Courtesy Photo | Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 Detail (DET) Cameroon on...... read more read more
By Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Michael Smaltz
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74
GULFPORT, Miss. - The Seabees traditionally celebrate the halfway point of a deployment cycle with an “over the hump” party where they look back upon the work they have already completed and toward the work yet to be done. Earlier this month, the Seabees of Detail (Det) Cameroon did just that as they, along with their fellow Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 Shipmates, are halfway through the Battalion’s final deployment.
NMCB 74 is currently spread over four continents with Det Cameroon being in one of the more remote locations. As a result, the Det had a very unique over the hump party; an eclectic blend of soccer, ultimate Frisbee and a roasted hog feast with all the fixings.
Preparations began late in the afternoon on Saturday. As one group of Seabees dug a pit and lit a fire fueled by hardwood from the nearby forest, another group searched the local streambeds, picking out smooth volcanic rocks that would be able to store the blaze’s heat for a long period. The ‘Bees tended the fire throughout the night and at 4 a.m., the last layer of hardwood charcoal and rocks were placed in the pit.
Sunday morning, the team was issued a challenge from Ryan, the proprietor of Arni’s Café - a local restaurant which the team frequents. About half the team responded and played in several games of soccer, or “football” as it is known in Cameroon, integrating with the locals and at the same time, learning how important the game is in their culture. One local named Edmond Dowar told the ‘Bees that in Cameroon, one must have two pair of boots (soccer cleats). He went on to explain that they are the first thing one must pack when on travel due to the possibility of them being needed at any time.
While the soccer games were underway, back at camp, the other group of Seabees continued preparations for the feast, foraging the local jungle for banana leaves and preparing the pig. The pig was placed in the then-ready Hawaiian imu (a type of underground oven) and cooked in the traditional, kālua fashion. Events for the rest of the day included swimming, ultimate Frisbee and cornhole.
By Sunday evening, the pig was ready to be unearthed. A quick check by the team’s Independent Duty Corpsman confirmed that the temperature of the meat exceeded the minimum safe cooking threshold for pork. As the protective burlap was pulled back, billowing clouds of steam rose into the African night, carrying the scent of kālua pig.
The pig was then carefully raised onto a platter covered with fresh banana leaves and presented to the eagerly awaiting troops. In addition to the succulent pork, the feast included grilled grouper, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, green beans, potato salad, and garden salad.
Despite the setbacks the team has had to endure thus far, the over the hump party put a smile on everyone’s face. “These are the stories we will be telling to our grandkids and reminiscing about with our friends when we are older,” said Chief Equipment Operator Brian Oelke, the team’s Senior Enlisted Advisor.
The feast was such a success, the team plans on doing it again prior to returning home.
With its home-port in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB 74 is a 580-person Seabee Battalion currently deployed to multiple locations in U.S. Northern Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility, providing general and contingency engineering support to Combatant and Component Commanders in order to enhance their operational capabilities across the full spectrum of military operations. Operating forward, NMCB 74 strives to capitalize on engagement opportunities and build lasting relationships, ultimately paving the way for future partnerships.
For more news and information on NMCB 74, visit the Command Facebook page at https://www. Facebook.com/#!/FEARLESS74.
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2014 09:19 |
| Story ID: | 126595 |
| Location: | GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 516 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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