Navy's Construction Arms Mark Anniversaries
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m 'HE U. S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba COVERS GTMO LIKE THE SUNSHINE Navy's Construction Arms Mark Anniversaries This past week the Civil Engineer Corps marked two outstanding events in their history. One was the 92nd Anniversary of the establishment of the Rescue Plane Civil Engineer Corps on the 2nd of March, and the other was the 17th Birthday of the Seabees on the 5th of March. The Bureau of Yards and Docks - was established on 31 August 1842 DChiefs at which time it consisted entirely of line officers. Though civil engineers were connected with the Navy as Voice Support early as 1802, the date Congress passed the Act authorizing commis- sioning of Civil Engineer Corps Offi- cers is considered as marking the beginning of the Civil Engineer Corps. Washington (AFPS)-Civilian and From that humble beginning, the military leaders of the Defense estab- Civil Engineer Corps expanded as the lishment have called on men and Navy grew and during World War women of the Armed Forces for generous support of the American .. II, it reached its peak of 10,186 offi- _ - cers in 1945. Construction work Red Cross during its annual fund planned and supervised by Civil Engi- campaign this month. omw 0 neer Corps Officers and completed by Secretary of Defense Neil McElroy, the Seabees has been valued at eight voicing his unqualified endorsement billion dollars. At the present time of the drive, said, "The work of the the number of Civil Engineer Corps Red Cross, like that pertaining to Officers on active duty, regular and national defense, is a responsibility of Two Men Saved By NAS reserve, is maintained at approxi- every American who has the interests mately 1500. of our country at heart. The job of the Civil Engineer Corps "I hope and confidently expect," Air-Sea Rescue Heroics is to design, construct, and maintain Mr. McElroy continued, "that the men public works, public utilities and auto- and women of our military establish- Friday, February 28, the NAS Sea and Air Rescue crew was credited with motive transportation of the Navy's meant, both uniformed and civilian, the successful emergency air evacuation of two injured sailors from the vast shore establishment which today will support the March 1959 Red Norfolk-based destroyer USS CONWAY (DDE-507), about 200 miles at sea comprises over 1000 Naval activities Cross Campaign with full recognition southeast of Nassau in the Bahama located all over the world. The Civil of the incalculable benefits which this Islands. Accidentally injured during Engineer Corps has also accomplished unique organization renders to all in calibration firing of a "hedgehog" SecNav Launches various construction jobs for the Air tm fne, antisubmarine weapon, the men were Force such as the Air Force bases Mr. McElroy's sentiments were flown in Spain and guided missile tracking echoed by Gen. Nathan F. Twining, to the Base where they were chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, transferred to the U.S. Naval Hos- militaryn leadrsvrosprsofh tel etab- Special Campaign who empasisec that 1U9 8hiry- pital for treatment. Here at Guantanamo Bay, the "n seven cents of every Red Cross dollar The Secretary of the Navy launcin growth of the Civil Engineer Corps Walden B. Denton, storekeeper was spent in assisting servicemen and a special campaign for the year 195 has paralleled the growth of the Base third class, USN, age 18, of Route 1, veterans with personal and family with the objective of increasing the Tryon, N. C., suffered the loss of from its beginning on Toro Cay. problems." efficiency of operations in the Navy Public Works Officers have been de- both hands at the wrist. His condi- This fact, the general said, "vividly by stimulating participation in the signated as such as far back as 1905. tion is reported as satisfactory. The demonstrates the wonderful support Navy Suggestion Program. As the Base grew, construction and second man, Marshall Gorham, sea- given our Armed Forces." He pointed The campaign, known as "Cam- maintenance loads became so large man, USN, age 19, of Route 5, Box out also that "services were quickly paign 40", was launched to coincide and complex that consolidation of 385-A, Alexandria, Va., sustained a provided in the special situations in with the 40th anniversary of the Navy public works type functions was di- compound fracture of the right fore- Lebanon and the Far East." Suggestion Program which was inau- rected by the Secretary of the Navy. arm. His condition is reported as good. The president of the Red Cross, gurated on 4 August 1919. The Hon- Consequently, on 1 August 1956 the Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther (Ret.), Within three hours after the ac- orable Franklin D. Roosevelt, as Center, Guantanamo Public Works noted in a summation of last year's cident was reported, at about 1600, Acting Secretary of the Navy, issued and assign- Bay, Cuba was established accomplishments that in 1958 over an amphibious search and rescue air- the first rules and regulations per- ed the mission of providing public 700,000 members of the Armed Forces craft from the Naval Air Station, mitting the payment of cash awards public utilities, transportation works, and their families were served by the piloted by LCDR W. L. Greager, made to employees of the Navy for their services to the activ- and engineering Red Cross and that each month 13,000 a water landing alongside the de- adopted ideas. ities here at Guantanamo. veterans or their surviving dependents stroyer in the vicinity of San Salvador During the past 40 years, employees This week also marks the Seabees' received assistance. Island. In less than a half hour the of the Navy have turned in nearly birthday. From the time of their patients were transferred to the air- one million ideas, of which more than establishment as a component of the Works Center, served as a Chief craft and airborne after a hazardous a quarter million have been adopted Bureau of Yards and Docks on 5 Warrant Officer with the Seabees in takeoff in the open sea with a JATO and placed into operation. March 1942, the Seabees have been the South Pacific during World War assist. Arriving at the Naval Base The suggestion participation rate well known and have enjoyed an ex- II. Mr. D. B. Powers, Head of the an hour and forty-three minutes later, -the measure of Navy employee par- cellent reputation for their outstand- Public Works Center Utilities De- they were immediately transferred to ticipation in the management im- ing accomplishments. partment served with the Seabees in the base hospital for treatment. provement effort-has risen from 5 The original Construction Batta- Australia and New Guinea. Mr. M. E. In a message to the Commanding to more than 20 suggestions per 100 lions were recruited among skilled Pauley, Head of the Design Depart- Officer of the Guantanamo Naval Air employees per year. At the present construction warkers who knew their ment served during the Korean War Station, Admiral Jerauld Wright, time, one of every three suggestions jobs so well the only training they re- with various Bureau of Yards and USN, Commander in Chief U.S. At- submitted is adopted and placed into quired was a briefing on military life. Docks activities. lantic Fleet, took note of the prompt (Continued on Page Three) Captain W. J. Thompson, CEC, Naval Construction Forces are action taken in removing the injured USN, Commanding Officer of the organized in peacetime as components men from the destroyer and extended Public Works Center, and Base Civil of the operating forces under the the traditional Navy "Well Done." Engineer served with various Ad- technical management of the Bureau Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral vance Base activities during the early of Yards and Docks in the construc- Arleigh Burke added, "Your swift NOTICE part of World War II, and later tion and maintenance of overseas reaction to CONWAY'S emergency with the 9th Naval Construction bases. and the expeditious completion of this As the INDIAN goes to press Brigade and 41st Construction Regi- Examples of recent Seabee con- sea and air rescue mission demon- Base Clean-Up Week, designat- ment in Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima and struction on the Naval Base include strates real readiness and a high order ed by ComNavBase as 2-7 Japan. housing on Leeward, Evans and of professional competence. Please March, is in full-swing. Next There are also several former CEC Mobile Points. Mobile Construction convey my well done to all concerned." week's issue will contain a Officers and Seabees on the Base Battalion No. 1 which is returning follow-up on the effectiveness of who will be celebrating this anniver- to the Naval Base at the end of this The crew of The NAS aircraft in- this campaign. sary. Mr. Harold Chapman, Head of month, will continue construction of (Continued on Page Three) the Maintenance Department, Public (Continued on Page Two) Page Two THE INDIAN Saturday, 7 March 195) Pae w TE NIA atrdy 7Mac-15 The Chaplain Speaks It's Your Money The INDIAN'S mission is to inform and entertain all hands and to serve as a positive by B. Jackson factor in promoting the eciency, welfare and Naval Air Station contentment of personneL The Love of Money During many newscasts and in The INDIAN Is published weekly at the Many of our Base personnel received a pay cut, beginning 1 February. Naval Base in accordance with NavExc. P35, most daily newspapers the Dow-Jones Revised July, 1958 and ananced with non- This calls to the mind of this writer the words in the Bible: "Money answers Industrial Averages are mentioned.