Unit Dets
Help Solve a Mystery
Can anyone help identify any of these folks with George Staples? What month & Year? Where were the photos taken? What was the occasion? Each photo is numbered. Give the date, place, occasion and names of those in each photo. Email your response to Secretary Norm at normhahnjr@yahoo.com
1987 - 1989? Mystery photos of George Staples, EQCM, and friends. - Slideshow
MCB 62 "EA" 66 - 68 Reunion List W/Seabee, CEC & USMC Brothers (Click to Download)
NMCB 62 Deployment by Number - Slideshow
Det. ADAK - 73-74
Det Solomons and Det Thurmont on the 5th Deployment
May 71 to Jan 72
Detail Solomon was a detachment during the Gitmo deployment. We were based at Patuxent River NAS, and were ferried daily across the river to work on a Naval recreational facility. From the 1971-72 Cruise Book: Detail SOLOMONS left Gulfport on 20 May 1971, with the assignment of constructing a recreation complex at the Naval Ordnance laboratory Test Facility at Solomons, Maryland. Under the direction of Ltjg John E. Rectenwald they completed marina buildings, a trailer park, clubhouse improvements, and the rehabilitation of several bungalows. They also worked on an exterior lighting system, performed grading and paving and completed several miscellaneous projects in their eight months in Maryland. There was also another detachment at Thurmont, Maryland, also under the direction of Ltjg Rectenwald. From the Cruise Book: Detail THURMONT spent their eight months providing construction support to the Public Works Office, Naval Support Facility, at Thurmont, Maryland. Their projects included land clearing and a staff support facility building. Their job was particularly interesting because the Naval Support Facility at Thurmont contains the retreat Camp David. Ltjg John E. Rectenwald was the OIC of Detail THURMONT. Pictures and rosters are contained on pages 38 - 43 of the 71-72 Cruise Book. Thanks for all you do Norm!
- Al Harris
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Officer-in-charge: Lt.(jg) Lou Campbell
Detail Gitmo
May 1971 to January 1972
Written by Louis Campbell, OIC of Detail Gitmo
150 men comprised this Detail. Detail Gitmo deployed out of NMCB 62 to accomplish numerous and challenging construction projects in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. These projects included a new all concrete enlisted men’s club, construction of many new barracks for the 2-8 Marine Corps out at Camp Bulkeley, installing a new radar facility on Crane Hill, completing a new laundromat, installing new power lines on the leeward side of the base, and dredging work. To accomplish these projects the detail was led by two officers ( Ltjg Lou Campbell and Ens. D.W. Buchanan followed by Ens. Joe Parsons) one Senior Chief (BUCS Frank Whiston) six chief petty officers (CEC Wayne Zulick, BUC Billie Newman, UTC George Stanphill, CMC James Curry, EOC James Eichhorn, and SWC William Coath. The detail was staffed with a full complement of BU’s, EO’s, CE’s. Ut’s, CM’s, SW’s, EA’s, SK’s, a YN, CA’s, CN’s, an HM, SN’s, and a SA. You might easily say we were a “Mini Battalion”. And Snoopy was our dog!
The enlisted men’s club was the largest of our assigned projects. This club was an all concrete structure right from the foundation up to and including the roof. The work had been started by the Seabee detail we replaced. We had a goal of finishing it by the end of our deployment. Work progressed right on schedule as form work and concrete placements occurred daily. However, after stripping the forms on one of the upper wall placements we discovered that we had plaster opparis concrete that could easily be scrapped out with a screw driver, This really put the “kybosh” in our schedule as it took time to do test batches of concrete to find out the cause. As it turned out the bladder cement we used had air entrainment in the cement and caused the air in the batched concrete to be excessively high. Back to work we went and for the most part completed all the concrete work on the structure. Rough in of interior electrical and piping was performed as the concrete work allowed.
Out at Camp Bulkeley the Marines had gotten tired of sleeping in pup tents and had us build new barracks for them so they would not get their feet wet when it rained in Gitmo once a year. We picked up the project from the Seabee detail we replaced. Each barracks was about 20 by 40 feet and each had a concrete slab, steel framework, metal siding and roofing. Head facilities and power were included. I cannot remember how many we built, but there were a good many.
Up on Crane Hill we were tasked with construction a new radar facility complete with dome, CMU block building housing a backup generator, and necessary power and controls. BU1 Sims supervised the work up there. And BUCN Joe Mazza let me know he worked on this project.
We completed a new laundromat facility. There is a picture of our crew leaders in our cruise book. I wish I could remember more about the project so I could say more. Chiefs Zulick and Stanphill supervised the work.
Over on the leeward side Chief Zulick led a crew of CE’s installing a new power line. Again, cannot remember what was being fed by the new transmission lines.
Lastly, we were assigned dredging work in the harbor. This was performed by a hydraulic dredge. It was the most “persnickety” and “temperamental” piece of equipment we had, but our mechanics managed to get it running each time it broke down and we did get some dredging done. The spoils sucked up from the bottom were pumped ashore into a spoil are we constructed on the leeward side.
Being on a base like this supply came mostly by ship. Our chiefs had to constantly be thinking about and ordering materials 3 months ahead. There just was no going down to the local hardware and building supply stores to get a new part, building material, or tool you needed on a moment’s notice.
Although this was an isolated deployment site, it did have many venues for off hours entertainment. First there were an officers and old enlisted men’s club. Since it never rained there the movie theater was open to the sky with no bugs. For those who liked to ride horses like myself they had saddle horses to ride. And you could really ride them on trails on the base. No follow the leader like many horse-riding places make you do. There were swimming pools and ocean swimming. Since we were skilled builders the chiefs and I and two other teams constructed 3 barrel boats to cruise the harbor fishing and drinking a little beer. There were sports to get involved with. We first had Fast Pitch Softball. BU1 William Hammock was our “Ace” fast ball pitcher. If it weren’t for my wild throw to home plate that went into the backstop our team would have been the base champs. Touch football followed for 3 months. And to round things up we had several detail cookouts/bar-b-ques.
As I look back now at all the photos and think about this deployment it was one challenging assignment with a bunch of fun-loving skilled Seabees. They accomplished one heck of a lot of work.
Camp Bulkeley - Slideshow
Crane Hill - Slideshow
Dredging - Slideshow
EM Club - Slideshow
Leeward Side Power Line Project - Slideshow
Personnel - Slideshow
5th Deployment May 1971 to January 1972
And Also OIC of Detail Vieques
140 Photos by Lt.(jg) George Koob, Assistant A. Company Commander
Photos of: R&R Australia
- Mandeville, LA. Air Force Base FB-III Crash Recovery
- Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, U.S. Marine Bombing Range
- San Juan
- St. Thomas
5th Deployment May 1971 to Jan. 1972 - Slideshow
4th Deployment April 1970 to November 1970
Photos taken by Lt(jg) George Koob
Photo Descriptions:
- 1-5 - Gulfport Seabee Center
- 6-29 - DaNang Area
- 27-30 - October Monsoon
- 31-33 - DaNang Harbor
- 34 - Lt.jg Koob Engineering Officer
- 35-49 - DaNang area from above Camp Hoover
- 50 - Lt.jg Rectenwald Assistant Ops Officer
- 51-52 - Lt.jg Gross HQ/Security
- 53-55 - Off Duty Target Shooting
- 56-59 - Lui O Club Bartender and Lt.jg Delk
- 60-62 - Lt.jg Gross in Quarters
- 63-69 - Camp Hoover Freedom Hill
- 70-71 - Lt.jg Koob
- 72-73 - Lt.cdr Robertson Ops Officer
- 74-82 - Camp Haskins - Red Beach
- 83-109 - Go Noi Island Mackinac Bridge
- 110-131 - Mecong Delta PBR bases and aircraft revetments
- 132-165 - Cu Lau Re Island, Pier, and access road
- 166-167 - Bau Nit Dam
- 168-171 - Hill 55 Camp Muir, base camp for LTL-4
- 172 - Bombing Run LTL-4
- 173-180 - Golden Gate Bridge LTL-4, repair after sapper attack
- 181 - LTL-4 Paving
- 182-186 - July 3, 1970: 10 USMC Medevac, 2 USMC KIA and 1 Seabee KIT - EO-2 Nelson Hyler
4th Deployment April 1970 to Nov. 1970 - Slideshow
Det Buford April to November 1970
These photo memories are courtesy of our Corpsman Brother Tom "Doc" Cunningham
Det Buford By HM3 Tom Cunningham - Slideshow
Det Buford Countryside - Slideshow
Det Buford Hill 55 - Slideshow
Det Buford Road Building - Slideshow
Det Buford Security - Slideshow
Det Buford The Bridge - Slideshow
Det Buford The Destruction - Slideshow
Det Buford The Guys - Slideshow
Det Buford The Village - Slideshow
Det. Buford - 4-70 to 11-70
"Det. Buford - April to September 1970"
Det. Barracuda - 7-69 to 12-69
Det Buford April to November 1970
These photo memories are courtesy of our Corpsman Brother Tom "Doc" Cunningham
Det Buford By HM3 Tom Cunningham - Slideshow
Det Buford Countryside - Slideshow
Det Buford Hill 55 - Slideshow
Det Buford Road Building - Slideshow
Det Buford Security - Slideshow
Det Buford The Bridge - Slideshow
Det Buford The Destruction - Slideshow
Det Buford The Guys - Slideshow
Det Buford The Village - Slideshow
Meritorious Unit Commendation - 3rd Deployment
From 2 April 1969 through 20 November 1969 in the Republic of Vietnam. General Order 837, dated 8 April 1970. Provided by Steve Morse, UT3, NMCB 62 from 10-1968 thru 1-1972
Department of the Army - Slideshow
Vietnam Perspectives - Ralph Norman - 1970
Can Do - Volume 29, Number 1, March 2019
Ralph Norman, UT2, 3-1969 thru 12-1970
Photographs courtesy of Al Archer, CM2, USN, NMCB 62 Minuteman from January 1969 to November 1970.
Nickname: "Rock Ape"
Photos added to the Minutemen Website May 2010
Norman, I have about 175 slides I have scanned into my computer. I will send you a CD copy of them if you would like them on the NMCB 62 website. Most are from the Dong Ha area up to the Rockpile. Some are from DaNang. I can remember where some were taken, and maybe someone else will know where some of the others were taken.
Norm; I'm going to try to send the pictures. I have them split up in four bunches - first bunch from Dong Ha- Rockpile area from the 1969 deployment. I was on the service truck for awhile. At the Rockpile I was on the supply truck. That is the one with the 50 Cal. on top. I had a driver and I would sit in back on the 50 Cal. after we would leave main base, most of the time it was after the security was pulled off of RT LTL9. The pictures of the rock slide are at bridge 912 on way to Rockpile, there is one of Camlo Bridge and one of the Camlo rock crusher, some of air strikes on the Rockpile, and some photos of the big guns at the Rockpile.
The second bunch is from the DaNang area, some from the hill 55 work site, the blown up equipment is from that area. I've put captions on some of the ones I could remember.
The third bunch is some USO shows and I think they are up at Dongha. I'm real not real sure maybe someone else can put a name to some of them.
The forth bunch is all of the previous three combined.
I have made a list by the numbers on the bottom of the pictures. I hope they will come up when you download off of the CD. Photos # 083, 084, 089, 090, and 102 are at bridge 912. Photos # 086, 100, and 155 are home at Rockpile. Photo # 091 is the shop at dongha. Photos # 106 and 118 are the coffer dam outside dongha. Photo # 129 is water crossing at bridge 912. Photos # 126 and 150 are the big guns at Rockpile.
Photos # 128, 143, 144, 145, 149, 153, and 154 are the Rockpile area. Photo # 217 is the 8in mobile gun: # 228 is Camlo bridge: # 187 is the Camlo rock crusher: # 003 is my 5 ton with 50 cal. on top that I carried supplies to the Rockpile. Photos # 006, 033, 034 and 035 are air strikes on the Rockpile: # 011 is a 5 ton fuel truck: # 014 is a TS-24 that has a big OOPS! Photos # 108, 120, 122, 123, 142, are DaNang area hill 55: # 257 is Spud Almond and #248 is Larry Farris sitting & George Muskiganis standing. # 269 is my service old gas deuce.
I hope someone else can tell where some of the other pictures are from; I've got some more pictures I'll send later.
Norman: I put the picture CD in the mail today I hope you'll get them the first of next week. I didn't know you were an old wrench turner, I've worked on everything from the big stuff we had in MCB to big boat to big trucks. I worked in truck shop for over twenty years,
I left there about three years ago I'm now working for the Maryland State Police as a DOT inspector I know how they work so I know what to look for and we find a lot of bad things.
If I can help anyone with these slides let me know, I'm just learning a lot about the computer. the scanner I got dose a good job and it's not hard to use. You'll see that the slides I sent don't look to bad for there age, I can do more as soon as I learn more about the photo shop program to take more of the dust and junk out.
Too bad we didn't have any trucks like the one in these four pictures. They are my nephews.
Al Archer, NMCB 62 Minuteman & Alumni Group Member
1969 Dong Ha and Gulfport, MS.
Five groups of photos taken by EA2 Paul "Wally" Wollenhaupt
BUL3 Mike Parker Enjoying C-Rations
Richard Holmes photos of Dong Ha 1969 & DaNang 1970 tours
Dong Ha 1969 & DaNang 1970 tours - Slideshow
RADM John Paul Jones Jr (Then CDR) 7-68 to 7-70 Photos
Bridge at Dong Ha 1968-1972 Photos
Det BUFORD
Harris, Roswell A. (Al)
To Me (Norm Hahn)
Subject: Det BUFORD
Today: 19 May 2014 at 2:08 PM
Hi Norm,
I've tried to determine the most effective, efficient, and bullet proof way of getting these photos to you. I've used this method for other purposes and it seems to work well. Just click on the following link and it'll take you to my dropbox. The photos and explanation are all there. This is a safe method and the total size of all files is only about 35 Mb. It should be easy to download. The photos were all taken between April and November 1970.
If you have any trouble with the link, or have any questions, let me know.
Thanks!
Al
Secretary Norm's notes: A complete, detailed explanation of each photo is contained on pages 108, 109 and 110.
More Secretary Norm's notes: Our Seabee Brother Al went on to become Roswell Alfred (Al) Harris, PhD, PE.
Harris, Roswell A. (Al) - Slideshow
23 August 1968, Mortar Rocket Attack
EO3 Glen Charles Ludban
June 30, 1969
Mobile Construction Battalion 62
These photo where received from Gary Ludban, his brother.
Glen Ludban 2nd Deployment - Slideshow
EOH3 Amon Franklin Moore Jr.
February 17, 1968
Mobile Construction Battalion 62
These photos where received from his son Stephen W. Moore
Amon Frank Moore KIA 2-17-1968 - Slideshow
Mike Collins, EO3, A Co., 2nd Deployment, Jan 68 thru Oct 68. 132 Photos.
Mike Collins, EO3, A Co., 2nd Deployment, Jan 68 thru Oct 68. - Slideshow
Children's Hospital at Red Beach DaNang - 1968
Drawing, photo, and inscriptions, provided by Milt Davis MCB 62 B-Co
Children's Hospital Milt Davis
1967 & Bridge at Dong Ha
Photos by Ken Cassini, Ken Penick, EA's
DaNang '68 Photos
Photos by Ken Penick
Phu Bai '67 Photos
Photos by Ken Penick
First two tours in Vietnam 1966 - '68
Photos taken by the late MR2 Gary Purdue, MD
Vietnam 1966 - '68 - Slideshow
Camp Cambell '66-67' photos
Photos provided by Ken Cassini
BU2 Jim Thomas - 3rd Deployment Mar 69 to Nov 69
Jim Thomas sends the DVD to Sec Norm on 6-13-2016 with the following note. "Norm, This the tape from MCB 62 Vietnam tour 1969, at Dong HA. (The third deployment). The tapes were made in Quang Tri and Dong Ha, and various jobs we had while in country. Thank you for what you do. If you have any questions feel free to call me. Cell: 228-861-6979. Thanks, Jim Thomas.
Battalion History, CO's comments and Seabee Teams and CAT Team from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th Deployments.
Battalion History Deployments - Slideshow
Tra Bong Special Forces Camp in Sept 1970
Email and Photos from Dick Holmes, then EA3
1970 SF MCB62 detachment Email and Photos from Dick Holmes, then EA3
69 tour in Gia Vuc
Email and Photos from Dick Holmes, then EACN & EA3
69 and 70 H Company tour photos
Email and Photos from Dick Holmes, then EA3
69 and 70 H Company tour photos
Hill 55 photos, rosters, and letters
Email and Photos from Roswell "Al" Harris, then EA2
Hill 55 photos, rosters, and letters
Charlie Company Builders on Hill 55, Detail Buford, Third Deployment Email from Ken Ward, then BU3
Charlie Company Builders on Hill 55, Detail Buford, Third Deployment
1st Deployment, 1967 Phu Bai and 2nd Deployment, 1968 Red Beach, DaNang. Photos of Bruce Clay, deceased, and Hugh McIlroy. Words by Hugh McIlroy.
Bruce Clay & Hugh McIlroy - Slideshow
Trent Meredith Letter - August 15, 1945
Trent Meredith, CCM, USNR, was the Editor in Chief of the WWII Cruise Book.
He wrote this letter to his wife and family on V-J Day.