Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21

Seamen Recruit Steffan McKell, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21 constructionman apprentice, 19, and retired Master Chief William Starkey, 82, representing the youngest and oldest ball attendees, cut the Seabee Ball Cake at the Seabee Ball with Cmdr. William R. Mock (center), NMCB-21 commander, March 9, 2013, at the Hanover Grand Ballroom in Bethlehem, Pa. The event was the final ball for NMCB-21 and marked the 171st anniversary of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, the 146th anniversary of the Civil Engineer Corps and the 71st anniversary of Naval Construction Forces. NMCB-21 is set to decommission in September. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Luis Gaitan/Released)

Seabees say goodbye with style

Published March 21, 2013
By Ensign Luis Gaitan
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21 celebrated their last Seabee Ball and shared their unique history one final time March 9, 2013, before the battalion's fall decommissions.

More than 300 Seabees, family and friends attended the celebration in the Hanover Grand Ballroom in Bethlehem, Pa.

The anniversaries of: the 171st anniversary of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, the 146th anniversary of Civil Engineer Corps and the 71th anniversary of Naval Construction Forces were also celebrated during the event.

Remarks from Commander William R. Mock, NMCB-21 commanding officer and the Seabee Ball Host followed the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action ceremony.

"I was humbled to stand in the midst of the people who made NMCB-21 a great battalion and those who keep us strong today," said Mock. "It was refreshing to see and feel the '21 pride and there is no doubt that our pride and camaraderie will remain long after our battalion is decommissioned."

NMCB-21 hosted guest speakers retired Navy Capt. Richard Kinard, former commanding officer, and retired Command Master Chief Edward Fredrickson. Kinard began his time with NMCB-2 as an engineering aid. He received a direct commission and eventually took the helm of NMCB-21 as commanding officer.

Lt. Cmdr. Shawn Galbraith, NMCB-21 executive officer and master of ceremonies, was elated to see members from the outlying detachments as far as Rochester and Buffalo in addition to his former comrades.

"It is great to see the various generations that I went through and served with," said Galbraith. "Seeing the tradition and catching up with plank owners from its original commission in 1962 was great."

The night of dancing and reacquainting was capped off with the cutting of the Seabee cake by Mock, the youngest member of the battalion Seaman Steffan McKell, NMCB-21 construction apprentice, at 19 and the most senior Seabee to attend, UCCM William Starkey.

"An example of how important the Ball is to the individual Seabee, an 82 year old Seabee attended this year," said McKell. "This is a true testament to the Esprit De Corp of Seabees everywhere. I am proud to be a part of it and hope to attend future Seabee Balls with my wife visiting friends until I am 82 years old."