Nov. 1, 2005

Vol. 2 / No. 3 Desert Issue

IN THIS ISSUE:

- HIT Bridge repair

- A special Bible

- Introducing JOHN W. SEABEE

HIT, Iraq (Oct. 15,2005) – A team fromNMCB-22 repaired abridge critical to Iraqipeople Oct. 10, thatallowed residentsaccess to pollingstations and a majormarketplace for foodand othernecessities. A car bomb blew alarge hole through thebridge in Sept.rendering it useless. While Seabeesconducted repairs,soldiers from the MississippiNational Guard and an IraqiSecurity Forceunit providedsecurity. The bridgeconnects Hit,85 miles westof Baghdad, tocities in thenorth. Residentsswam, paddledor walked milesto the marketwithout their bridge. “This bridge is one of threein this area from Ramadi all theway up through Haditha thatoffer an opportunity to cross theEuphrates River,” said Lt.Richard Windham, NMCB-22’sofficer-in-charge of the project. He said the overpass wasparticularly vital for the recentreferendum. “Within five minutes of pullingour vehicles off of the bridge,Coalition Forces moved

NMCB 22 repairs key bridge in Iraqby JO1 Leslie Shivelyphotos by SWC (SCW) Mark Johnson

supplies, equipment and pollworkers across the river,”

W i n d h a msaid. Rebuildingwas accom-plished instages. First, theNMCB -22team con-ducted anon-site sur-vey; thenprefabricated

the decking, railing and part ofthe steel beam framing.

Practice runs iden-tified prob-lems andsolutions on thefollowing day. GySgt. AnthonyCamacho, NMCB-22’s Marine advisor,explained rehearsalsprepared Seabees torespond tactically topossible threats. “Everybody knewexactly what to do,”Camacho said. “Yougotta have themindset you’re goingto win.”

On the final day, Seabeesrepaired the bridge in fourhours. “The bad guys blew it up andthey got to watch AmericanSeabees and fix it,” remarkedSteelworker Chief MarkJohnson, crew leader.“We were there to help thembring stability to the area.” Equipment Operator 1st ClassDale Young, crane supervisor,agreed saying that seeingIraqis using the bridge was asign of a job well done.

BUCN David Dulworth, left and SW2 Matthew Craig weld supportbeams for a bridge outside of the city of Hit.

EO1 David Huntley operates a crane on Hitbridge in Iraq.

CAPT Steven L. YoungCEC, USN

Commanding Officer

LCDR Michelle BreauxCEC, USN

Executive Officer

CMDCM(SCW) Gilbert JordanCommand Master Chief

JO1 Leslie A. ShivelyEditor-in-Chief/Graphic Design

SW3 Christopher GreenAssistant Graphic Designer

BU3 Brandi TomichBattalion Photographer

Double DeuceDouble DeuceDouble DeuceDouble DeuceDouble Deuce

NMCB-22’s bi-weeklynewsletter

Al Asad, Iraq

The Hit Men

Double Deuce/Nov. 1, 2005 Page 2

- Photos EO3 Daniel Verret

John W. Seabee

Are we there yet?

Wetdown!!

According to the Naval Historical Center, in the old Navy, an officer’scommission was hand-written on heavy parchment. The newly

commissioned or promoted officer held a dinner for his shipmates andfriends and during the course of the evening the new commission was rolledinto a cone with the small end folded up to form a cup. This paper cup was passed around the table for all the guests to toast thenew officer. Thus, the new commission was “wetted down.” Considering theimportance of the document, however, this interpretation may be doubtful.Commissions in the early U.S. Navy were signed and issued by thePresident and were of great legal and personal value. According to other sources, the wetting down party was once quite a roughand tumble affair. It was the custom for the officer to wear his new uniform orstripes for the first time at the wetting down. The guests would then proceedto christen the uniform, the occupant, and the commission with whateverliquid refreshment (paid for by the victim) was available. The Seabee version of this tradition involves pouring over 100 gallons ofcold water from the bucket of a front end loader over the newly-ranked officers.

Capt. Steven Young, NMCB-22’s commanding officer presents Lt. Jay Lowack, centerand Lt. Richard Windham with fresh, dry uniforms adorned with their newly pinnedbars after a “wetting down.”

Congrats!!Certificates of Appreciation were presented by the Army toboth NMCB-22 and NMCB-3 members for a remodeling job

well done! Ohhh RAHHH!!!

If it’sTuesday ...

thismust be ...

Al Asad,Iraq!

Double Deuce/Nov. 1, 2005 Page 3

Family bible more than heirloomn July of this year, I called myGrandma Hitchcock and saidsimply, “Grandma, I need the bibleback.” Her voice trembling, sheresponded “Oh no, honey. When?”

She knew that I was referring to the familybible she had given me the previous yearfor my tour with the Marine ExpeditionaryForce Engineer Group (MEG) in Fallujah,Iraq. The bible, currently on it’s third tour inthe Middle East, has been in my familysince 1899. It originally belonged to mygreat-great aunt, who received it as a giftfrom her sister. When her brother, mygreat grandfather, went to fight in France in1917, she presented it to him and hecarried it all through the war. After herfather’s death, my grandma kept this bible safely tuckedaway. In 1965, my father was drafted into the Army and sentto Vietnam. Grandma got the bible out and gave it to himto carry on his tour of duty. He returned safely a yearlater with the bible. In 1969, Grandma gave the bible toher other son to carry on his tour of Vietnam. He resistedtaking it at first but eventually gave in. He returned to the

U.S., badly wounded by a booby trap. The bible followed in his personaleffects and was safely tucked awayagain until Desert Storm, when mycousin Daren, then a US marine, wassent to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Daren carried the bible with himand returned safely with it in 1991. I did not know of the bible and itsrich history until I was called upon toserve my country for Operation IraqiFreedom. When my Grandmapresented it to me, I asked her if sheever imagined she would give it toher granddaughter. “No, honey, I never did,” she said. The bible and I returned safelyfrom Iraq in March 2005 and Ianticipate another safe return in

March 2006. Incidentally, Daren is now mobilized withthe Kansas National Guard, but working stateside. We are hoping and praying that his unit doesn’t have tocome over here at all but if they do we hope it is not untilI get back because there is only one family bible.

- LCDR Michelle Breaux

I

say what?

- Photos UT1 Robert Semmelmann

Double Deuce/Nov. 1, 2005

ON POINT: Repairing a bridge for the people ofHIT, Iraq

photos bySWC (SCW) Mark

HM1 (FMF/SCW) Rick &Johnson

Donahue