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Keystone Light

We Promise To RememberWe’re the Seabees of the Navy, We can build and we can fight. We’ll pave our way to victory and guard it day and night. And we promise to remember the 7th of December. We’re the Seabees of the Navy, bees of the seven seas. More photos on page 20.

Photo by MCC (SW) Terrina Weatherspoon

The Keystone Light publication is designed with the intent to inform family members of recent activities of their Seabees in

Afghanistan. None of the material within should be used for any other purpose. The opinions

expressed within are not necessarily the views of the U.S.

Navy nor the Department of Defense.

COMMANDER

CHIEF STAFF OFFICER

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERCMDCM (SCW) Neal Beard

Cmdr. Jeff Pierce

Capt. Donald Hedrick

MCC (SW) Terrina Weatherspoon

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ASSISTANT EDITORCM2 (SCW/FMF) Chris Gilmer

Note from our Commodore I want to wish each and every one of you the best for this holiday time and season. Being away from our families and loved ones will never be easy and couple that with this being a special time and it makes it even more difficult. It is hard for our families to fully understand and our children to comprehend why we are in a foreign land. We are part of history, and we, as a great nation. carry a greater burden as part of this history. Please pass

my most humbled respect to your families and loved ones as they make sacrifices in their support to you and for the patience they give to allow you to complete this mission. I look forward to taking each of you home for the terrific reunion coming up. During my holiday brief with RADM Handley, he wanted me to convey his holiday greetings to each and every one of you. He and the key leaders of our nation and the military are extremely proud of your service and what you are doing. “Merry Christmas” and “Thanks”

Capt. Don Hedrick

By Capt. Don Hedrick, Commodore

The Commodore made and served pan-cakes to the entire regiment during our Christmas Eve party. He even took special requests, like these Mickey ears for the R-3!

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CMDCM Corner: Time to be Thankful

CMDCM(SCW) Neal Beard

It’s hard to believe we are at the end of the year, Christmas has passed and New Years is just around the corner. And it’s only a few more weeks before we start preparations to redeploy home. There is still a lot to be done to complete our mission in support of Coalition Forces and to take care of the troops in the field. Let’s remain focused, stay safe and make the final push. All of you (and I mean you and your families back home) are part of something much bigger than yourselves. We are not only creating our own legacies in the pages of history, we are redefining the Naval Construction Force’s role for future generations. Task Force Keystone is providing the greatest breadth of engineering support and construction to coalition partners within a theater of war since World War II. We are providing operational control over ten engineering commands with total combined end strength of over 5,400 Marines, Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors, and supporting Battle Space Commanders throughout the entire Afghanistan Theater of Operation and specific locations in Kuwait and Iraq. I told you at the beginning of this deployment that I believed what we were doing here would become the

most important thing any of us had ever done in our lives—I still feel that way. But for me it’s not just the work we are doing here or the successes all of you contribute to every day as Task Force Keystone that makes me feel that way. For me there is nothing that could ever measure up to the pleasure and satisfaction of being able to work alongside each of you. I’m a better person for having had this opportunity to serve as your Command Master Chief. I will forever remain in awe of each of you! And those are not just empty words to fill this space in our newsletter—that’s how I feel. Please remain flexible as we move closer to our redeployment date. Things may change slightly as we never have complete control of our circumstances. Dates could shift a little either way, our stay in Kuwait might be slightly different than we expect, and berthing arrangements in Gulfport might be or not be exactly what we would like them to be. It really doesn’t matter because we can adapt and deal with anything life throws our way—you have demonstrated your flexibility many times already. You will hear me say this several more times before we depart from the NMPS site in Gulfport—“Thank you for all you do and for your continued friendship.” There is nothing that I would rather be than to be a Seabee. Hoorah!!

By CMDCM Neal Beard


WHY CHRISTMAS?: Like many of you out there, I heard numerous stories from the legendary commentator Paul Harvey whose stories were often preceded by the statement, “and now the rest of the story.” During this time of the year many years ago, Paul Harvey relayed a story about the meaning of Christmas. It seems that there was a husband and father of a typical middle-class family who did not feel the need to attend church even though he encouraged his wife and children to go. As the “rest of the story” went, the man had come home from work early on a blustery Christmas Eve day. Although his wife asked him to join her and the children for a candlelight service at their local Midwestern church, he declined but wished them an enjoyable evening. So off the family went, without husband/dad for the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at their nearby church. After the family left, Dad settled in with the evening newspaper. The wintery wind was beginning to blow harder and the sky gave all the appearance of a coming winter storm. Local weather news confirmed that a huge winter blast was on its way but the worse of the storm would not come until much later in the evening. However, a sound caught the man’s attention, as did movement from the backyard. He got up and looked out the sliding glass doors into the back yard and saw that a small covey of quail had stopped in the yard. They were dashing around looking for a safe place to get them out of the storm’s path. After watching the birds for a few minutes, the man decided that he needed to see if he could help the birds. There was a storage building in the back yard that could provide shelter from the wind and a little warmth for the birds. So he put on his coat and went out back to see if he could “herd” the birds into the relative safety of the building. Although he had the best of intentions, the birds would not cooperate. He would move around the yard working to get the birds into the building but at the last moment they would either run away or fly to the other end of the yard and continue their frantic look for shelter. After several attempts, he began to feel the

Chaplain’s CornerBy Cmdr. Lewis Dolan, Chaplain, 3NCR

effects of the exertion. He also began to feel frustrated. He thought to himself, “What is wrong with these birds. Don’t they know I’m trying to help them?” He then saw his reflection in the glass doors. His coat was open and flapping in the wind. He then realized that to the small birds he probably looked quite monstrous. “If only I could be like the birds for a short time. I could tell them in their own language that I’m a good guy, that there is safety in here and if they went in the building they would all be OK. If only I could be like them for a little while.” About that time he heard the bells of the church ringing, indicating that the service was over and his family would be home soon. But the bells also reminded him of why his family went to the Christmas Eve service. God made a way for people to know how they could safely go through life’s challenges. That was what Christmas meant to his family. Thus ended Paul Harvey’s “rest of the story,” but the application was left open for us listeners. And that is still true for us today. What kind of challenges and life-storms are coming your way? God has indeed made a way for us to find the place of safety and security in His plan. Christmas is a great time of year for many reasons, but one of the best aspects of this time of the year is that He really is Emmanuel, “God with us.” For you and your family I pray that you will seek the One Who came as the Prince of Peace in a world that is in desperate need of that peace. So from the Dolan Family to yours, I wish you all a merry Christmas and may you all have a blessed New Year.


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Petty Officer in the Keystone spotLight

Photo by MCC Terrina Weatherspoon

LS1 Renee Hall-ZahmHall-Zahm completed her goal of running 26.2 Miles!

Why did you join the Navy? I joined the navy to “Accelerate My Life.” Actually, I was at a crossroad in my life. I was at a moderate age in my life and I realized that I was not satisfied with my career choice. I had been working in law enforcement (Corrections) for eight years and had just graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and still was not happy; the drive and passion was not there. I wanted to do something different and challenging. I also wanted to do something that would also give me the opportunity to travel the world. So I went to join the United States Air Force (USAF). As faith would have it, the USAF recruiting office had moved, and the United States Navy (USN) was in its place. So, now I am a First Class Petty Officer in the USN and have loved every minute of it.

What are your hobbies? I am a nature lover and a romantic at heart, so I enjoy hiking nature trails (climbing Mt. Fuji is on my list), Singing, Music (preferred gospel and soft rock), running 5k/10k charity runs and I enjoy the company of family and friends.

What are your goals during deployment? Complete the “Honolulu Marathon- 26.2 miles~ GOD be with me! My goal is to “thrive and not just survive” (–LSCS Lynch) this deployment. I plan to work hard to support our subordinate commands and fulfill our mission goals (Commander’s Intent) I also plan on getting my SCWs pin. Lastly I’d like to create memorable moments by building camaraderie with all the military troops and civilian personnel here supporting the “fight.”

What are your words to live by? “Live the Dash (–)” and “Living life like it’s golden.” I truly believe that the next minute in life is not a promise, therefore, I try to make the best out of every moment I am blessed to be alive. Everyday, I put on my Happy Face!

To whom do you owe your success and why? First and foremost I owe my success to GOD, without him I am

truly nothing. Next, I owe my success to my husband Richard (President of my fan club), my mom, my brother Marion and my children. These people are my biggest fans and the “Wind beneath my Wings.” They believe in me and support me unconditionally both personally and professionally. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.

If you could do anything else, what would it be? Fly like and Eagle. Have “Bewitched” and “Genie” powers; the ability to twinkle my nose and/or blink and change or alter a situation would be AWESOME!

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Chief in the Keystone spotLightI joined the Navy in 1989 straight out of high school. I am currently married to the lovely Andi Edwards, who is also the Ombudsman for 3NCR, and we have two beautiful little girls. I will be retiring in 2011 after 22 great years in the Seabees.

What are your hobbies? My hobbies are playing guitar and enjoying good music with my family. Also, since I’ve been on deployment I’ve gotten into the P90X workout.

What are your goals for the deployment? As the safety officer for the unit, my goal while on deployment is to cut down on the mishaps that have been occurring during the deployment. I plan to do this by being proactive with the subordinate units and taking necessary measures to make sure everyone is taking precautions to avoid injury.

What are your words to live by? Everyone has something good to say at least once, so listen or you may miss out.

What is your job during deployment? I am the Safety Chief for 3NCR and Task Force Keystone. My job is to help the units under the task force to be proactive in the safety of their troops while still completing the mission they are tasked with.

To whom do you owe your success, and why? I owe my success to a lot of people, but if I have to pick one, I would have to say my parents. They have always instilled in me the value of friends and family, and the pay off hard work can get you.

If you could have done anything else, what would it have been? I have always wanted to own a music store, and who knows, that still could happen.


Would you like to recommend someone for Officer, Chief or Petty Officer in the Spotlight? Just email

[email protected] and make your

recommendation.

SWC (SCW) David M. Edwards

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Officer in the Keystone spotLight

Lt. Shawn GalbraithPhoto by MCC (SW) Terrina Weatherspoon

Before the enlisting in the Navy, I was an auto mechanic for a small repair shop. I then enlisted in the Navy in May of 1986. I started as an Electronics Technician (Nuclear) and was stationed on the USS Silversides (SSN-679), we are all shaving with her now. I was given a commission in the Civil Engineer Corps in September 2001. I have done many things during my time in the Navy: Served on a submarine with my brother, walked at the top of the world, swam out of a submerged submarine, sailed around the world, been through the Panama Canal, dove on USS Olympia and been to Pearl Harbor, Key West, Scotland, France, Italy, Kuwait, Iraq, South Korea, Afghanistan and Gulfport Mississippi.

What are your hobbies?I am very active in Boy Scouts at home. It is fun watching the boys solve issues on their own. I like to garden, camp, swim, fish and any activity outdoors. Whether it is on a boat, at the beach, or at Lake Ossippee with my family, I love the water.

What are your goals while deployed?My goals while on deployment are to learn how to play the guitar. My thanks to Chief Laabs and Chaps for trying to make that happen.

What are your words to live by?a) “Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, ‘I served in the United States Navy.’” -- President John F. Kennedyb) “Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder I’m an over-forty victim of fate Arriving too late, arriving too late.” -- Jimmy BuffetCan you give me a brief description of what you do?I am the Current Operations Action Officer for Regional Command South West, RC (SW). I facilitate engineering tasks that are requested of Task Force KEYSTONE from the I MEF, RC (SW).

To whom do you owe your success and why?I would say I owe my success to three people: my parents and my wife. My parents gave me the grounding and work ethic that set me up for success. My father always told me, “I don’t care if you are a ditch digger. But if you are, be the best dam ditch digger there is!” My wife is the one who keeps me focused and constantly talks me off the ledge. Remember behind every successful man is an even greater woman.

If you could have done anything else, what would it have been?As a boy, I wanted to be part of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s crew sailing and exploring on the Calypso. So if I could do it over, I would be an Oceanographer/Marine Biologist. Since I cannot go back in time, I’ll be happy with playing in the ocean with my kids and taking walks on the beach with my wife.

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R-6 Dept. in the Keystone spotLight

How many people are in your department and who are they? Eight. UTCS Steve Stowe, ITC Teresa Alvarez - R6 Goddess, CEC Pete Labbs, ITC Bob Kramer, IT1 Sandra Uptagrafft, IT1 Terry Gates,ET1 George Hatten, ET2 Alex Moffett.

What is the goal/mission of your department?To provide communication support to 3NCR subordinate units. Our personnel are subject matter experts (SMEs) on various aspects of NCF and theater communications and assets and are often called upon to support subordinate units.

What is the best thing about your department? Our Camaraderie and expertise!!! What someone doesn’t know, another one of us does so we help out each other and lift each other up. And the outstanding attitudes of all in the R6 shop to willingly help anyone who asks.

How does your department benefit Task Force Keystone?R6 provides communications support and assets to all of Task Force Keystone subordinate units.

What is the hardest thing your department deals with?Overcoming differences in communications procedures with Navy and non-Navy units.

How many different things are you responsible for?Lots and lots!-Servers, computers, VOIP phones and printers for 3 Networks (NIPRNET SIPRNET CENTRIX)

- over 500 network assets -DSN Telephones -VTCs (Video Teleconferencing) -AFN (Cable TV) -ROSHAN Phones -EKMS for 4 battalions -BFT (Blue Force Tracker) -ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) -RDSAT (Rugged Deployable Satellite System)

Is there anything you would like to add?R6 has resolved more than 900 trouble calls.

The members of R-6 from Left to Right. ITC Teresa Alvarez, IT1 Terry Gates, IT1 Sandra Uptagrafft, ET2 Alex Moffett, CEC Pete Laabs, ET1 George Hatten, UTCS Steve Stowe and ITC Bob Kramer. If it wasn’t for these guys doing what they do, no one would have internet or phone access.


R-6: Helping Regiment stay connectedBy MCC(SW) Terrina Weatherspoon

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Photos by MCC Terrina Weatherspoon

Story by MCC Terrina Weatherspoon

Marble: Cont’d on next page

The Marble Man

When he started he was just an accumulator. He would stick in a jar the soot-covered marbles he found while taking apart old gravity furnac-es. One day he dumped the marbles in the sink and began to wash them. After drying them off, he set the towel on the counter and opened it.

That’s when he became a collector. “I fell in love,” said Utilitiesman Chief Dan Ambrose, Third Naval Construction Regiment. “It was like they had all been brought to life.” After that, the Erie, Penn., native began going to garage sales and auc-tions to find marbles. After bidding on a particular marble at an auction,

he was approached by the man he outbid. He told him about marble clubs and shows. After hearing that Ambrose knew he was sold on more than just the marble. “I went to the show and car-ried my marbles around in a case,” said Ambrose. “People at the shows would grimace because they could hear my clinking marbles. I learned so much at that first show. Now I’m the one grimacing at people’s clank-ing marbles.” While at that first show he also learned that someone was making marbles in their hotel room. “That’s impossible,” said Ambro-se, whose eyes are as blue as some of the marbles he’s created. “Where is he keeping the furnace?” As it turns out, there was no furnace. Instead, the man was using a torch with glass rods. Ambrose said he had always been intrigued with hot glass work, so this was all it took to go from collector to marble maker. “I took four classes in how to work hot glass,” said Ambrose. “I learned how to add design to my marbles. I also learned how to make beads, Christmas ornaments, vases and jewelry. I even teach classes out of my studio in Erie.” Now he makes marbles, and also fields the frequently asked question, “how do you make marbles?” And at a local summer show he had an idea to demonstrate the answer. “His idea was to take two small, inch-long pieces of differently colored glass, the ends all smoothly rounded off, of course, insert them in

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his mouth, make an intense screwy face, and gently spit out a small marble made of the same colors as the small rods,” said Mary Ambrose, Dan’s wife and biggest fan. Then he would smile and say ‘THAT is how you make a marble!’” Ambrose has made a name for himself in the contemporary marble community and was even featured in a book about contemporary marble makers. “I’m proudest of him because he taught himself how to do this and then went to classes and is now a recognized member of this amazing group of artists,” said Mary. “I have pictures of Dan collaborating with hot glass artists from all over the world! All this because he thought the marbles he found in old furnaces were cool.” He is most known for his min-iature marbles. They are about an eighth of an inch but are gorgeous, he said. “I keep a magnifying glass avail-able because you need it to see how intricate they are,” said Ambrose. “It

The thing he said he loves most about marbles is that they are so unique. “I once set up a display at a show where there were about 100 other contemporary marble makers. No one table looked like another,” he said. And the same can be said for the marbles he makes himself. From his most difficult marble, which he calls the Midnight Rainbow Lutz, to his mini marbles that sell by the dozens, each one has a tiny piece of Ambro-se’s personality. “Dan’s enthusiasm for glass and his encouragement to young artists is impressive,” said Mary. “I hope when he gets home he finds a way to make time to do more hot glass work.” “My favorite marble to look at is the same marble I take with me on deployments,” said Ambrose. “It is a swirl marble I made using all of my favorite colors. Life is like a swirl marble. Each way you look at it gives you a different view.”

really is something.” “My favorite things that Dan

has made are the mini-marbles, by far,” said Mary. “They are so small and yet when you look at them in a magnifying glass, so detailed! He puzzled it out and figured out how to make them. There are plenty of other marbles and beads I love -- the colors are vibrant and his work is always changing -- but the tiny jars of mini-marbles are probably my sentimental favorite.” He even joined forces with a

wood worker and had him make ten, three-inch round Chinese checker boards. He then made mini marbles for the board. Forty five of his mini marbles fit on each board. Then he sold the boards online for $200 each. “I like making collector sets and limited edition items,” said Ambrose. “I tried to make a go of doing this full time, but it stopped being fun and started feeling like work. So now I’m back to just making special pieces and gifts.”

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OOHRAH Turkey Day!two holidays down, two to go...

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Who Let the Dogs out?Many different commands fall under Task Force Keystone, including a Mine Dog unit. These dogs have a tough job. They are in charge of sniffing out explosives and getting the bad guys; they gave 3NCR members a demo.

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Go Navy, Beat Army!Navy ambushes Army Castle, turns it into mobile advertisement

Strong man competition

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Santa Came To Town!

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Honolulu Marathon 3NCR members go the distance

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Around the Task Force

The Power of a Sister’s LoveBy MCC(SW) Terrina Weatherspoon When Amy Withers’ brother, Construction Mechanic 3rd Class David Doerr, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 18, contacted her from Afghanistan and told her there were recovering wounded warriors here who needed clothing due to theirs being cut off because of their often extensive injuries, her heart went out. Not only to the warriors, but to her brother who she could tell needed his sisters help. She decided to go to a T-shirt design store, a place she had done business with in the past, for help. Little did she know that asking for a few misprinted T-shirts would end up as the start of the Guardians of Freedom project. “I went to the same company with the thought that I would just ask them if they would be willing to donate some misprinted shirts or clothing that might have some mistakes on them,” said Amy. “I figured they would be new and clean and our troops would be able to put them to good use.” Amy then said she figured if they would donate those items, she’d send a couple of boxes to David and that would be the end of it. She would be the good big sister who did her small part to help out the troops. Only her small part turned out to be bigger than she could have imagined. “So I went in to Cascade Sign and Design in Richland, Wash,” said Amy. “I spoke with Bob Bircher the owner of the

company. After explaining what I was there for, Bob simply said ‘NO!’ I stood there for a minute and just looked at him. Bob then said he wanted to do me ‘One Better!’ He said, ‘I’ll give you 50 t-shirts and 50 sweatpants, and let you and your brother come up with a design to put on the front. I was thrilled! Then he said, ‘let’s send 500 sets to Kandahar on behalf of David and the NMCB 18 Unit.’ But there was a catch,” said Amy. He told Amy that for every $15 or more in donations she could get, he would send a shirt to the donator and send a sweat suit to Kandahar. What started off as a goal to raise $7,000 – the cost of the 500 sets – turned in to an ongoing non-profit organization

appropriately titled, Guardians of Freedom. Amy, a former hotel employee and marketer, decided to go to businesses in the area to solicit donations. “Bob suggested we put their names on the back of the donated sweat suits so the troops could see what businesses donated what,” said Amy. So after talking with her husband and a few other people over the next few days, Amy started a facebook page with the intent to get the word out locally in hopes that it would help raise the funds to send the 500 sets over. “Since my hubby is the real artist in

Some of the wounded warriors on KAF sport their new Guardians of Freedom shirts. Photo by MCC Terrina Weatherspoon

Freedom: Cont’d on next page

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the family, he expressed the desire to design the logo,” said Amy. “After spending over 12 hours on the design, and with the slogan David and the NMCB Chiefs came up with, the “Guardians of Freedom” logo was born. After I posted this logo on facebook, things went crazy!” Amy started receiving emails from soldiers all over the world, wanting to know how they could get a Guardians of Freedom T-shirt. But what surprised her most was the general public’s desire to obtain one for themselves. After a small article in the local Tri-City Herald, a few radio interviews, and a small news clip on what the organization was doing, it dawned on Amy that her team was doing a lot of good. “Once we realized what was happening, we figured out that we would need more money. So Bob suggested a Benefit Concert,” said Amy. And that’s exactly what they did.

Freedom: Cont’d from last page “We had two News Stations provide live coverage of the event and the local paper did news article on the event,” said Amy. “One bright part of the event was the communication we had with people all over the world who were able to text us during the event. We would then put their message up on the main screen. It was very touching to say the least!” Since the event there have been more than 12,000 hits on the Guardian of Freedom facebook page. The event also raised just under $2,000, and Amy and her team plan on putting on a few of these types of events per year. “I’m happy to do it,” said Amy. “If it weren’t for what you all are doing over there, I wouldn’t have the freedom do what I can for you over here.” And even with all the obvious good the organization has done, she’s still just a proud big sister. “Still my greatest achievement is hearing the joy in my brother’s voice over all the good we are doing,” said Amy. “To me, that is worth its weight in gold.”

NMCB 40 ...

Around the Task Force

This is a feature photo taken by MCC Mike Watkins, NMCB 40. He calls it “Blue Moon.” This double exp. photo was made with a 300mm and a 35mm lens with a primary exposure of 30 seconds using a Surefire flashlight to “paint” the inside and out of an old mud ruin on camp Deh Dadi II in Afghanistan. They affectionately call the mud ruin, “The Alamo.”

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The 7th of December

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Documents

holiday time

special time

support of coalition

keystone lightwe promise

theater of war

task force keystone

loved ones

merry christmas