History
U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) FOUR was commissioned on May 11, 1942 with 32 officers and 1,073 enlisted men. NMCB FOUR's first assignment in World War II was to construct advance bases in the frozen arctic of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. It was arduous work and the Japanese bombed them daily during the construction. In 1943, 26 men from NMCB FOUR landed on Guam on D-day plus six and began building bases on the island. The balance of the battalion soon followed. By 1945, NMCB FOUR had moved to Okinawa, Japan to build roads, camps, and a large ship repair facility in Baten-Ko. After the war’s end, NMCB FOUR was decommissioned during the nation’s postwar, mass demilitarization.
On February 12, 1951, during the Korean War, the order was given to reactivate NMCB FOUR. The battalion was recommissioned at the U.S. Naval Bureau of Yards and Docks in Norfolk, Virginia on March 9, 1951 with eight officers and 282 enlisted men. NMCB FOUR’s new homeport was Davisville, Rhode Island. From there, the battalion deployed to such diverse locations as: Bermuda; Port Lyautey, Morocco; Naples, Italy; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Trinidad; Ecuador; Newfoundland, Canada; Puerto Rico; Holy Loch, Scotland; and Rota, Spain. In 1962, NMCB FOUR was called into action at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba when an attack from the Communist regime appeared imminent. Throughout the alert, the Seabees worked with great speed fortifying the base's perimeter and assisting the Marines in base defense.
In December 1965, NMCB FOUR flew to Chu Lai, Vietnam to begin its first of four tours during the Vietnam War. At Chu Lai, NMCB FOUR repaired monsoon-ravaged airfields, installed runway lighting systems for night operations, and built a helicopter-landing pad. A detachment also deployed to the Kham Duc Airfield near the Laotian border to repair a runway there. In August 1966, the battalion redeployed to its new homeport in Port Hueneme, California. The battalion’s second tour in Vietnam began in March 1967, when NMCB FOUR deployed to the Da Nang Air Base. During this tour, the battalion drilled water wells at the Special Forces Camp in Con Thien and built a galley for the Marines. NMCB FOUR returned to Port Hueneme in October. Just four months later, in February 1968, the battalion returned to Vietnam to begin its third tour.
During this third tour in Vietnam, NMCB FOUR performed essential construction projects along the Vietnam coastline and national highway, Route One. In Quang Tri and Camp Evans, the Seabees built facilities for Commander, Naval Forces Vietnam. Later in the deployment, half of the battalion redeployed to the Da Nang area, while the other half went south to the Phu Bai region. Essential projects in the Phu Bai region included constructing aircraft revetments, laying 85,000 sq ft of steel aircraft matting for the Marine Air Group strip, and laying 18 miles of eight-inch fuel line from Wonder Beach to Quang Tri. In the north, a detachment at Camp Haines supported the Army at Camp Evans. There, the Seabees erected nearly 1,000 wooden buildings, resurfaced and matted a 2,900 ft aircraft runway and constructed 23 miles of eight-inch oil supply line. In October 1968, NMCB FOUR returned to Port Hueneme after having one of the busiest deployments of any battalion in Vietnam. A fourth tour in Vietnam followed from April 1969 to December 1969.
In the 1970s, NMCB FOUR deployed to Diego Garcia, Guam, Hawaii, and Japan. During this decade, the battalion completed over 3,800 structures at Guam’s relocation site for Vietnamese refugees in support of Operation NEW LIFE. The battalion was called into action again after Typhoon Tip destroyed the U.S. Marine Barracks at Camp Fuji in 1979. The Seabees rebuilt the barracks and operated a Military Affiliate Radio Station until normal lines of communication were restored. The 1980’s brought NMCB FOUR to new regions around the world including Bahrain, Greece, Crete, Palau, Yap (U.S. Trust Territories), Egypt, Kusco, Panama, Costa Rica, Africa, Korea, and Sicily. In 1989, the battalion's Air Detachment (Air Det) supported Operation TEAM SPIRIT, which provided contingency construction support to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) at Camp Pohang, Republic of Korea.
In August 1990, in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD, NMCB FOUR redeployed from Camp Moscrip, Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico to Camp Rohrbach, Saudi Arabia. At Camp Rohrbach, the battalion set up a 2,000-man tent camp, built a 3,600 ft taxiway and 20 hides (parking stalls), and undertook various other projects necessary to support U.S. and Allied Forces in the Middle East.
On June 15, 1991, responding to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, NMCB FOUR mobilized from its deployment site at Camp Shields, Okinawa to the Republic of the Philippines to help the Subic Bay Naval Complex recover from the devastation. The battalion worked around the clock to help the base recover by clearing roadways and collapsed buildings, restoring utilities, and building shelters in the devastated area that was covered by 12 inches of volcanic ash. This allowed the base to quickly resume its vital fleet mission.
In the wake of Hurricane Andrew, on August 24, 1992, the NMCB FOUR mounted out a 150-man Air Det and conducted the largest Seabee airlift ever as part of the disaster relief efforts in the communities of Homestead and Florida City, Florida. The battalion, along with nine other Seabee units, made a local school safe and operational, tore down collapsed buildings, cleared debris, restored utility services, repaired roofs, and provided valuable assistance to private residences, government facilities, and volunteer organizations.
In December 1994, NMCB FOUR deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in support of Operation SEA SIGNAL, to construct facilities for 20,000 Cuban migrants. The $35 million quality of life improvement program encompassed two cities: one a 125 and the other a 150 acre site. The Seabees’ work included constructing 1,341 strong back tents, 67 concrete block buildings, installing over 17 miles of underground piping and 53 miles of electrical cable, and placing 11,700 cubic yards of concrete.
In 2002, NMCB FOUR sent its Air Det and Water Well Team to Basilan Island, Philippines in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM-Philippines. The Air Det and Water Well Team repaired roads, drilled water wells, and constructed SEA Huts, bridges and helicopter landing zones to support U.S. Forces.
During their 2003 deployment, NMCB FOUR deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) to help sustain 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) combat operations. The battalion distinguished itself by building five bridges and repairing supply routes to maintain and increase logistics flow to combat forces during the kinetic operations of OIF. NMCB FOUR made history as the first Seabees to reach Baghdad with Task Force Mike. After the kinetic phase, the battalion relocated to Camp Hope in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq where they worked with local contractors rebuilding a courthouse, jail, police station, and 18 schools. NMCB FOUR’s Air Det also deployed to Iraq, but independently of the rest of the battalion, to repair numerous schools and conduct community relations projects in the cities of An Najaf and Karbala.
From 2004–2005, NMCB FOUR’s main body deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq. At Camp Fallujah and other Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), Seabees provided construction and camp maintenance support to American and Allied forces operating in support of OIF II. During Operation AL FAJR, the siege of Fallujah, NMCB FOUR executed bridge assessments, road clearing missions, force protection projects, and dewatering of flooded areas throughout the city: all while exposed to enemy fire. The battalion's efforts were essential to improving the command and control, endurance, and survivability for Marines combating insurgents throughout the Sunni Triangle. NMCB FOUR also played a major role in providing engineering, construction, and security support for Iraq's historic democratic elections. Concurrent with OIF II support, NMCB FOUR deployed Dets to other locations including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Andros Island, Bahamas; Rota, Spain; Sigonella, Sicily; Souda Bay, Crete; and Dukat, Albania. In 2004, Seabees from NMCB FOUR were awarded the ADM Ben Moreell Medal, RADM Combs Award, Stethem Award, Marvin Shields Award, and the Navy League's Collins and Ricketts awards. During its next homeport, the battalion deployed 250 personnel to the Gulf Coast to conduct humanitarian relief operations in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
2007 saw NMCB FOUR demonstrate its ability to deploy worldwide in support of a variety of missions in multiple theatres. In March 2007, the battalion deployed for seven months to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of CENTCOM; to Guam, Palau, and DFT Talisman Saber in Australia in support of PACOM; and to Alaska and San Nicholas Island in support of NORTHCOM. In August of 2008, NMCB FOUR deployed to 13 sites on four different continents in the CENTCOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM, and SOCOM areas of responsibility (AOR). During this deployment the battalion was simultaneously supporting the Global War on Terror and humanitarian and community relation “Phase Zero” operations.
In January 2010, NMCB FOUR deployed for the fifth time to the CENTCOM AOR. Operations spanned 1,200 kilometers and left permanent construction at well over 100 project sites throughout Afghanistan, including a new logistics hub: one of the largest earthmoving projects in recent Seabee history. The battalion executed over 400 acres of base expansions and constructed command and control, force protection, and life support facilities. NMCB FOUR also constructed taxiways, parking aprons, and water wells on seven FOBs throughout Regional Command North. This enabled the timely deployment of 4,000 Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and 4th Combat Aviation Brigade. In Regional Command East, the battalion constructed critical facilities at six combat outposts and FOBs, enabling U.S. force expansion in eastern Afghanistan. Additionally, the battalion partnered with the Afghan National Army to train military engineers who directly support counterinsurgency operations.
In late May 2011, NMCB FOUR deployed for the sixth time to the CENTCOM AOR. The battalion established its main body at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province, Afghanistan and provided general support to II MEF (Forward) in Regional Command Southwest. Two large Dets deployed to Bagram Airfield for direct support to Special Operations Forces. Displaying flexibility in a dynamic environment, the battalion supported an average of 25 detail sites, simultaneously covering all six Regional Commands, and supported essential engineer priorities. Across the spectrum of Seabee operations, NMCB FOUR completed road projects; FOB, combat outpost, patrol base, fire base, and village stability platform support. In addition, the battalion provided special operations support, Afghan National Army training, camp maintenance, convoy security, water well drilling, force draw down initiatives, quality assurance support for the Commander’s Emergency Response Program, and future operations planning for Coalition Forces. In December 2012, NMCB FOUR was honored as the “Best of Type” west coast battalion.
In February 2013, NMCB FOUR deployed to relieve three NMCBs in the EUCOM, AFRICOM, CENTCOM and SOCOM AORs. Operating in three continents, NMCB FOUR provided general engineering, Exercise Related Construction, Humanitarian and Civic Assistance and other Theater Security Cooperation engineering support. With the main body headquartered at Camp Mitchell in Rota, Spain, the battalion supported 18 detachments and details and conducted operations in 27 countries. NMCB FOUR completed asphalt batch plant operations, K-Span erection, CMU block building, large scale earthwork and concrete placement, SECDEF level airfield construction, camp support and maintenance, Evacuation Control Center operations and future operations planning for supported units. In February 2014, NMCB FOUR was honored as the FY13 “Best of Type” west coast battalion for the second consecutive year.
600 Seabees from NMCB FOUR deployed to seven PACOM and two NORTHCOM sites in August 2014. The battalion was tasked with 27 projects and 4 exercises across nine geographically dispersed locations. Construction Readiness Operations in Chinhae, Yokosuka, China Lake, San Clemente Island, and Diego Garcia included a cold storage facility, airfield parking apron, quarry operations, road repairs, and airfield lighting repairs. Construction Civic Action Detail sites Cambodia, Philippines, and Timor Leste had a direct impact on local communities through construction of vital facilities, including a maternity ward, three schools, four school bathrooms, and renovations of a health care clinic, two social welfare centers, and a community center. For fiscal year 2014, NMCB FOUR was awarded an unprecedented third consecutive “Best of Type” west coast battalion award.
In March 2016, NMCB FOUR was the first west coast based battalion to execute a repeat deployment to the PACOM and NORTHCOM AORs. NMCB FOUR’s 580 Seabees remained deployed through October 2016, in order to support PACOM strategic and Fleet operational objectives and operate as the forward deployed Pacific NMCB ready to support MCO and HA/DR. From Camp Shields, Okinawa, NMCB FOUR exercised command and control and provided support to 14 detail sites at 15 locations (spread across 8 countries), while simultaneously executing 16 exercises at 20 locations (throughout 9 countries) resulting in over 24,000 man-days, $7.5M of high quality and safe construction, and support for approximately 40,000 personnel from respective host nations.
The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR have excelled through the course of three major wars and in many contingencies around the world since first commissioned in 1942. NMCB FOUR has been honored as the "Best of Type" battalion eighteen times, five as an east coast battalion and thirteen as a west coast battalion. NMCB FOUR has received five Peltier "Best of Best" awards, the Presidential Unit Citation, three Navy Unit Commendations, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and five Golden Anchor and three Silver Anchor awards for retention excellence. Notable Civil Engineer Corps Officers who have proudly served in NMCB FOUR include RADM Buffington, RADM Shelton, RADM Johnson, RADM Kubic, RADM Phillips, and RDML Engle.