To Be ... Lonestar "22" History

NMCB-22’s mission is to provide and maintain a trained, ready, and immediately available reserve battalion, meeting the requirements of the Naval Construction Force for employment as directed by the Chief of Naval Operations in the event of war, natural emergency, or when otherwise authorized by law.

Naval Construction Battalion Twenty Two (NCB-22) was initially commissioned on September 2, 1942 at the Seabee Training Center, camp Allen, Norfolk, Virginia. After advance military and technical training at Port Hueneme, California. NCB-22 arrived at its assigned duty station at Sitka, Alaska on November 28, 1942. While there, the battalion completed a total of 28 projects in seven months.

On July 6, 1943, TWENTY TWO moved farther west to Attu, an island of tundra and windswept mountains in the Aleutian chain. Two months earlier, U.S. Army units had captured the island from the Japanese. The Seabees' primary task was to build an airfield for U.S. Bombers. The airstrip work began on July 16 with men working 24 hour day basis in violent, unpredictable weather. After eleven days of constant work, "Twenty Two" completed the first usable section of runway. Before the winter approached, two 5,000 foot runways were in operation. At the same time, the Seabees had built hangers, Quonset hunts, and a PT boat dock.

On March 14, 1944 Naval Construction Battalion Twenty Two "The Famous 22nd" departed Attu for Camp Parks, Shoemaker, California where she was decommissioned.

Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWENTY TWO (RNMCB 22) was re-established on March 5, 1961. During Phase I of the Battalion's organizational training conducted at the Battalion Construction Center, Davisville, Rhode Island in 1961, the Battalion selected the name Lone Star Battalion. At the time, only Texas Seabee reservists were assigned to RNMCB 22 and its emblem was the state outline. Later reservists from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico were assigned to the battalion. The Battalion emblem was changed include all five states joined together as one solid block which symbolized the strength of the battalion. The Lone Star Battalion was awarded the RADM John R. Perry Trophy on November 5, 1967 at ceremonies conducted at Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas. This award is named in honor of the late Rear Admiral John R. Perry, CEC, USN. It was originated by the Bureau of Yards and Docks, approved by the Secretary of the Navy on July 22, 1964, and is awarded annually to the top reserve battalion in the country. At the time, RNMCB 22 was only the second battalion to received the award.

Twelve days after release from Active Duty for Training at Camp Lejeune in 1968, RNMCB 22 received notice of "that long training duty", we were recalled to Active Duty. The battalion reported for mobilization to Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi on May 13, 1968. Upon commissioning RNMCB 22 became Mobile Construction Battalion TWENTY TWO (MCB 22). The Advance Party of MCB 22 deployed for Viet Nam in July of 1968 with the Main Body arriving in August 1968.

Serving under the THIRD Naval Construction Brigade while in Viet Nam, the Lone Star Battalion was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation by the Secretary of the Navy for outstanding service. While in Viet Nam "22" established records in the field of construction that remain unsurpassed and received the title "The Professionals." It proved the worth of maintaining a Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalion as part of the Navy's "TOTAL FORCE IN READINESS".

In 1990 the Lone Star Battalion was again notified to prepare for recall in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Due to early end of the operation the battalion was ordered to stand down and while deployed for training at CBC Port Hueneme, California the battalion was re-designated as Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWENTY TWO (NMCB 22) signifying the integrated Active/Reserve Naval Construction Force. In October 1991 the battalion was again awarded the Admiral John R. Perry Trophy as "Best of Type" in the RNCF then in 1992 NMCB 22 was recognized as "Best of Type" in THIRD Naval Construction Brigade.

The Lone Star Battalion is still one of the top reserve units in the nation and is composed of detachments located in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The battalion portrays a large star containing the outline of the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. During Fiscal Year 1997, NMCB-22 relocated its Ready Reserve Site (RSS) to NAS JRB Ft Worth, TX. In July 1997, "22" participated in Operation Ready Bee at Camp Bullis, San Antonio, TX, Operation Green Stinger, NAS Dallas, TX, and Operation Bearing Duel at Fort Hunter-Liggett, CA. The success of these missions was shown by NMCB-22 being awarded the Battle "E" and Best of Type in THIRD Naval Construction Brigade for Fiscal Year 1997.

Once again "22" has lived up to her reputation, being chosen as reserve battalion Battle "E" winner for Fiscal Year 1999. Through an aggressive and effective military Training Program all readiness goals were met while serving as Prime contractor on a joint reserve-active project we planned and completed a 3,000 square foot two story Pre-Engineered Building with outstanding results. "22's" CESE's management program received the highest marks in the Reserve Naval Construction Force.

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