USA: Seabees Remember Fallen

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 14 held its annual Killed in Action Memorial Ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville May 4.

In 2004, seven Seabees of NMCB-14 were killed and 33 were injured in two attacks in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, while in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“Their loved ones certainly served in a brave capacity that most don’t,” said Senior Chief Construction Mechanic (Ret.) Benjamin Slaughter. “They stepped forward, leaned into the danger zone, and forever, all of us, the Navy, the Seabees and this country will remember them and their families.”

Those lost in the attacks were; Steelworker 2nd Class Jason Dwelley, Equipment Operator 3rd Class Christopher Dickerson, Builder 2nd Class Michael Anderson, Equipment Operator 2nd Class Trace Dossett, Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Scott McHugh, Builder 2nd Class Robert Jenkins and Steelworker 3rd Class Ronald Ginther.

“It’s been nine years since the tragic events that happened in 2004; that took the lives of our fellow brothers and injured others,” said Cmdr. Todd Smith, NMCB-14 commanding officer. We pause to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and their families.”

Smith continued addressing those in attendance, “I’ll simply say this – thank you, on behalf of this battalion, the Navy and the Nation for their service and sacrifice.”

One of the Veteran’s who was wounded during the attacks was Builder 2nd Class Peter Herrick who sat with his wife Diana and smiled as he sat in the audience.

“It’s a great honor to be here with everybody,” said Herrick. “It’s our pleasure to be with the NMCB-14 brotherhood again. Even though the Veterans Affairs has me listed as ‘catastrophically disabled,’ I still look at life as a big puzzle, and I always look for some humor in every part of it.”

NMCB-14 holds this memorial service to honor and remember the courageous Seabees and all service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for the Nation.

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Press Release, May 8, 2013; Image: US Navy