The White Falcon - 12.03.1965, Blaðsíða 3

Friday, March 12, 1965
WHITE FALCON
3
Seabees Celebrate 23 rd Year
THE COLOR GUARD—Adding pomp and cirucumstance to the Seabee
Ball, comes marching in accompanied by a march song. This was im-
mediately followed by the playing of the National Anthem and tlje
Seabee song.
*
GUESTS AT HONOR—At the occasion are (from left), the youngest
Seabee, F. G. Kirwan, CN; the oldest Ueabee, E. H. Locke, CEC; Cdr
W. R. Reese, Public Works Officer; and RAdm Ralph Weymouth,
Commander Iceland Defense Force; Master of Ceremonies, Lt D. 1.
Biondo, Asst. Public Works Officer, (far right) introduces the guests.
TRADITION OBSERVED—In the tradition of the Seabees, the oldest
receives the first piece of birthday cake and presents it to the youngest,
then receives the second piece for himself. In Keflavik the oldest is
E. H. Locke, CEC, (right) while the youngest is represented by F. G.
Kirwan, CN, (left). Mrs. Judith Wilson is the pretty face in the back-
ground.
Local Party Features
Tradition, Festivities
Story by Tom Streeter, SN
Photos by I.D. Nubia, PH2
The Japanese major had been captured on the shattered
island of Iwo Jima after hiding in a cave for weeks. Emerg-
ing, blinking in the sunlight, he looked across the scene
of some of the most savage fighting of the Pacific War.
“Impossible,” he said.
iv
The Navy’s CB’s — short for
Construction Battalions — were
23 years old this month. In that
time they have received hundreds
of tributes to their skill and
toughness, but they especially
prize the remark of the Japanese
prisoner. He couldn’t believe his
eyes, seeing the job they had done
in rebuilding the smashed-up
island.
Seebees’ exploits in operating
a bulldozer with one hand and
rifle with the other are legendary,
as is their record of surmounting
adverse conditions of climate and
terrain to get the job done.
They built a 3,500-foot airstrip
on one densely jungled island in
less than 13 days — and apologi-
zed for not being quicker about it
They had been hampered by 16
inches of rain.
It took them all of 17 days to
construct camp for 6,000 men.
complete with housing units, mess
all, roads and utilities. In nine
months on Tinian they laid six
million square yards of asphalt,
enough to pave the road from Mil-
waukee to Chicago and back again.
In that same period they moved
12 million cubic yards of coral,
enough for three Hoover Dams.
In the tradition of the Seabees,
the cake-cutting ceremony took
place. Commander Reese, using
the ceremonial sword, cut the first
piece and passed it to the oldest
Seabee, E. H. Locke, CEC, who
in turn presented it to the young-
est, F. G. Kirwan, CN. Locke then
received the second piece for him-
self.
The rest of the evening was
filled with dancing and music as
Admiral Weymouth led Queen
Janet in the first dance.
ALL SMILES—The Queen of the
Ball, Mrs. Janet Shanks leads off
the dancing at the party. Her
able partner is RAdm Ralph Wey-
mouth, Commander Iceland De-
fense Force. This was the signal
for the party to get into full swing
as the rest began joining them.
Today these “Can Do” huskies
are still operating from the Paci-
fic to the frozen Antarctic. Build-
ing missile tracking stations on
the islands of WWII memory is
an important job, and in addition
Seabee units are erecting housing
units in half a dozen areas that
include Okinawa, Guam, Puerto
Rico, Greenland and Africa.
Local Seabees commemorated
their anniversary last Saturday
with the annual “Seabee Ball”,
held at the CPO Club.
QUEEN AND HER COURT—(from left) Mrs. Judith Wilson, Maid
of Honor; Cdr William Reese, Public Works Officer; RAdm Ralph
Weymouth, Commander Iceland Defense Force; and Mrs. Sherron
Gallier, Maid of Honor. Seated is the Queen of the Ball, Mrs. Janet
Shanks.
Over 100 guests made the party
festive as it officially began at 7
p.m. Dinner was served at 7:15
and ended with the Color Guard
marching in, and the playing of
the National Anthem and the Sea-
bee song.
Lt D. J. Biondo filled the ro'e
of M.C. and introduced some of
the guests who included RAdm
R. Weymouth, commander Iceland
Defense Force; Capt R. R. Sparks,
commanding officer, Naval Sta-
tion; Cdr R. O. Boe, executive of-
ficer, Naval Station; Col. A. E.
House, commanding officer, Ma-
rine Barracks; and Cdr W. R.
Reese, Public Works Officer.
Admiral Weymouth gave brief
congratulatory comments on the
part Seabees have played in Kef-
lavik and around the world.
One of the highlights of the
evening was the crowning of Mrs.
Janet Shanks as “Queen of the
Ball”. She and her “Maids of
Honor,” Mrs. Judith Wilson and
Mrs. Sherron Gallier, were pre-
sented floral bouquets by the ad-
miral.
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CEREMONIAL CAKE—Following tradition, the ceremonial sword is
used to cut the Seabees’ Birthday cake. QiVeen of the Ball, Mrs. Janet
Shanks, and Public Works Officer, Cdr William Reese, collaborate
on this delicate piece of workmanship.