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VOLUME VII, NUMBER 13
ADAK SUN
26 March 1962
FORTY-FIVE "CAN DO" PACIFIC SEABEES OF MCB MINE ARRIVE ON ADAK By R. RIOS, YN3
A small detachment of 45 strong were recently welcomed by BOREAS to initiate MCB
NINE’s eight mortth deployment on Adak. Headed by WO Yung H. KETELS, CEC, USN, their
"can do" spirit has been widely noticed throughout Adak by the congenial habitants
of'this island.* Establishing headquarters in Warehouse #17 on the old Davis Lake
area, the SeaBees promptly began savenging serviceable materials and borrowing much
needed tools from various Naval Station departments.
Thinly spread, they have been observed rehabing Yakutak Hangar where the administ
rative offices for the main body will be located; converting the NORPAC quarters foi
temporary BOQ; on the job site area where the Advance Party*s main project will be
constructed; at Shagak and Husky Quarrys and and renovating the Asphalt Plant.
Mobile Construction Battalion NINE is not altogether new on Adak as within the
past 5 years they;have been deployed here 3 times* During their 1959-60 stay, they
were awarded the Secretary of the Navy’s Safety Award; the"Best of Type" of Const
ruction Battalions in the Pacific; and walked away with the 1960 Admiral Peliter's
Award for the outstanding battalion of both Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. Their
work here is substantiated by their recent accomplishments on Midway and Kahoolawe
Islands where 37 of the 39 projects assigned were 100 per cent completed. The re
maining two were 98 per cent complete when the Battalion returned to their homeport
at Port Hueneme, California for leave, technical and military training. While on
Midway the work'consisted of erecting a 4,2 million gallon water tank reservoir;
building sixteen.masonry block transformer buildings; seal coating of the runway;
painting and rehabing many buildings throughout the island. At Kahoolaw Island, loc
ated in the Hawaiian Chain, a part of the Battalion relived a page of Michner*s
TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. Here a detachment, again headed by WO KETELS, displayec
their ability to work and live in adverse weather conditions and isolated places.
The men subsisted on enough food for four months; lived in tents and improvised lean
to's ; made their own "water”; and aside from mail received once a week, their only
contact with the “outside” was through a communications van.
Upon arrival of the main body, which is commanded by Commander William H. STURMAN.
CEC, USN, the battalion will begin immediate rehabilitation of 149 enlisted men^s
housing units? repair Birchwood and Yakutak Hangars; resurface various roads & run
ways; rehab steamlines and other projects along with intensified CB training.
_WELCOME TO ADAK ~MCB NINE ADVANCE PARTY_