2nd Group of Seabees Heads for Somalia : Famine relief: The Port Hueneme-based naval construction workers will help support the U.S. Marine-led effort.

A second contingent of Port Hueneme-based Seabees began taking off Tuesday for famine-stricken Somalia, signaling the start of an effort that will land 190 Seabees in the African nation by Friday.

Battalion members began loading equipment at noon to follow an advance party of 10 Seabees who were deployed last week. The naval construction workers will build roads, airstrips and other facilities for the U. S. Marine-led relief effort.

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 have been on alert for about a week, but did not know until Tuesday morning that they would be departing for Somalia the same day, Navy officials said. The Seabees are being airlifted in groups of 30 at about three-hour intervals, officials said. The last group is scheduled to leave early Thursday morning.

The C-5 cargo planes, which are about the size of a 747 commercial jetliner, are scheduled to stop at Dover Air Force base in Delaware for refueling and a new flight crew before going to the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, officials said. Each plane is bringing about 65 tons of cargo.

In January, another 400 battalion members and a cargo ship with bulldozers, graders and other heavy machinery will follow, Navy officials said.

On Tuesday afternoon, the first group of Seabees marched aboard the plane lugging M-16 rifles and duffel bags. Their cargo plane carried a large electric generator, food, water and an ambulance.

Two weeks ago, the Seabees were scheduled for a regular seven-month deployment to Guam when they were told to prepare for Somalia instead.

“We really don’t know how long they’ll be staying,” said Jeanie Pelkey, a base spokeswoman. “They are prepared to stay at least seven months.”

Defense Secretary Dick Cheney has said he hopes that United Nation peacekeeping forces could begin replacing U. S. soldiers before Jan. 20, and that U. S. troops could be out entirely a few weeks after that.

Seabees on Tuesday spent their last moments before takeoff playing cards and drinking coffee. Some puffed their last cigarettes in anticipation of the smokeless 22-hour flight and others lined up at a phone booth to make last-minute calls to wives and girlfriends.

“I just called my fiance to tell her I won’t be home for dinner tonight,” said Lt. Commander Joe Westerhorstmann, who waited until five minutes before he climbed on the plane to finish his phone call.

“We didn’t have a tree,” said Seabee Brian Reese, who has spent the last eight Christmases overseas. “I didn’t want (my wife) to be all disappointed when the day comes. When Christmas Day finally comes, I can’t wait for it to be over.”

Most of the Seabees headed for Somalia spent last Christmas in Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War, base officials said. Most battalion members celebrated this year’s holidays early, or postponed festivities until they return. Some carried in their duffel bags wrapped Christmas presents that aren’t supposed to be opened until Dec. 25.

Seaman Ruddy Agosto was close to tears when he thought about leaving his wife and 10-month-old daughter behind.

They will stay with his wife’s parents in Ventura while he is away, Agosto said, but the separation will be harder on him because he expects to have little or no contact with his family while overseas.

“I’m going to miss everything--her first steps, her first words,” he said, his voice turning hoarse as he spoke of his infant daughter. “She’ll have grown so much by the time I come back.”

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