As Boothbay Harbor prepares to celebrate the 64th annual Windjammer Days, this year’s theme proudly honors the past, present, and retired members of the United States Navy who have served our nation with dedication and distinction. Throughout the coming weeks, we will feature a series of profiles highlighting local Navy service members—sharing their stories, experiences, and the lasting impact of their service. These articles are a tribute to the men and women whose commitment to duty reflects the maritime heritage at the heart of Windjammer Days and the deep appreciation of our community. Unfortunately not all current or former Navy service members in the area can be individually featured. To have a Navy veteran or active-duty member mentioned on the Windjammer Days webpage, please email Friends of Windjammers (www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org). Please include name and rank. 

By Joseph A. Blake

I graduated from NMVTI (Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute) in Presque Isle, Maine in 1966 with a degree in building construction. Jake Stevens, Carl "Skip" Williams Jr, and I enlisted in the United States Navy Seabees.

After boot camp, the three of us went in different directions. My orders were to report to Coronado, California where I went through SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) training. After more indoctrination in Coronado, my orders were to report to Camp Pendleton, California for small arms training with the Marines. Upon completing the courses in Coronado I received orders to Adak, Alaska where I met Bruce Lindhorst. Bruce was also a Navy Seabee UT( plumber).

Bruce and I became close friends. After a year in Alaska. We both got orders to report to Vietnam. Bruce got severely injured in a mine explosion. The two men with him didn't survive their injuries. Bruce and I have remained friends.

My orders were to report to Battalion 302 stationed in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. After a few days I was sent with a small detachment from 302 to help build a naval air facility north of Cam Ranh Bay. There were Seabees of each trade. Builders, electricians, equipment operators and plumbers. Nights often came under mortar attacks. A helicopter gunship was armed with a 134 machine gun which could fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute. It was assigned to the Naval Air Facility. During a mortar attack, the helicopter would hover over our location and then fire their high velocity machine gun at the incoming mortar launching positions. We also set up two 50 caliber machine guns to fire randomly at the hill where the Vietcong would launch their attacks.

We worked up to 12 hours a day to get the base finished so the Navy could move the P3 squadron up North to our position from Saigon. Every fourth night I would rotate into rifleman team or damage control team. Some days we would pour up to 300 yards of concrete. We built barracks, a motor with lifts for vehicles, a carpenter shop, and a machine gun in placements. I worked the Naval Air Facility for 12 months from January, 1968 to January, 1969. After my tour of duty was finished in Vietnam, my enlistment was up and I was sent to Seattle, Washington for separation.

I would recommend the Navy Seabees to anyone who likes working in the building trades. While in the Navy, I was able to travel to many places such as Japan, Philippines, Taiwan and many places in the USA. I still stay in touch with a lot of the Seabees I served with.