David P. Morrow
Engineering Aide, Seabee Team 0517 “Can Do”
Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 05
Ben Tre City, Vietnam, 1970
Engineering Aide, Seabee Team 0517 “Can Do”
Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 05
Ben Tre City, Vietnam, 1970
David Morrow was born and raised in Brevard, North Carolina. In 1968 he received his draft notice for Vietnam. His family encouraged him to contact the local Seabee battalion and request a deferment. The Seabees told him to enlist immediately, and they would give him a 5-month deferment that allowed him to complete his Associates Degree in Civil Engineering at Southern Polytechnic College. One week after graduation, March of 1969, David reported to boot camp in Gulfport, Mississippi.
After boot camp David was ordered to join NMCB 05 at Port Hueneme, California. Because the battalion was in Vietnam and scheduled to return soon, David was assigned to work at the Seabee Team Training unit. At team training groups of 13 men were chosen by their Battalions to be cross trained in various aspects of construction. David worked there until NMCB 05 returned to the states and he was ordered to join the battalion. When volunteers were asked to apply for a new NMCB 05 Seabee Team, David interviewed and was accepted. He became part of a very close-knit group that embraced the “Can Do” attitude that the Seabees have a reputation for. Team training took eighteen weeks.
The last training they received was SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape). This is very difficult training and was to prepare the men if they were caught behind enemy lines or captured. They were dropped in the desert of southern California with no food. Because a lot of other teams and groups used the same area small game and critters were no longer available to catch. They had to use their land navigation skills to avoid capture. Eventually the training includes capture and being put into a detention camp resembling those in Vietnam. David was water-boarded, the “enemy” thought he was a SEAL because of his very close haircut.
After a seven-day flight from Point Mugu Naval Air Station, California Seabee Team 0517 arrived at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base. On April 1, 1970 the team made the trip to their new home by truck to Ben-Tre City, Kien-Hoa Province, South Vietnam. The job of the Seabee Teams was to win the hearts and minds of the local Vietnamese through training and technical assistance. Team 0517 completed projects such as school buildings, warehouses, housing and a hospital recovery room. They would also buy supplies and then teach the Vietnamese trainees to do the work.
David thought the country was beautiful except for the people wanting to shoot the American soldiers. The farmers who waved at you during the day were also trying to kill you at night. Wherever they went, a crowd of curious children would follow to watch what the Seabees were doing. While cute and friendly they had a penchant for absconding with anything of value left unattended or not locked down. The Team learned quickly to watch everything and chain down the equipment and fuel tanks.
The Seabee Team had very good living accommodations with officer’s quarters, running water and flush toilets, air conditioning for the bar and many other creature comforts of the US. They were able to do this because the first team that built the camp purchased many of the appliances in the US and brought them with them. When they left and were replaced by the next team, the incoming team would purchase the equipment. David was unsure what happened to the last team.
After 9 months in country and back at Port Hueneme he learned he was eligible for an early out and he took it. David returned to the US and attended Southern Tech. Initially, David couldn’t focus his attention on his work and had to take a few months off to decompress from being in a combat zone and readjusting to civilian life. When he returned, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation David headed to Wilmington, NC where he had a job with DuPont and Daniel Construction to build plants to make Dacron fabric.
After three years in Wilmington David got a call from Newbanks & Company where he had worked while going to Southern Tech. They offered him a job and he accepted. David and his wife Kathy lived in Atlanta and Suwanee for 30 years until he retired. They returned to Brevard, North Carolina where they live today. David is a member of the board of directors for the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas in Brevard.
Thank you, David, for your sacrifices in Vietnam and your service to your country.
After boot camp David was ordered to join NMCB 05 at Port Hueneme, California. Because the battalion was in Vietnam and scheduled to return soon, David was assigned to work at the Seabee Team Training unit. At team training groups of 13 men were chosen by their Battalions to be cross trained in various aspects of construction. David worked there until NMCB 05 returned to the states and he was ordered to join the battalion. When volunteers were asked to apply for a new NMCB 05 Seabee Team, David interviewed and was accepted. He became part of a very close-knit group that embraced the “Can Do” attitude that the Seabees have a reputation for. Team training took eighteen weeks.
The last training they received was SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape). This is very difficult training and was to prepare the men if they were caught behind enemy lines or captured. They were dropped in the desert of southern California with no food. Because a lot of other teams and groups used the same area small game and critters were no longer available to catch. They had to use their land navigation skills to avoid capture. Eventually the training includes capture and being put into a detention camp resembling those in Vietnam. David was water-boarded, the “enemy” thought he was a SEAL because of his very close haircut.
After a seven-day flight from Point Mugu Naval Air Station, California Seabee Team 0517 arrived at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base. On April 1, 1970 the team made the trip to their new home by truck to Ben-Tre City, Kien-Hoa Province, South Vietnam. The job of the Seabee Teams was to win the hearts and minds of the local Vietnamese through training and technical assistance. Team 0517 completed projects such as school buildings, warehouses, housing and a hospital recovery room. They would also buy supplies and then teach the Vietnamese trainees to do the work.
David thought the country was beautiful except for the people wanting to shoot the American soldiers. The farmers who waved at you during the day were also trying to kill you at night. Wherever they went, a crowd of curious children would follow to watch what the Seabees were doing. While cute and friendly they had a penchant for absconding with anything of value left unattended or not locked down. The Team learned quickly to watch everything and chain down the equipment and fuel tanks.
The Seabee Team had very good living accommodations with officer’s quarters, running water and flush toilets, air conditioning for the bar and many other creature comforts of the US. They were able to do this because the first team that built the camp purchased many of the appliances in the US and brought them with them. When they left and were replaced by the next team, the incoming team would purchase the equipment. David was unsure what happened to the last team.
After 9 months in country and back at Port Hueneme he learned he was eligible for an early out and he took it. David returned to the US and attended Southern Tech. Initially, David couldn’t focus his attention on his work and had to take a few months off to decompress from being in a combat zone and readjusting to civilian life. When he returned, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation David headed to Wilmington, NC where he had a job with DuPont and Daniel Construction to build plants to make Dacron fabric.
After three years in Wilmington David got a call from Newbanks & Company where he had worked while going to Southern Tech. They offered him a job and he accepted. David and his wife Kathy lived in Atlanta and Suwanee for 30 years until he retired. They returned to Brevard, North Carolina where they live today. David is a member of the board of directors for the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas in Brevard.
Thank you, David, for your sacrifices in Vietnam and your service to your country.