Built to last: Seabees celebrate 74 years in style

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Twist | Joint Task Force Guantanamo Troopers and U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, residents prepare to eat during the Navy Seabee ball to celebrate 74 years of service on March 5, at the Windjammer Ballroom. Approximately 150 guests took part in the silver, gold and white themed event.  

GUANTANMO BAY , CUBA

03.11.2016

Story by Sgt. Christopher Garibay 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

Frank Thompson, the guest speaker, retired Navy master chief and Seabee, was stationed at GTMO in 1964 when the island was in the middle of a tumultuous time.
“The history behind the place has changed a lot,” said Thompson.

“When I came here, everyone was a combatant. All the Soldiers and Sailors were issued rifles and combat gear. It was at that time that we thought Castro was going to try to push, and push us out to
sea and we weren’t going to let that happen.”

Thompson spent some time during his speech to talk about his experience in ’64 and the Seabees’ historical significance to GTMO.

“Historically, this base has had a strong population of Seabees,” said Navy Cmdr. Ronald Jenkins, Master Public Works Officer for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Public Works
Department, Guantanamo Bay.

“What’s special about this event is that it is a joint effort. We wanted to increase awareness of the Seabee mission and tradition that we can
be proud of.”

They did just that. The Seabees decked out the Windjammer Ball room and used toy Tonka trucks as centerpieces, symbolizing their construction background. Thompson said the event was outstanding.

“We put in a lot of effort, improvised a few things, and found a way to pull off a successful event,” said Navy Ensign Erik Booker, a construction manager for the PWD.

“We wanted people to know who we were, what we’ve done, and what we continue to do - that the Seabees ‘can do.’”

Booker said, overall the décor, food and guest speaker all came together wonderfully.

“I thought that the Ball was elegant, intimate and a fun time,” said Navy Chief Petty Officer Dana Clayton, flag writer to JTF Commander. “You can tell that the Seabees take pride in what they do.”

Those who have rarely interacted with them should know the Seabees have left their mark all across GTMO, having built a multitude of defensive positions around the base and are responsible for, day-to-
day construction projects like the roads we drive on.

“(The ball) brings our sister branches in to our worlds to share with them why we are the way we are and what shapes us,” said Clayton.

“It definitely builds a stronger community across all branches; being in a Joint environment, you want total cohesion. Coming out and supporting these events says, even though we may wear different
uniforms, I have your back in any capacity.” Thompson said, while GTMO is known for a different mission today than when he was stationed here, it remains an important base for the U.S. It remains a guardian of the Caribbean and a strategic base for
the U.S., and one day, things may be different for the island, he added.

“I often said when I left in ’65, I could move here, if were open up enough,” said Thompson. “This place has changed a lot, but it’s a really nice place.”

While the number of Seabees here are less than in the past, their motto rings loud and true, “we build, we fight”, through tomorrow’s challenges, and those today.

The Navy Seabees were established in 1942 when Naval Construction Battalions helped orchestrate strategic operations in the Pacific against the Japanese during World War II. Not long after, Marines secured an island and the Seabees were right behind them building roads, bridges, airstrips and hospitals, often having to defend the very positions they built against enemy attacks.

• Date Taken: 03.11.2016
• Date Posted: 03.11.2016 14:07
• Story ID: 192084
• Location: GUANTANMO BAY , CU