At the Hampton Roads Seabee Ball in Norfolk, the United States Navy Seabees commemorated their 82nd anniversary. They also celebrated their long and distinguished history and the ongoing legacy of their expertise in underwater engineering and building works.
(Photo : Pexels/Maël BALLAND )
Anniversary Celebration of US Navy Seabees
In addition to commemorating the U.S. Navy Seabees milestone, this year's event organizers also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Underwater Construction Teams. This gesture recognizes the dedication and labor of the Seabee diving community since the teams' establishment in 1974.
As mentioned, it wasn't until March 5, 1942, that the word 'Seabee' was invented, even though the Navy had already designated the first construction battalion in January 1942 to meet the urgent requirement of constructing a fuelling station on Bora Bora. This was done to ensure that ships and planes could continue to protect the sea lanes coming towards Australia. Moreover, the Seabees quickly became a vital asset to the United States military during World War II due to their capacity to rapidly develop crucial infrastructure in war-torn countries. Due to their achievements, they became known as the most prestigious builders in the Navy and cemented their position in the annals of military history.
On the other hand, this year's guest speaker was Mr. Ken Stethem, brother of Ironworker Second Class Robert Stethem, who was killed in a terrorist incident while working with Underwater Construction Team One. When terrorists hijacked and diverted Trans World Airlines Flight 847 to Beirut, Lebanon, in June 1985, Stethem and four other members of Underwater Construction Team One had just come back to the United States from overseas duty.
As a Navy Sailor, Stethem was singled out by the terrorists, who then proceeded to beat and torture him to convince him to agree to their demands. In the end, Stethem's death was the result of his courageous refusal to assist the terrorists. Following his death, Stethem was awarded a promotion to the rank of second-class petty officer. Then, he was upgraded to Master Chief Constructionman (CUCM) in recognition of his heroic sacrifice in protecting the principles of liberty and his fellow Americans. Stethem was also honored with the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his bravery in the line of duty.
On October 21, 1995, in Port Hueneme, California, the United States Navy commissioned the USS Stethem (DDG 63) as the thirteenth Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in his honor. To keep Stethem's legacy alive, the crew of the USS Stethem, along with the Naval Construction Force, has adopted the motto 'Steadfast and Courageous' to pay tribute to Stethem's unwavering commitment to duty and heroic service.
Underwater Construction Team One
Within the United States Pacific Fleet, the Underwater Construction Team (UCT) TWO was founded in 1973 as an independent unit of the Naval Construction Force (NCF). Are 78 members assigned to the UCT 1, including 71 enlisted men and seven senior officers. Aside from the shore duty, the command also performs sea tasks. To provide support for both peacetime and wartime tasks, sea duty personnel are organized into three Construction Dive Detachments. These detachments are deployed worldwide to conduct underwater construction, inspection, repair, and demolition activities.
Thus, the marine duty component comprises all support and personnel functions, including administration, logistics, provisioning, TOA upkeep, communication, and training. Additionally, UCT-1 is equipped to carry out underwater construction tasks in permissive or non-permissive surroundings, as well as in climates ranging from the tropics to extremely cold weather.
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