NAVY SEABEE VETERANS of AMERICA, Inc.

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Commander’s Corner November 2011-February 2012

Greetings Seabees, Active, Retired and Honeybees, I want to wish each of you a very and safe “Thanksgiving” Holiday. I often thank the Lord not only at Thanksgiving but daily for the sacrifice being paid by those Seabee Brother and Sister Construction Angels who are serving and deployed to who knows where in support of the defense of our Nation.

We Veterans can always relate to what those deployed that are facing this Holiday Season and may God Bless those members of the CEC Corps and Seabees for their Naval Service. I hope you return soon to your loved ones. It is always hard to be away from family during the Holidays and we wish you safety and a speedy return to CONUS. We pray that the New Year 2012 will bring Peace throughout the world and that the deployments become peaceful and shorter in time frame.

Having just returned again from Veterans Day Activities at Arlington, National Cemetery I am reminded of the price paid by our Naval Construction Forces as they proceed with their construction assignments, many which are in Harm’s Way. The Navy Seabee Veterans of America were again proud to have Rear Admiral Christopher J. Mossey, CEC, USN aboard with us to honor the fallen Seabee Angels of past and present at the NSVA, NAVFAC & Viet Nam Veterans Wreath Laying Ceremony located at the Seabee Monument. It is always great pleasure to have our “King Bee” assist us in this most solemn event. The playing of “Taps” always reminds those present of the price paid by so many to maintain the freedom of our Country. The CBMU Color Guard again did an outstanding job and our Master of Ceremonies, Past NSVA Commander David Buchanan again did a stellar job getting things kicked off as scheduled on a very windy and cold & chilly day.

As we look forward to the New Year please remember the Mid-Year Executive Committee meeting in Arlington, VA on 16 March, 2012 and see www.nsva.org for the directions and special room rate. We would also like to encourage those who are attending to consider joining us at the NAVFAC “Seabee Ball” which will be held on 17 March 2012 at the Crystal

City Marriott located at 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy. When it becomes available I will request Web-Master Billy Millican to post the information concerning the reservations required, cost, time of the ball, etc. You will have a great time at this event as I can witness to by the super time Honeybee Amy and I had last year. When the “Presidents’ own “Marine Band” plays the music to start the event you can feel the expansion of the atmosphere of patriotism explode.

May God Bless you and your family this Holiday Season and Amy and I wish you a very “Merry Christmas,” a Very successful “Can Do” 2012 and a very “Happy New Year”.

Carl Barrett, UTC, USN (Ret), NSVA National Commander

 

 

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Commander’s Corner Sept 2011

Greetings Seabees & Honeybees, as I begin my second term as your National Commander I want to thank you the membership for having confidence in me to take the NSVA helm for an additional year and represent you the Seabee Veteran and Honeybee which is my most honored responsibility. I also want to thank my special Honeybee Amy for the support she has provided to me and for the encouragements she has given me when I hit a rough spot in the road now and again.

I hope all of the NSVA Seabees & Honeybees are having an enjoyable summer and that you are remaining safe through all the crazy weather and trying to stay cool. I pray each one of you was spared any home or property damage from Hurricane Irene’s East Coast visit.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our steadfast NSVA Webmaster Mr. Billy Millican for keeping our website looking sharp which requires much constant effort by Billy who keeps a watchful eye on it and updates the system, “Well Done” Billy, your hard work is very much appreciated.

Well it has been a busy time for me since my last update for the Commander’s Corner. I traveled to the Retired Seabee Reunion hosted by Island X-1 in Gulfport and had a great time visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. Island X-1 made sure that everyone had plenty to eat and there were plenty of prizes for the lucky drawing winners. The Commanding Officer of USNCBC Gulfport gave a great talk and reported on what the Seabees are involved with today. You can be assured that the “Can Do” Spirit is alive and well and the Heritage you have previously established is still in effect and continues on today. Those young Seabees of today you can readily see that they are a proud bunch as we were when we were young and confident builders.

The next stop was the travel to Naval Base, Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California (formally USNCBC) where I attended the grand opening of the new Navy Museum on 22 July 2011. Seabees and Honeybees this new facility is an awesome site compared to the old museum. All museums are now managed by the United States Navy and what we formally knew as a Seabee Museum now belongs to the Navy; however it will be maintained by NAVFAC. There were some displays to view and the store was open and operating and as normal and as usual I found some items I couldn’t live without.  

On 23 July I and NSVA vice Commander at Large, Jerry Landcastle attended the Historical Foundation meeting held at the new museum training room. We broke during the meeting because we were invited to attend a Pass-In-Review as the “King Bee”; Rear Admiral Christopher J. Mossey was aboard for the museum grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony with added duty to review the Construction Battalions. We were privileged to see the “King Bee” award a young Seabee the “Purple Heart” medal. As the Seabee Battalions marched in review I remembered my days on that grinder and I later searched but I couldn’t find my old NMCB-3 & 9 foot marks that I left there many years ago.

From the Pass-In-Review we were invited to a reception at Bard Mansion and the finger food was delicious. We then returned to the museum and completed out meeting. The Historical Foundation is working very hard to get the museum completely funded and each one of you can help complete this beautiful facility by purchasing your “Heritage Brick”. Each brick purchased will make the museum just a little more complete and one day it will belong to our parent Navy. “Heritage Bricks” are great gifts for your Honeybee also or for a special occasion.

During our visit the base had scheduled “All Seabee Days” and from what I understand they had 14,000 plus people visit the base over the weekend which set a record for the largest crowd to attend thus far. I also got to visit with old friends from Island X-7 and talked with X-7 Commander Seth Johnson and got to buddy around with X-7 retired Builder brother Alex Rose. Another shipmate of mine from NMCB-3 Norman Harris was also recruited by yours truly as a life member in the NSVA. Alex and I ran into Norm at the NEX and like many of us he had was never acquainted with the NSVA after he retired.  

The USNCBC, Port Hueneme as I knew it has surely changed. I retired twice at that base, once as a Seabee and then a NAVFAC CESO & PWD employee and I discovered that I didn’t know my way around due to all the improvements to the base and surrounding Port Hueneme community. New Barracks and new housing have been built and many of the old CBC buildings have been completely rehabilitated to modern efficiency codes. Some of the old land marks still remain such as the Nedham Theater, the old NCR Elephant huts, CED buildings, Transportation, etc. What had me amazed was the new family camp available to those who travel with motor homes and campers. The Exchange is one of the largest I have ever seen on a base anywhere and has all kinds of good products.

 If you missed the 65th NSVA National Convention, held in Fayetteville, NC you missed a good one. I want to thank South East District Commander, Donnie Douglas for the outstanding job that he and his Convention staff accomplished. Putting on one of those conventions takes much detail but Donnie and his crew sure made it all happen and they did a bang up job. “Well Done” Department of North Carolina. There were many business items to work on and the National Executive Committee tackled them post haste and had them done in no time. I sincerely thank everyone who attended and their presence at the daily business meetings was surely appreciated. I also want to thank the other state departments for their attendance and also many Island representatives from the various state departments, “Well done”. It was great to meet and see you all again.

The NSVA Auxiliary was reconstituted at the convention and I want to congratulate the new officers as follows: NSVAA President- Ann Lyons; Secretary- Sharon Landcastle; Treasurer- Linda Schmuck and Chaplain- Amy Bradley. The Auxiliary is on its way and will be a great compliment to our NSVA. If you are a related to a NSVA member or Seabee (active duty, retired, reserve, parent, etc.) you are eligible to join the NSVAA. Call President Ann Lyons at 352-367-4299 or email at patorannlyons@comcast.net for details.

In the spirit of sincere Navy Seabee “Can Do”,

Carl Barrett, UTC, USN (Ret)

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(PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN)

Fellow Seabees,

I want to share a story and ask you to consider helping with an important project to preserve our past heritage. 

There is a group out there called Vetflix that is producing some incredible films about Seabee war histories!   I've done an interview with them and, as your Commander, I can tell you they're trying to make a difference in recognizing Seabees and what we've done.  The films they produce are beautiful and really do Seabees justice.  In fact, the Seabee Museum and the Navy are partnering with Vetflix to make some of these films available in the new Seabee Museum as part of an oral history kiosks exhibit.  Vetflix is working to develop and deliver kiosks that tell stories of Seabees in WWII and Vietnam, hopefully with other wars and other kiosks to follow.

These guys have done a great job of capturing Seabee stories with Honor and THEY NEED OUR HELP.  The Seabee Museum cannot support their travel to install the kiosks before the Opening planned for July 22nd.  Please rally around and help make this important trip possible.  Seabees deserve recognition, honor, and exhibits that capture our contributions and character - By creating SeabeeTV, Vetflix has begun to preserve what we've done and ensure that Seabee sea tales are told for years to come!  If you value Seabee history, please:

- Send a donation of any amount to: Vetflix, 3 Myopia Hill Rd., Brookline, NH 03033 

(Please Note: Port Hueneme Trip Support on check)
or
- visit www.seabeetv.com and donate online

Either way, go to SeabeeTV.com and listen to stories of what it means to be a Seabee - and be Proud!

Carl Barrett, UTC, USN (Ret)
NSVA National Commander

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Commander’s Corner

25 May 2011

“Special Message”

To all Seabee Veterans and Honeybees I personally want to thank each one of you for your Seabee service to our Nation. I also want to thank those dedicated Honeybees who held down the fort while we were deployed to who knows where and for all the hard work they did in support of their Seabee.

Please take time to reflect this Memorial Day, all those brother and sister Seabees and great friends we have lost. Let their heritage never be forgotten. Please have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend blessed with good health and safety. May God Bless the Navy, the Civil Engineering Corps, Seabees and the United States of America.

The Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association is now accepting color photos of individuals and units for the 2012 calendar. Please send photos of current or former Seabees at work or in training no later than 10 July 2011. Hard copy color photos are preferred for best results, but they will accept high resolution digital color photos. All photos will be returned. A suitable mix of units, rates, locations and time frames will be selected for us in the calendar. Photos should be mailed to Lieutenant Commander Ken Bolig, 441 Hardscrabble Lane, Lewisburg, PA 17837 or klbolig@gmail.com. Should you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Sheryl Chiogioji, SMSA, Admistrative Assistant by phone at 301-570-2850 or by email at smsa@erols.com.

“DON’T FORGET TO ORDER YOUR NEW 2012 SEABEE CALENDAR TO SUPPORT THE SMSA WITH YOUR MUCH APPRECIATED TAX DEDUCTABLE DONATION THAT SUPPORTS THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF SEABEES AND THE FUTURE GENERATION OF OUR NATION.” 

 

Have a Great Navy Seabee Can Do Holiday!

 

Carl Barrett, UTC, USN (Ret), NSVA National Commander

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Commander’s Corner

April - June 2011

Greetings Seabees and Honeybees we hope you are having a great spring and summer. I hope you were able to vote for your choice of the new Navy Seabee Museum Logo. The new logo as I understand it will be attached to the building exterior. There is also a large Seabee being constructed from weatherproof materials that will also be mounted on a pole outside the new facility. I will be able to report more on this and the Legacy Brick installation after the Historical Foundation meeting this July. The meeting is scheduled at the same time as the new Navy Seabee Museum’s 1st. Grand opening and All Seabee Days at Ventura Naval Base Ventura County previously USNCBC, Port Hueneme, CA. I hope to also be able to take selective photos for the “Can Do” editor so as to keep you the Seabee Veteran & Honeybee informed also on this trip.

Amy and I were able to attend the “Retired Seabee Reunion” in Gulfport, MS on 4-29-11-to 5-1-11. We saw many Seabee & Honeybee friends there and also made some new friends. NSVA, Island X-1 did an excellent job putting on the reunion with lots of auction items; prize awards and great food. The Guest Speaker for the evening was USNCBC Gulfport, MS. Commanding Officer Captain Leo Cariello who gave all in attendance an update on how our younger Seabee brothers and sisters are doing today in the difficult tasks before them. Captain Cariello stated that the Seabee “Can Do” Legacy and knowledge that we passed on to the younger generation is still in effect today and the Seabees are still conducting operations in the Seabee “Can Do” way as we older Bees once did many years ago.

Have you made arrangements for the NSVA National Convention as yet? August is fast approaching and the ads for the Convention book and your Convention Registration is also due about the same time. The Convention Crew has been working very hard to bring to you the best Convention ever and we hope you can join all the Seabees and Honeybees there for a great turn out! By the way, ads in the Convention Book are the only way that a Department or Island can make funding in hopes to break even. I know first-hand how important the Convention Book ad sales are. Without the ads purchase an organization is stressed to break even. “PLEASE SEND YOUR ADS IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!”

The NSVAA (Navy Seabee Veterans of America Auxiliary) reorganization is being planned at the Convention and I would recommend all Auxiliary Members to be present for the important election and meetings planed to elect their new slate of NSVAA Officers. I especially want to thank past NSVAA President Dianne Wendt and Treasurer Mary Magurno for their hard work and dedicated service to the Auxiliary which has always provided outstanding support to the NSVA.  

Have a great Navy Seabee “Can Do” summer and we hope to see you at the Convention August 16-19, 2011 in Fayetteville, NC. For additional Information about the Convention, please call Donnie Douglas (910) 425-0392 or email him at dondouglas2001@aol.com.

Carl Barrett, UTC, USN (Ret)

 

 

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COMMANDER’S CORNER

MARCH 2011

Upon our arrival for the Mid-Year Business Meeting in Chicago us Florida folks had to wake up to the fact it was 28 degrees above, WOW!, however the Seabee warm welcome we received form Clarence (“Andy”) Anderson of Island X-2, Chicago, IL and his Honeybee Dee soon put the cool weather out of our minds. We had great attendance for this most important meeting and I personally thank each Seabee who attended. Attending these functions is often an expense borne by the members, however their concern for the welfare of the NSVA is foremost in their hearts or minds and their concern for the Organization and what the NSVA represents becomes a priority. This always reminds me that “Once a Seabee we are always a Seabee”! I applaud all who attended the Mid-Year for your “Can Do” Loyalty and can only say “Well Done”. Many business agenda items were presented and will be forwarded to the General membership meeting at the National Convention for action. Some of the items forwarded consist of approval for the 23rd. NSVA Named Scholarship forwarded to the SMSA for action, updates to the NSVA, Ritual Manual and updated or revised articles of incorporation to the national Constitution, etc. 

I also attended the SMSA (Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association) Meeting in Arlington, VA and what a great job the Association is doing with scholarship funding for the Children and Grandchildren of Seabees. They have many tough decisions to make due to the number of applicants to select the best qualified students. I also attended the CEC/Historical Foundation Meeting there and obtained the latest up-to-date information on the new Seabee Museum at Naval Base, Ventura County (Previously NCBC Port Hueneme). The new museum will be a real work of art when completed and we can each help by purchasing a “Heritage Brick”. If you have previously purchased a brick you can always purchase another or present one to your Honeybee, see the latest “Can Do” magazine for your order form.    

Happy 69th Birthday to all Seabees, active duty, reserve, retired or any Support Rating who once or who is now serving with the Seabees. I had the great honor this year to speak at the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Seabee Monument, hosted by NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Command) and to attend the NAVFAC CEC/Seabee Ball in Arlington. What awesome events these are and to hear the Presidents Own Marine Band play at the Ball will make your heart swell, especially when they play “Anchors Away”. I want again like to thank our most gracious Hosts “King Bee” Admiral Mossey, Force Master Chief Mike Holdcraft & all the NAVFAC Staff for inviting my Honeybee Amy and me along. In attendance was Vice Commander at Large Jerry Landcastle and his wife Sharon to complete our representation of your NSVA.

As we progress into this year I would like to invite all the Seabees to the NSVA Convention in Fayetteville, NC in August. Please see your “Can Do” magazine for Convention information which can also be found on the official website at www.NSVA.org. Conventions are a very important part of our Organization where items affecting the day to day business and operation are brought before the General Membership for resolution, therefore your vote on items of action are very important. Conventions are also a great time to meet old friends and to make new friends and to discuss the Seabee lore of past and future.

I recently attended various functions this year and hope to do more of the same as time and funds permit. It is great to see the Camaraderie and the Seabee spirit alive and well.  Some of the recent Seabee Gatherings I was invited to were the Island X-1 in St. Petersburg, Florida Commanded by Robert Struchen where the Island dedicated a beautiful Granite Seabee Monument Marker at Bay Pines National Cemetery. It was good to see Commander Struchen and Past National Commander James White there along with the great turn-out from the NSVA Members of the Various Islands and the Department of Florida plus many Seabees assigned to NMCB-14.  While talking to some of the younger Seabees I heard a rumor that they had been told: “That a Seabee had to be retired or discharged from the Navy Seabees to be eligible to join the NSVA”, THIS IS NOT TRUE!  IF YOU ARE IN THE NAVY AND HAVE A SEABEE RATING OR ARE A SUPPORT RATING ASSIGNED TO THE SEABEES YOU WERE A SEABEE VETERAN WHEN YOU PUT ON YOUR “GREENS & BOONDOCKERS” AND YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE SEABEE VETERANS OF AMERICA. I also attended the Department of Florida NSVA Statewide Picnic and I would like to thank Past National Commander David Buchanan and his Honeybee Joan for driving all the way down from Michigan to join us for warmer weather and a fun time.

Have a Super Navy Seabee “Can Do” Spring,

Carl Barrett, UTC, USN (Ret), NSVA National Commander