U. S. Naval Construction Battalion 74 was activated 28 April, 1943 at the Naval Construction Training Center, Camp Perry,
Williamsburg, Virginia. Lieutenant Commander Fremont G. Elliott, CEC, USNR, took command and led the battalion
throughout World War II.
The battalion served her country well in the dangerous island-hopping campaign to reclaim
Japanese held islands in the South Pacific. Often landing with the Marine combat troops, the battalion constructed support
facilities in locations such as Tarawa, Kwajalein, and Berlin Island. The men worked in shifts around the clock and were subjected to almost nightly
aircraft bombings, but their spirit never faltered. For it's outstanding achievements, NCB-74 received the Navy Unit Commendation Medal before being
deactivated on 31 October 1945, on the island of Okinawa.
On 3 December, 1966, the battalion was recommissioned as a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion at ceremonies held on board the Construction Battalion Center
, Gulfport, Mississippi. Commander Gordon W. Schley, CEC, USN ( now Captain ) took command.
After a seven month training period, the battalion deployed to Camp Haskins South, Danang, RVN
in June of 1967. Largely in support of I Corps Marines, MCB-74 constructed an ammunition storage complex, galleys, and living accommodations,
road improvements, storm drainage, and helo pads. The biggest job took place during the last month of the deployment,
when a high priority helicopter maintenance facility was constructed for the First Air Cavalry. The project involved 685 men
working on a 24 hour day schedule to complete the 102 acre facility.
The battalion returned to Gulfport in January 1968 for re outfitting and retraining. In August of 1968,
MCB-74 was selected as [Best of Type] of the 14 Atlantic Fleet Battalions for Fiscal Year 1968 and was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for operations with the Thirtieth Naval Construction
Regiment during the period of 5 June through 31 July 1967.
Two months after beginning the second Vietnam deployment Commander Schley relinquished command on 2 October 1968 to Commander Joseph A. D'Emidio, CEC, USN.
Under his command the battalion supported the Third Marine Amphibious Force with four details located at Cam Lo,
Dong Hoa, Quang Tri, and Quang Ngai. The completed work included South East Asia huts with associated heads and
showers, six large galleys, a sewerage system for a province hospital, primary and secondary power distribution systems,
a 575,000 square foot aircraft parking apron, hanger facility repairs, and an ammunition supply point.
Two Seabee Teams provided technical assistant and spread good will in villages near
Saigon. Team 7401 was awarded the Construction Battalions Pacific Detachment Excellence award for its
accomplishments.
In February 1969, the battalion again returned home to Gulfport. Hurricane Camille struck
the Mississippi Gulf Coast on 17 August 1969, just before the battalion was ready to redeploy to Vietnam. MCB-74
later received its third Navy Unit Commendation Medal for disaster recovery operations following the storm.
In July 1969 the battalion deployed to Camp Rhodes, Quang Tri, for its third Vietnam tour in
August, 1969, but relocated after only six weeks. Leaving a 220 man detail in Quang Tri to perform important work,
MCB-74 moved to Camp Hoover, Danang.
Companies were engaged in work on hospitals, ammunition supply points one and two, cantonments, barracks, and utilities. Besides Detail Alpha in Quang Tri, several other details
left the home base. Detail Echo constructed revertments at Cam Ranh Bay in record breaking time. Three detachments
built cantonments at Hills 37, 55, and 65. One of the biggest projects was the construction of the 60 ton capacity, 2 lane, 730 foot Cau Do Bridge located 2 miles south of Danang.
Two Seabee Teams were detached from the battalion during its third Vietnam deployment.
Team 7403 was located at Chau Doc, RVN while 7404 went to Kusaie in the United States Trust Territory Islands
in the Pacific.
MCB-74 returned to Gulfport in April, 1970 to begin preparations for its fourth deployment since recommissioning.
For the second consecutive year battalion personnel found themselves helping out in the disaster
recovery operations as Hurricane Celia struck Corpus Christi, Texas on 3 August 1970. Uner the direction of
Lt.Cmdr. Frederick G. Kelly, 35 men were flown to the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station to set up emergency
generators 20 hours after the call for help reached the battalion.
An additional 63 men arrived at the Air Station on 5 August to start repairing roofs and demolishing buildings and houses that were beyond repair.
On 27 August, 1970, Commander Joseph A. D'Emidio was relieved as the battalions Commanding Officer by Commander
James D. Kirkpatrick.
The battalion was deployed on 20 October, 1970 to Bien Hoa, Vietnam in five flights. With Bien Hoa as it's main base camp, the major details were established
and deployed throughout the Mekong Delta. During the month of November, Lt. Cmdr. David Plunnecke, the battalions Operations
Officer since January of 1970 took over as MCB-74's Executive Officer from Lt. Cmdr. Frederick G. Kelly.
With the battalions main camp established, the details set out to work on their respective job sites.
Just like Details Golf at Nam Can, and Hotel at Long Phu, Detail Charlie, located in Cho Moi, had the job of building
a Navy base to support and operate Vietamese River Patrol Boats and Swift boats. This was part of President Nixon's
accelerated tuenover to the Vietnamese [ACTOV] program.
Detail Golf's completion of a 3000 foot runway, highlighted the construction effort of 84 men under the direction of LTJG Joseph A. McKinney
at Nam Can.
Nui Ta Kou ( Buddha Mountain ) was the site of 86 men under the diredtion of LTJG Joseph E. McKay. Detail Kilo left Bien Hoa
5 February 1971. Within one month, under the constant threat of enemy probes and land mines, they had opened Route 341 to the base mountain through
thick jungle. Upon arrival at the construction site the detail set to work on the construction of a base camp for the Vietnamese
radar operators and security personnel.
Thirty six men under the direction of Ens. John H. Roam had the distinction of participating in the only amphibious landing by the Seabees of MCB-74.
On 13 February, 1971 the men unsupported by any friendly forces, landed at Mui Dinh as Detail Juliett. Immediately after landing from an LST, defensive positions were established
as the bulldozers coming off the LST formed a sand berm for the Seabees immediate protection, later, bunkers were set up.
Although their deplayment from Bien Hoa to Binh Thuy did not include construction, Detail Papa was the nerve center for construction efforts of all
the other DELTA details. Detail Papa wa under the direction of Ens. Ron Gregory. The detail's personnel
were charged with the expediting of men and materials throughout the Mekong delta.
During the 1985 homeport period, NMCB 74 provided assistance in cleaning
up Gulfport in the aftermath of Hurricane Elena. The battalion received
the Humanitarian Service Medal for this effort. In April 1986, the
battalion earned the U.S. Coast Guard Unit Commendation medal for
building a Loran-C station on Guam during a nine-month deployment. The
following year NMCB 74 received the Golden Anchor award for retention
excellence.
In December 1990 the battalion deployed to Ra’s Al Mish’ab in northeast
Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
During its 1994 Caribbean deployment, NMCB 74 was tasked to send an
89-person air detachment to Cuba to construct three 2,500-person migrant
camps in support of Operation Sea Signal. The battalion helped provide
food and shelter to more than 50,000 Haitian and Cuban refugees.
In March 1998, the battalion re-adopted its original "Fearless" motto.
NMCB 74 has been selected “Best of Type” among the Atlantic Fleet
battalions six times during its history: 1968, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1993
and 1994.
