Did You Know?:

Below is a source for current news on SEABEES in Iraq, courtesy of the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun-Herald newspaper and it's reporter embedded with SEABEE units in Iraq. Biloxi is in the local vicinity of the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi. BACK TO IRAQ

Sun Herald reporter back in Iraq
Military writer Patrick Peterson is in Iraq with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, which is based in Gulfport. He will report on the mission of the Seabees while he is overseas.

Here's one of his many excellent reports! SEABEES "Build and Fight" at the same time! "CAN DO" Seabees prevail in 5-hour firefight

By PATRICK PETERSON

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Seabees prevailed in a 5½-hour firefight Tuesday on the outskirts of Fallujah, protecting bulldozers building a berm to prevent insurgents from going around Marine checkpoints.

Elated and relieved, the group rolled back into camp after dark, dusty and excited about accomplishing their mission without injuries while under fire from rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.

"They stayed on it and kept returning fire," said Cmdr. Cliff Maurer, commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, whose theme is "Fearless."

"We got it all done," said Maurer. "This is what Seabees did in the Pacific during World War II."

While pushing up the earthen berm with a bulldozer, Petty Officer Jeff Atchison, 30, had a close call as a rocket-propelled grenade bounced off the berm before exploding.

"It happened so quick, you didn't have time to think," said Atchison. "I got more angry than anything at the people that were trying to kill me." Seabees are helping Marines build defensive positions to secure Fallujah, which is a center of insurgent resistance. The Marines have moved into the area and have cordoned off the town, while politicians seek to negotiate with the several groups of fighters that apparently inhabit the city. All members of the Seabee party returned uninjured, though there were several close calls. The nearest brush with death or injury came to Equipment Operator Third Class Steven Mangrum, 26, whose helmet was struck by a bullet that went through the door of his Humvee.

"We were taking fire. I was firing back," said Mangrum. "One came through the door and hit me in the head. I'm glad to be back."

The insurgents fired several rocket-propelled grenades at the Seabees, many of which were duds.

"We had one (RPG) by the back, one by the side and one by the front," said Engineering Aide Third Class Robert Wetzel, 24.

"All of them were inert, and we had to mark them as unexploded ordnance."

On returning to the Seabee compound, the work party was welcomed joyously.

"It's like a homecoming," said Wetzel. "Everyone got home safe. That's the best part."

When the bullets began coming by, the Seabees heard, "Zzzip, zzip, zzip." During the past few weeks, Marines have trained the Gulfport builders to use more effective fighting techniques, lessons they apparently learned.

"We charged the berm and stayed there a while," said Builder Constructionman Christopher Roberts, who from a position behind the earthen berm fired 780 rounds from a machine gun at the insurgent strongholds in the city. During the fight, the Seabees acted as armed infantrymen, protecting the equipment operators.

"Every time the dozer moved forward, we moved forward with them," said Roberts, a solid 21-year-old Seabee nicknamed "Cupcake" who returned with a dust-covered face.

"We're defensive in nature. We went out there and did the thing we're worst at. Now we're good at it."

"We went out there looking for trouble, and we found it," said Roberts. "I need a shower, and I'm ready to do it again."

OPERATION SEABEES KNOWLEDGE seabeesinfohq.org E-Mail seabees@seabeesinfohq.org