Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 62 Alumni Group

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For All Hands: The following article was written by Bob AMENT, EO2, Plankowner of NMCB 62, who served in the 1st & 2nd Nam deployments. He is an annual member of our alumni group, and his contact information is in his website database. He is also a member of our Facebook NMCB 62 page and can be contacted through that page. He would be glad to visit with anyone who has any questions. (posted by Norm Hahn, Secretary, 11-24-2021)

About 9 years ago I decide to retire. I made a list of what I needed to do and on top of my list was checking into medical coverage. I filed for Social Security and Medicare but was concerned it might not be enough. I decided to start investigating what VA benefits I might qualify for.
It was my good fortune that around this same time I received a call from a CB buddy inviting me to a gathering with others I had served with in Vietnam. During our gathering, they talked to me about the benefits I had earned. They advised me to get an advocate to guide me through the process. I joined the VFW, and we started the journey. Once I connected with a primary care VA doctor, the paperwork was completed and documents provided that was needed to confirm what conditions I had that were service-related. In my particular case, my diabetes, neuropathy, PTST and heart disease have all been confirmed to be connected to my time in Vietnam.
Here are the 14 health conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure as of 2020:
• Chronic B-Cell Leukemia
• Hodgkin’s disease
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Prostate cancer
• Respiratory Cancers
• Soft tissue sarcomas
• Ischemic heart disease
• Chloracne
• Porphyria cutanea tarda
• Parkinson’s disease
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• AL Amyloidosis
NMCB Vietnam veterans that spent more than thirty days in Camp Lejeune were exposed to toxins in the drinking water. And those NMCB 62 vets that served two tours (1966 thru 1970), which meant you had two trips to Camp Lejeune, qualify for compensation from the VA if you suffer from any of the eight presumptive conditions. They are:
• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease
PTSD is the ugly elephant in the room. The following can be symptoms of PTSD:
• Frequently avoid places or things that remind you of what happened
• Consistently drink or use drugs to numb your feelings
• Consider harming yourself or others
• Start working all the time to occupy your mind
• Pull away from other people and become isolated
I worked 80 hrs per week. I avoided large groups and drank to alleviate the pain of remembering. I never talked to ANYONE about Vietnam, with most of my friends not even knowing I did two tours.
After encouragement from my CB buddies during that weekend gathering, I contacted the Vet Center and started attending a weekly group meeting. This allowed me to talk about my problems and it saved me. Most of us believe we don’t need help. BULL let’s get the help we need and deserve.
All service-related disabilities have some sort of compensation, depending on the severity, such as:
• Help with the cost of medical bills
• Help with the cost of pharmacy bills
At 100% disability, you also qualify for:
Dental coverage. Coverage for spouse, A spouse must have a supplemental policy to submit their expenses, but all balances are covered by ChampVa.
Please, you have earned these benefits, there are many more
available to you. Research what you have earned. (Bob Ament, NMCB 62.)

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FYI, I recently came across the obituary of Mike Nellums. He was one of the postal clerks for 62 back in the mid-80s. He worked with Jim Flynn. Good guy. RIP.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sunherald/name/mike-nellums-obituary?pid=184281722

-Tom

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10-29-2021: For All Hands, a Seabee friend sent me an email inquiring about the upcoming April 2022 Gulfport All Seabee Reunion. I am going to share it with you: (it is edited).

Long time my friend. I hope you and your family are safe and well. We are here, but don't go out much like we used to.

To respond to your questions: We use our facebook page NMCB 62 for our BS sessions and reunion info and our website link 1 for reunion info. I see you have not been on our facebook page for a long time, but you are approved for the page. NMCB 62 facebook is a private page and allows only members approved by me. Check it out.

Here is what I know now. The reunion committee, which is NSVA Island X-1 Gulfport, will have the 2022 all seabee reunion from Thurs 21 thru Sun 24 April 24 at the Best Western on Hwy 49 a few doors north of the previous reunion hotel (where we last met).

As of this date, the reunion committee does not have the places to visit laid out - yet. But this is the basic plan they told to me: Thurs after 3 PM, welcome party at the hotel (as usual) you pay for yourself. Friday morning, a tour in the morning, usually w/lunch, tours do cost for the tour and lunch. Fri night, some kind of a informal dinner at the hotel (not a sit down) each person pays). Sat morning, another tour and a lunch, each person pays for tour & lunch. Sat evening is the banquet and each person pays. This is NOT formal, but it is not crappy jeans and a dirty shirt. It's like it was at the last one you & I attended. Matter of fact, go to website link 2, where we have photos of the last 10 reunions, parties, tours, and our NMCB 62 get-togethers. We usually have our NMCB 62 annual meeting on Sunday morning about 0930. All minutemen and wives are welcome, you don't have to be a member to attend. All will have a chance to introduce ourselves & spouse and tell what deployments we were on. Then about noon + they have the final picnic at the hotel and the reunion is over. This year I have to leave after the Sun picnic.

Here is a word to the wise and anyone who has never attended one of these Gulfport reunions. If you and any of your buddies are planning on coming to the reunion make your hotel reservations now. Right now. Remember, it is easier to cancel a reservation at the last minute than it is to make a reservation at the last minute. As soon as the registration forms come out, decide which tours & picnic/banquet you want to go on and put in for them. Don't wait because they fill up immediately. Same with the banquet. You can always sell your ticket if you don't go on one of the tours or to the banquet.

It never fails at a reunion. Some guy gets so pissed off that he can't get a ticket to this or that event. And it is his own fault because he thought he would wait till he got to the reunion.

As you said, send this email to all your buddies who might want to attend. I will send you some attachments for all.

I just looked at your database. You need to go in again and bring it up to date.

Keep in touch, stay safe and be careful, Norm

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Anyone remember the MARS station up at Dong Ha. I was running it when Camille hit Gulfport.

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9-4-2021: For All Hands: I need help locating EQCM Jarvis O. Wood, NMCB 62 Life Member. He has not answered my emails or my phone calls. He was on the 3rd & 4th Nam Deployments with Dets Barracuda & Buford, and was the 5th Master Chief of the Seabees. He was born in 9-3-1931 and lives in Palm Harbor, Florida. Alumni members can see his excellent bio on our website.
I called the Seabee Foundation in Gulfport a few weeks ago and they could only say that they had no new info on him.
Any help would be very much appreciated. My email address is above. Thanks for your help.

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Joel Knutson
To: normhahnjr@yahoo.com
Thu, Sep 2, 2021 at 8:18 PM
Hi, there is a zippo for sale on eBay from the Vietnam era originally owned by LT “Lobo” Morris , not sure if anyone may be interested;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224557166231?hash=item3448a66e97:g:ijwAAOSwMXphCs1R

Kind regards, Joel.

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NMCB62 1985-1991 Gulfport, Cartegena Spain, Sigonella Sicily and Midway. Would like to connect with anyone I served with.

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Great site Norm!

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7-27-2021: Mike Collins, EO3, A Co., 2nd Deployment, Jan 68 thru Oct 68. 132 Photos. <<<< outstanding deployment photos from Mike. Go to website link # 17, scroll down almost to the bottom. Many thanks to Mike for donating.