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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-03849 to 363-03852.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-03849 to 363-03852
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Title
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Seabees news release about a soldier's reflections on Chu Lai
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Description
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Original title: "Through the Eyes of a Navy Seabee." Original caption: "The following is a first person account of the thoughts and actions of a SEABEE member of U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion EIGHT while standing his watch in Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam." Seabees news release 222-67 (54) which included photographs of a man surveying the area in Chu Lai, Vietnam. The press release is a creative piece written by a Seabee sailor
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Date
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1967
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Subject
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United States. Navy. Seabees; United States. Navy; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Press releases; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
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Location
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Chu Lai, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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15.4123; 108.7045
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Container
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B65, F12
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Format
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press releases
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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United States. Navy. Seabees
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections
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Language
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English
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extracted text
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UNITED STA TES NA VY
CONSTRUCTION BA TT ALIONS
SEABEES IN ACTION
"CONSTRUIMUS, BATUIMUS - WE BUILD, WE FIGHT "
"CAN DO!"
U.S. NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION EIGHT
FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. 96601
Release No. 222-67 (54)
By Journ&list Third Class
J .K. -Curtis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THROUGH THE EYES OF A NAVY SEABEE
(The following is a first person account of the thoughts and actions
of a SEABEE membe~ of
u. s.
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion EIGHT while
standing his watch in Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam.)
••• I will walk my post in a military manner ••• ! will take charge of
all government property within my view .••
I see the spectacle of war around me yet remain untouched.
I walk :the lonely road of a sentry through the night so that others
may be safe.
A front row center seat to the war is mine ••• Across the channel, the
sky is lit up statically with shell bursts. For split seconds, the clouds
are outl i ned in the night while far away the _barrels of 105 Howitzers
smoke wi t h the heat of long gone projectiles. No report is heard and this
is strange.
It i s an unreal war, this sight but no sound -- like shadows on the wall.
Men may be dying a few short miles from my post, yet no sound tells of their
passing , only light.
It is a war of light--bomb bursts, illumination flares, winking wing
lights of jets high in the sky returning from a mission.
A scout plane circles overhead, its lights go out, the engine quiets
down and it becomes a glider--looking and listening so that others on the
ground may search out and destroy.
The waves crash against the rocks below me and my sense of hearing is
useless. The blackness blankets my area and I am without eyes . But I
listen and I see and I walk • • •
-more-
DEPARTMENT
or
THE NAVY • NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND • WASHINGTON, D. C. 20390
Around me is an enemy who searches for me through the darkness as
keenly as I for him. Two men at odds with each other. fighting in a
major war yet engaged in a very personal battle for survival.
During ,these long, often tense, hours I think of many things. Of home,
family and friends. Of the day when my duty will be done and I can return
to it all. I think of life and I think of death. But I do not let these
thoughts monopolize my attention - or dull my alertness, for during these
dark hours, I am the most important man in this camp o
My sight, my hearing and my judgement represent the safety of this
SEA.BEE battalion •
.
I am the first line of defense.
I make my tour, report in and walk my post again.
slowly. When morning comes, my job will be done •
The hours pass
••• I will walk my post in a military manner •••
1967 marks the 25th anniversary of the U.So Navy Seabees; the 100th
of the Navy Civil Engineer Corps whose officers lead the Seabees in action;
and the 125th of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (formerly Bureau
of Yards and Docks).
-30-
(DEAR EDITOR: We Seabees hope you can use this copy and we would appreciate
a tear sheet mailed to:)
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE 09Dl
Yards and Docks Annex 2B-35
Washington, D. C. 20390
t
Release Noo 222-67 (54»
81,:JAT ()•n:JERS MAY BE SAFE -- A Navy Seabee of Mobile
Com:rtructio:n Batta,lion EJ!'.GE.'T stMids at sl:tng ams :md
stirveys his area of respo:nsib.i.U.ty
Z!S
dawn b:r.e~t,ks ~t
Chu Lai" South ViettU:lDlo
Dear Editorg
We Sea.bees hope you can use this copy and
we would appree;,i ate a te&,r sheet mailed tog
~'tl"".BI1c'It'C
AFil'AIRS 01\l'~!CB 09Dl, 'VIS NAVY SBABEESu Yards and Docks
Annex 2B35, Washingtono Do Cc 203900
