truck Drivers WERE ON DUTY AT ALL TIMES NECESSARY from the beginning to the end of the assault phase.^[15] On D plus 18 (9 March) 133's Companies were relieved by the Army Garrison Shore Party. The Battalion reorganized and returned to the Navy.

The Battalion was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation the same as the other 3 Shore Party Battalions: i.e. 4th Marine Pioneer Bn, 5th Marine Pioneer Bn and 31st Naval Construction Bn. However, the unit is incorrectly listed in the NUC Section of the Iwo Jima awards.^[16] It should read "133rd NCB (less Companies A, B, C,and D)". This is how the 4th and 5th Pioneer Battalions were listed. Had this been done then A, B, C and D Companies would have been listed in the PUC section for being assigned to their respective Assault Battalions 1/23, 2/23, 3/23, and 2/25 exactly the way the Pioneer Companies were for their PUC's. It appears that the 4th did not follow protocol and put the entire Battalion up for the PUC. It was a grand complement but, the Battalion itself was designated "Support" so it was automatically rejected. Marine Commandant Gen. Vandergrift recommended that the PUC be given to All the "Assault" units and the NUC to those designated "Support". Fox Annex to the 4th Mar.Div Operations Reports, dated April 1945, lists 133's Companies individually as "Assault". A footnote to the awards is that in addition to all the Purple Hearts 133's men received 10 Bronze Stars and 29 Marine Commendations.^[17]

Vietnam

The Battalion was reactivated 12 August in Gulfport Mississippi. It seems the Battalion did not have a copy of the unit History from WWII with the Disney insignia and there was a belief that the Battalions first deployment was supposed to have been Australia. This belief produced the Kangaroo insignia and the slogan "Kangaroo Can Do". After completion of training they deployed to Da Nang, Viet Nam. The Battalion was awarded its second Navy Unit Commendation for this tour. The second deployment took them to Phu Bai, Viet Nam. This time they had a huge project laying 10,000 sheets on matting at that airfield. In 1969 the third deployment took the Battalion to Camp Wilkinson 6 miles southeast of Hue. One the projects this time was repairing the 286' center span of the main highway bridge damaged during the Tet Offensive.

In 1970 the Battalion did a tour where the Sun never set on it. It deployed to Okinawa with detachments to : Guam, Bien Hoa, Viet Nam, Azores and the Aleutians. This was followed by a deployment of firsts. They were the first Alantic fleet Battalion to serve as the alert Battalion for the Pacific Fleet. From Okinawa they had detachment to Iwakuni, Japan, Oahu, Hawaii, Bein Hoa, Viet Nam and Subic Bay, P.I.

During the 1974 Okinawa Deployment the Battalion lost two Officers in an ambush in the Philippines to unknown assailants. Commanding Officer Cdr. L.R. Dobler and Lt. Jefferies PI OIC. Also killed was Capt. T. Mitchell Commander 30th NCR.

Iraq

In March 1991 the Battalion deployed to Spain. A month later they were redeployed as a component of Operation Provide Comfort. This took the Battalion to Sikh, Iraq assigned to the Army's 18th Engineering Brigade. When the Main Body mounted out of Rota it's equipment was sent by sea to Iskenderum Turkey. From there it was convoyed 400 miles to Zakho, Iraq.^[18]

Bosnia

December 1995 into 1996, in support of operation "Joint Endeavor" an Air Det Heavy of roughly 200 men deployed to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Renovation of the NATO Commander's facilities in Sarajevo was one project. Detail Juliet Echo was assigned the construction of camps for the US Army's 16th Corps Support Group in Croatia and the 1st Armored Division's Ready 1st Combat Team in Bosnia.

In March 1998 the Battalion sent a Det of 217 men back to Bosnia to build SEAHuts and do bridge repair work.^[19]

Iraq

Fig.5: 133 rebuilds Sarabadi Bridge in 2003 near Hillah, Iraq

January and February 2003 saw the Battalion deployed in support of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force operationally assigned to the 1st MEF Engineer Group. In Southern Iraq the Battalion created a POW facility for 14,000, provided defense for 2 bridges and maintenance to the main supply routes. The men also assembled a pontoon bridge over the Tigris. In addition, the Battalion was tasked with many Civil Action Projects.^[20] see (Fig. 5)

2005–Present

Fig. 6: Det Gitmo 2007 building a temporary ferry pier on the Leeward side

Fig. 7: NMCB 133 Supports C-130 Aircraft Repair in Rota 2014 for Fleet Logistics Sqd. 62

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina came through the central Gulf Coast, taking many lives and causing catastrophic damage to the homes and businesses of countless residents. Within a day, the Seabees from battalions of NMCB 1, 7, and 133 rushed out to clear roads so emergency workers could access hard hit areas.

In the ensuing weeks, NMCB 133 provided extensive humanitarian aid around the area, including the critical repair of lift stations, cleaning and repair of government buildings and schools, and the distribution of food, water and clothing to local residents in need.

As these important projects were going on, teams from the battalion were deployed to assist Seabees whose homes were affected by Katrina. In NMCB 133, 118 out of 659 people either lost their homes entirely or had them damaged so badly they were uninhabitable. Those Seabees and their families either sought refuge in warehouses on base or with friends and family.

Only two months later, the Roos were ready to deploy in November 2005. NMCB 133 deployed to numerous sites throughout Southwest Asia, with additional details in Guam and Whidbey Island. In Iraq, the Runnin’ Roos of NMCB 133 supported Marines, Special Operations Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.

The NMCB 133 2007 deployment involved four continents.(Fig. 6) The Battalion worked in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) building schools in remote villages and making clean water available to locals. A detail assigned to "New Horizons" built schools in rural Belize. NMCB 133 also had a presence in São Tomé, working in cooperation with Underwater Construction Team ONE (UCT 1) to rebuild the only boat launch available to the country’s Coast Guard.

Over the next few years, the Battalion made two separate deployments to Iraq and Okinawa, Japan. NMCB 133's Seabees built the foundation for new buildings on White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa and restored running water to a village in Kemaman district of Malaysia that had not had such a luxury in over three years. A 35-foot wind-powered turbine and solar panel were installed to provide power to the pump.

Following the end of the PACOM tour, the Roos redeployed to Gulfport, MS for a 15-month homeport and training cycle. In March 2010, the Battalion deployed over 600 Seabees from Gulfport to Afghanistan in support of the 30,000 troop surge.

NMCB 133 successfully set up a site on Kandahar Airfield (KAF), Afghanistan which was used as their mainbody site. The site consisted of nothing more than a bed of gravel when they arrived. Within a month, the battalion had a fully operational Seabee camp. They constructed buildings, set up tents, and worked with an adjacent Army unit to supply power.

Among the list of accomplishments completed by NMCB 133's Runnin' Roos, the following were most noteworthy:

• The drilling of a well over 1,210 feet (370 m) deep that produces approximately 25,000 US gallons (95,000 l; 21,000 imp gal) of water per day.
• The construction of many Southwest Asia (SWA) Huts over many locations throughout Afghanistan.
• Construction and electrical distribution to many living quarters, shower units, and dining facilities.
• Significant perimeter expansion of four forward operating bases.
• Construction of numerous crow's nest observation towers.
• The construction/expansion of 3 helicopter landing pads.

In October 2010, NMCB 133 received the Atlantic Fleet Best of Type Battle "E" award for its outstanding efforts during the CENTCOM deployment.

In March 2011, the battalion once again deployed to Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan where it was involved in many projects, including the renovation of a new galley facility, the construction of a 207 square meter concrete storage building at White Beach Naval Facility, installation of concrete drainage ditches, and camp improvement projects on Camp Shields.

In September 2012, NMCB 133 deployed to Afghanistan to become the last active duty battalion to deploy to the country. During the course of this deployment, the battalion twice broke the record for the longest convoy in the Naval Construction Force's history.

Personnel from NMCB 133 plus a bulldozer arrived in Liberia from Djibouti and on 27 September 2014 began site preparation near the Monrovia airport for construction of a dozen or more hospitals to be built by the U.S. military's Operation United Assistance in response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa.^[21]

Unit Awards

NMCB 133 has received several unit citations and commendations. Members who participated in actions that merited the award are authorized to wear the medal or ribbon associated with the award on their uniform. NMCB 133 has been presented the following awards:

•   Navy Unit Commendation Iwo Jima
•   Navy Unit Commendation Vietnam
• Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Award
•   Army Superior Unit Award Bosnia
•   Presidential Unit Citation Iraq
•   Joint Meritorious Unit Award
•   Navy "E" Ribbon

NMCB 133 has been the recipient of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Naval Construction Force Best of Type Battle "E" a total of 11 times.^[22]

The battalion has received the Peltier Award, given to the best active duty Seabee Battalion in the Naval Construction Force, on ten occasions.^[23]

List of Commanding Officers

References

Fig. 8: Seabee D8 and Shore Party. Note other 4 bulldozers and the Flag (in center) indicating beach color.

Fig. 9: LSMs 145 and 206 heading for the beach on D day with 133's Shore Party Equipment

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133.

• NMCB 133 Facebook Page
• NMCB 133 Historical Information - Naval History & Heritage Command
• 133 NCB Rain Makers Log

See also

• Naval Construction Battalion
• Joseph J. McCarthy
• USS Logan
• USS Newberry
• USS Mifflin
• USS Lowndes
• 23rd Marine Regiment (United States)
• 2nd Battalion 24th Marines
• Huie, Willianm Bradford "Fom Omaha to Okinawa- The Story of the Seabees" 1945 Chapter II, Iwo Jima, p. 27-88