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Mobile Riverine Force Association · Est. 1992
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CCB-18 Gets Painted, Photo Tour 2

CCB-18 Photo Tour

Work on the Memorial Site, Dedication of PCF-104, and CCB-18 Moves to Paint Facility

Some of the Memorial Site work party members: LtoR Standing: Danny Reynolds, Carl Fletcher, ??, Norm McCulloch, Carl…The CCB-18 slab gets poured last. Note how some areas are deeper to provide extra support for the keel supports. Thanks…The SeaBees help us out in this “Training Mission.”Ralph Fries (yellow helmet) and Carl Hank keep a watchful eye on the progress.Takes time to do it right.Final touches to the slab.Part of the SeaBee work crew. Thanks a million guys!John Branca and Carl Hanker standing and Don Blankenship & Everett Jones kneeling.MRFA Guest Speaker Al Breininger poses with Don Blankenship at the PCF-104 Dedication.Swift Boat Sailors and Gamewarden Assoc. members begin to arrive for ceremony.PCF-104 shines for ceremony. CCB slab used for speaker area.The view from the Memorial slab.The view from the street showing the PBR in the foreground.The dedication cake.The band provides music.People inspect Ralph Fries’ portable monument.The ceremony is about ready to begin and the seats are filling.Petty Officer Mike Barron is one of our great friends from the SWCC school.LT. Bill Partington of SIMA was extremely instrumental in aiding in the restoration of both PCF-104 and CCB-18. Bravo…Parade the Colors.The Chaplain gives the invocationParade the ColorsOverall Project Coordinator CAPT Ken McGee, USN (Ret) speaks. MRFA member Jim Steffes (right) acts as MCThe CCB-18 moored at Pier 12, courtesy of ACU1. Thanks to CDR Bill Hammill, skipper of ACU1.Preparing to get underway for the “last voyage” on October 25, 2000.Acting Boat Captain Don Blankenship takes a ride as CCB-18 takes her last voyage on the water.The LCM8 provided by ACU1 was a helpful tug.The crew of the mike boat was very professional. Thanks guys!!Out into the bay with the Coronado Bridge in the background.The Coronado Bridge replaced the old nickel snatcher ferry some of you may have ridden in the 60’s.Proceeding southwest around the Amphibious Base.Dock in sight.Snug into the finger piers.HTCM Robert Brock, a big help from SIMA in the restoration process.BMC Robert Hoffman on TAD at the SIMA paint facility provided great support for getting the boat sand blasted and…The Travelift and it’s expert crew from ACB1 prepare to lift the boat from the water for the final time on October 26, 2000.

View more restoration photos and see the CCB-18 arrive at her final resting place.