Round shaped coin, antique brass in color, 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Click to enlarge
Unit/Organization Information
  • 1st Naval Construction Regiment
  • 1st Naval Construction Division
  • Naval Mobile Const. Battalion 18
Location
Coin Location: 21M5
Homebase: Fort Lewis, Washington
Additional Information
Date Acquired: Prior to 21 March 2008
Donated by: Unknown
Copies: 1 of 1

C004910

Location: 21M5

Coin: Unit

Reserve » U.S. Navy » Engineer - Seabees

Narrative

Round shaped coin, antique brass in color, 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

SIDE 1 - In keeping with their assigned location in the Pacific Northwest, NMCB-18 has adopted a totem as its logo and it appears on all the NMCB-18 coins in the Troop Greeters collection. The totem includes a stylized owl with outstretched wings at the top, the Seabees' "fighting bee" logo in the middle and intermediate blocks portraying the various Seabee missions.

SIDE 2 - The "Fighting Bee" logo was designed by Frank Lafrate, a civilian file clerk with a talent for caricature working for the Navy. He selected the bee, a busy worker who normally doesn't bother anyone but stings when provoked. He gave the bee a sailor's cap, a tommy gun (to show his fighting ability), and the rank of a 3rd class petty officer (E-4).

Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 18 (NMCB-18)

In 1991, the Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalion was redesignated Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 18, signifying the integration of the reserve units with the active units of the Naval Construction Force. Today, NMCB 18 is attached to the First Naval Construction Regiment of the Third Naval Construction Brigade. The battalion consists of 14 detachments scattered throughout the Pacific Northwest covering eight states.