Alvin “Al” Morrell passed away on September 30, 2016 at Careage of Whidbey, Coupeville at the age of 74. Al was born April 28, 1942 in Milton, Florida to George and Ruby Morrell At age 14, Al and his family moved to Pawnee, Nebraska. In 1964, Al enlisted in the U. S Navy, joining the Construction Battalion (Seebees) branch of the Navy. The CB’s are the militarized construction units of the U.S. Navy. Their motto is “We Build, We Fight, and we do the difficult tasks immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.”

The Seebee’s have two battalions: Amphibious Construction Battalions and Mobile Construction Battalions. They were formed with the beginning of WWII and have served the military for three-quarters of a century. One of the most significant tasks given to the CB’s was the construction of NAS Cubi Point in the Philippines. The Seebee’s cut Mt. Zambales in half, in one of the largest earthmoving operations in the world. They have served as the construction unit, building facilities for Operation Deep Freeze and for Diego Garcia.

Al’s first duty station following boot camp was Okinawa. He then went on to Vietnam then Japan. While he was in Japan, he met Junko Ogawa. She was working in the same department. Al and Junko were married in Tokyo and they were transferred to the states. Al was sent to school for Speed Boat Operations in Vallejo, CA.

Al’s next stop was to Midway Island, then unaccompanied to Diego Garcia and finally to NAS Whidbey Island, where they built their home. Al was then assigned as a Seebee to the U. S. State Department, 5 years working in Africa, Italy, Zaire, Pakistan and Afghanistan. While on Embassy duty in Pakistan, the consulate was attacked and bombed, and Al and Junko lost everything they owned. He then was assigned to public works NAF Atsugi in Japan as his last tour and retired.
Al and Junko returned to Whidbey Island and Al began a series of second occupations. He served as a security guard at the Texaco Refinery, Anacortes, served as a maintenance supervisor for property management in Anacortes for a Stanwood firm, attended school in Seattle for Appliance Repair and then worked for Stan’s Repair Service of Oak Harbor. His last employment was with Brown & Root at NAS Whidbey Island.

Al is survived by his wife Junko. He was a member of Whidby Island Lodge #15, F&AM, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Whitehead-Muzzall Post #7392, American Legion George Morris Post #129, Fleet Reserve Association Branch 95, Oak Harbor Elks Lodge #2362, the Scottish Rite and the Disabled American Veterans Association.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 7, 2016 at 1 pm with Chaplain David G. Lura, USNR (Ret.) officiating. Graveside committal services will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery with full military honors under the auspices of the NAS Whidbey Island Honor Guard. A reception will follow for family and friends.

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