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Florida base mourns deaths of 7 reservists

The men trained in Jacksonville, then shipped out to rebuild schools and restore water supplies in Iraq.

JACKSONVILLE - Richard Daniels has gotten used to the massive refueling jets that roar overhead on their way to the naval air station just across the street.

But he hasn't gotten used to the idea that seven reservists attached to a Seabee battalion at the base were killed in Iraq last weekend while working on humanitarian projects to rebuild the country.

After all, the men were reservists, weekend heroes who hailed from all across Florida and Georgia. They trained in Jacksonville once a month.

Few in Jacksonville knew the men. But their deaths are a reminder of war's toll.

They were fathers, husbands, golfers and hunters. Some received Navy commendations, such as Petty Officer Robert Jenkins, 37, of Stuart, for his reserve work on a hospital in Orlando and building schools in Haiti.

Michael Anderson, 36, of Daytona Beach had just celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary. Anderson left behind a wife and 7-year-old daughter.

"Everyone's got the idea that a reservist is only on weekend duty," said Daniels, a 37-year-old former Navy mechanic who owns Bestside Cycle, a Harley-Davidson shop. "But when you get down and dirty, you're in the military. You're on the front lines."

Five men were killed Sunday in a mortar attack. Two were killed Friday when their military vehicle hit a bomb, and 34 others were wounded, some seriously. All were assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14.

Senior Chief Christopher Hanks, who trained the reservists, struggled Wednesday to describe how he felt when he heard of the deaths.

"We're all one big family," said Hanks, a construction mechanic. "We were strong before, but we are stronger now."

Seabees are named after the initials C and B, for construction battalion. Their motto - "We build, we fight" - is stenciled on a statue outside the battalion's Jacksonville headquarters, showing a giant yellow and black bee carrying wrenches, hammers and a machine gun.

"This is a tragic loss," said Rear Adm. John M. Stewart Jr., the battalion's commander. "They were rebuilding schools and helping to restore water and electrical power. They were serving in a humanitarian capacity, going in harm's way to give others a chance for freedom."

Although headquartered in Jacksonville, the battalion has nine detachments: St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Miami, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Augusta, Ga., and Puerto Rico.

"Their families, friends and fellow Seabees now bear the pain and sorrow of their loss," said Stewart. "We will forever cherish their memory and honor their sacrifice."

The battalion supports active duty military personnel, building base facilities and repairing buildings damaged in combat. Its specialty is drilling wells and repairing battle damage. Many of the sailors are construction professionals and engineers.

On Feb. 13, 400 of the battalion's 730 members were shipped to Kuwait. On April 1, the 400 sailors went to Iraq.

They are just a fraction of the military presence in Jacksonville, estimated at 92,103 active duty, reservists, retirees and contractors. The Navy is the largest employer in northeast Florida.

"This town supports the military 100 percent and takes whatever comes," said Dick Schwalbe, a 72-year-old retired lawyer who lives about a mile from the base.

Schwalbe, like most people here, supports the war and President Bush's reasons for starting it.

But not everyone is a supporter.

At Larry's Giant Subs, a few hundred yards from the base entrance, 45-year-old Michael Dubrey said the seven Seabee deaths were a tragic waste.

"I don't think we should have gone over in the first place," said Dubrey, who served 14 years in the Navy. Now a base contractor, Dubrey says the United States is trying to "impose our will and our way of life" on the people of Iraq.

"Just because we have a really good way of life doesn't mean we are always right," said Dubrey.

A few miles away, at the VFW Post 7909, Post Commander Howard Maas shook his head over the the loss of life.

Maas, a 26-year Navy veteran, saw combat as a reservist in Desert Storm in 1991. Reservists never expect to be called up, Maas said. "I think a lot of them are shocked" about the casualties, he said.

On Tuesday night, Maas sat at the dark bar, sipping a can of Natural Light. Two Vietnam veterans sat nearby, talking quietly.

They're all strong supporters of the war and the rationale behind it. Still, Maas said, war casualties are never easy to stomach.

"We talk about it all the time here at the VFW," said Maas.

He paused.

"We also talk about greeting these men when they come back."

- Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report, which also used information from the Associated Press. Tamara Lush can be reached at 727893-8612 or at lush@sptimes.com

Seven Jacksonville-based Seabees died in Iraq this past week:

Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott R. Mchugh, 33, single, grew up in Boca Raton, graduated from Spanish River High in 1989. Attended Palm Beach Community College for a year before joining the Navy. Later joined the reserves and became a Boca Raton emergency medical technician.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Anderson, 36, observed his eighth wedding anniversary Saturday. He and his wife Karen lived in Daytona Beach and have a 7-year-old daughter, Brandi.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Trace Dossett, 37, originally from Wapello, Iowa, was married, father of two daughters, enjoyed golf and hunting. Felt he had an obligation to serve his country.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Jenkins, 35, received Navy commendations for his reserve work at a hospital in Orlando and schools in Haiti. He and his wife bought a home in Stuart about a year ago.

Petty Officer 3d Class Ronald Ginther, 37, worked six days a week as a mechanic at Pepperidge Farm in Lakeland. He was married and father to three children.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason B. Dwelley, 31, lived in Apopka.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher M. Dickerson, 33, lived in Eastman, Ga.