Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 62 Alumni Group

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We had a great time at the 2025 Seabee Reunion in Gulfport. Hope to see a bigger turnout next year for the 60th anniversary of the recommissioning of MCB-62 and the 60th anniversary of MCB-62's arrival in Phu Bai, Vietnam. Next year's reunion will be at the same place, Courtyard Marriott, Gulfport from April 16-29, 2026. We took a group picture during our Mcb-62 meeting on Sunday but some, like Frank Pirrello and Jerry Hilbert left early so they weren't in the picture. Larry Wheeler mentioned that our MCB-62 flag has been misplaced. If someone is aware of where it is please make arrangements to get it to the 2026 reunion meeting. I'll try to post some pictures of the reunion. Hope other pictures are posted. Rocky

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How do I submit photos of the 2025 Seabee Reunion

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3-1-2025: The photos from the 2024 Gulfport NMCB 62 Alumni Annual Meeting which was held on Sunday, 5 May 2024 are now on our website. Go to website link #2 to look at them. Two Minutemen did not leave me their email addresses on the sign-in sheet, so I need your help. If anyone knows Chuck Doom or Thomas "Tom" Bault email address or cell phone number, send me an email normhahnjr@yahoo.com and let me know so I can get in touch with them. Thanks, Norm.

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2-16-2025: Camp Lejeune: Historic Drinking Water

Were you at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987?

If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, prior to 1987, you are encouraged to register in the Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water Notification database.

Call (877) 261-9782 or visit www.marines.mil/clwater for more information.

See Also: LINK 15.1 for more Camp Lejeune information.

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2-4-2025: Bill Clough calls sec Norm and tells him that Frank has passed away. Here is his obituary:
Francis J. Cheschi Obituary
Francis J. Cheschi, 79, passed away on January 20, 2025 in UMASS Memorial Healthcare, Worcester.
Francis was born on April 20, 1946 to parents Frank and Elenor (Giampetro) Cheschi. Elenor sadly passed away. His father remarried Josephine Larosa and they resided in Hopedale, MA.
Francis attended the Hopedale School System and upon graduation he entered the U.S. Navy operating heavy equipment while serving 2 tours in Vietnam with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion NMCB 62 as a “Seabee”. Upon his return, he married his love, Joan Auty. They spent 47 years together, enjoying their mutual love of classic cars while raising their son, Mark.
He is survived by his son Mark Cheschi; two brothers, Richard and David Cheschi; grandchildren, Zack and his wife Shyanne Cheschi, Sara Cheschi and his great-granddaughter, Lyla Joan Mederious; nieces, Erin Cheschi and Ashlye Brennan and a nephew, Justin Cheschi. He also leaves his dear friend, Linda Maietta with whom he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Frank is predeceased by his wife, Joan and granddaughter, Nicole Cheschi.
He worked for the Local #4 Union operating heavy equipment, upon his retirement Francis enjoyed restoring classic cars. He will be remembered by everyone for his gentle and giving nature, and will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a veteran’s organization of your choice or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Francis, please visit our floral store.
Buma-Sargeant Funeral Home
42 Congress St
Milford, MA 01757
Get Directions
Phone: (508) 473-5511
Alumni Group dues paying members can see Frank's complete database on our NMCB 62 website.

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ATLANTA VIETNAM VETERANS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION, INC.

PROUD - PROFESSIONAL - PATRIOTIC

A Georgia 501(c)(3)Corporation

DOCUMENTARY FILM - VIETNAM WAR

The Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association Foundation, of which VEW Commander-in-Chief Al Lipphardt is a life member, is proud to present a 47 minute documentary film entitled "Truths and Myths About the Vietnam War," with introduction by actor Sam Elliott.

The purpose of the film is to honor those who served in the Vietnam War by providing factual information to address the decades of misinformation that have presented a skewed historical perspective of the war - a very important and long overdue film that presents the information and lessons learned that most Vietnam War veterans want reported about the war. Some of the truth we now know comes from Vietcong and North Vietnamese archives and other disclosures made available over the last 50 years since the war ended.

The film features Medal of Honor recipient Patrick H. Brady and seven historians including five of the six historians featured on the Fox Nation documentary films entitled "The Unauthorized History of the Vietnam War" moderated by Bret Baier. Two of the seven historians are Distinguished Fellows at the University of Virginia School of Law.

The film has been seen by many veterans of the war and generated considerable enthusiasm. Many consider the film to be the best-ever produced about the war.

We are a very credible veteran organization and were recently made honorary partners with the Vietnam War Commemoration Office at the Department of Defense. The film was shown at the National Infantry Museum on March 29 National Vietnam Veterans Day- and on Georgia Public Broadcasting on May 27, Memorial Day.

We consider the film to be our enduring legacy for future generations. To view or download the film, go to the website AVVBA.org. Submitted by James Dickson with the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association Foundation.

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COINS ON A HEADSTONE

Did you know?

A penny: You stopped by and paid your respects

A nickel: You attended boot camp together

A dime: You served together

A quarter: You were there when they were killed.

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ABOUT THE PACT ACT
To learn more about the PACT Act and if you may be eligible for benefits, visit www.pactactinfo.org on VFW's website.

The PACT Act:

Added more than 20 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits and airborne hazards exposure as presumptive conditions.

Created a way to more easily establish future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure.

Added hypertension and mono clonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to the VA's list of presumptive conditions of Agent Orange exposure.

Added Thailand, Laos and Cambodia to locations where Vietnam War veterans had a presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

Requires VA to provide training to improve toxic exposure disability claims. The VA also must ensure that veterans enrolled in its health care system be examined regularly for concerns related to toxic exposure.

Requires VA to conduct outreach campaigns and provide resources to veterans exposed to toxins during military service.

Orders VA to help veterans who served in southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War and post 9/11 conflicts to better understand toxic exposure among veterans.

Extended the period of time a veteran can enroll in VA health care from five years to 10 years after discharge. After that period, veterans can't enroll unless they have a service-connected disability.

The PACT Act also made the following cancers and illnesses a presumptive condition:

Brain cancer, Gastrointestinal cancer of any type, Glioblastoma, Head cancer of any type, Kidney cancer, Lymphatic cancer of any type, Lymphoma of any type, Melanoma, Neck cancer of any type, Pancreatic cancer, Reproductive cancer of any type, Respiratory Cancers, Asthma that was diagnosed after service, Chronic bronchitis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Chronic rhinitis, Chronic sinusitis, Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis, Emphysema, Granulomatous disease, Interstitial lung disease (ILD), Pleuritis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Sarcoidosis.

Veterans of the following operations are eligible to apply:

Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, Operation New Dawn, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom.

For help with fling a service-connected disability claim, talk to a VA-accredited VFW service officer. Find one closest to your home at https://www. vfw.org/service-officers.

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Hi I am looking for Mike Thomas he was a cm I was an eo we were together in guam or anyone else that was in guam during 73-74 deployment

Thank you

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Dan Fountain - From: dempseylewis001@gmail.com To: Norm Hahn Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM.
Dan Fountain: Dan grew up on a farm in the Martinsville, Missouri area. His dad had a business hauling rock and agricultural lime. He had three brothers and a sister.His first deployment was to Morocco, Africa on public works. He joined MCB 62 on the Diego Garcia deployment, I think he arrived there in January of 1973 and helped on camp maintenance,and unloading ships supplies. After home port he was assigned to Detail Adak in September 1973. I worked with Dan on a plumbing crew installing a large fire sprinkler system in the hobby shop project.We were remodeling a WW2 aircraft hanger. We left Adak in May of 1974 and returned to Gulfport MS for homeport. He was discharged later that year.
Dan went to welding school after getting out of the Navy. He hired out after that with the Boilermakers Local out of Kansas City, Missouri. He traveled far and wide across the United States from Florida to Alaska with lots of stops in between. He primarily worked on constructing large water and fuel storage tanks.Dan retired around age 65 and returned to his home state of Missouri.
Dan met Jane in Nevada while working there and they got married, she had 4-5 kids from a previous marriage and he had a ready made family. They settled in Atlanta, Missouri and now have a large family with grandkids.
I've been friends with Dan since we worked together back in 1973, he was a fine man and a good friend. Dan's birthday was September 21, 1951, he died on January 18,2025 from heart problems at age 73.
(author) My name is Carl Dempsey Lewis Jr. I live in NW Arkansas. I was a UT-2 when I got out of the Navy in January of 1976. I worked as a plumber and a pipefitter till retiring in 2014 at age 62, I now operate a beef farm. If you have any questions about Dan my email is dempseylewis001@gmail.com.
Thank you, Dempsey Lewis.