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Creation of the Seabees: January 5, 1942

Tarawa, Gilbert - Bombing
January 5 marks the day in 1942 that Rear Admiral Ben Moreell was given authorization to create the Seabees, the naval force that would carry out an astonishingly diverse array of construction tasks at home and abroad for the Navy during World War II.

The creation of the Seabees (short for Construction Battalions) was deemed essential following America’s entrance into the war, when it became clear that, rather than continuing to use civilian contractors who couldn’t defend themselves against enemy attack, the navy needed military men to build bases, landing strips, and so on in current and potential war zones.

Seabee Personnel Matters
In the beginning, Seabees were recruited on a voluntary basis from over 60 construction trades and ranged in age from 18 to 50, with an average age of 37. But after December 1942, they were drafted via the Selective Service System, and the average age dropped. By the war’s end, about 325,000 men had served in the Seabees.

The motto of the Seabees was “We Build, We Fight,” and build they did. Whether serving in the Pacific or the Atlantic, they took on an amazing range of projects, often using ingenuity and a “can do” attitude to accomplish what seemed to be impossible. Some of their most common projects included unloading ships; building, enlarging, and maintaining bases; building pontoon causeways; cutting roads; serving in demolition units; building piers, wharfs, breakwaters, and offshore docks; operating landing craft; repairing damaged buildings; installing plumbing, lighting, communication lines, and power lines; making and repairing airstrips, airfields, and control towers; and building hospitals, warehouses, chapels, and housing—just to name a few.

Seabees building and airstrip
Although the Seabees weren’t generally used in active combat, they frequently landed with the assault forces and thus were trained to be able to defend themselves if necessary. One famous Seabee, Aurelio Tassone, earned a Silver Star when he used his bulldozer to crush an enemy-occupied pillbox in the Solomon Islands. The comparable bravery of many other Seabees was reflected in the 33 Silver Stars and 5 Navy Crosses they earned in the war—and by the fact that almost 300 of them were killed in action.

Do you have any Seabee relatives? If so, try looking for them or their battalions on Fold3. Or if the Seabees in general have caught your interest, try doing a broader search to find thousands of documents about the force.

148 Comments

  1. Barbara D Schwartz says:

    My father, Thomas Dexter, printed a large blue book about 24″ square about the Seebees. His company was Dexter Press, Pearl River, NY. I wonder if anyone has a copy of this. It had numerous photos of the South Pacific during WWII. I had a copy but in 1970 my house burned down and with it this book.

    • Donna says:

      If there are copies out there it is possible there’s one archived somewhere here in North Kingstown. I think I know exactly the person that might know!

    • Rick says:

      The Seabee Museum is at Naval Base Ventura County. They might know.

    • Colleen Nichols Smith says:

      I have a copy of the “Bulldog” yearbook with a brown cover.

    • Bonnie Reich says:

      I have a blue hard cover book titled “One Hundred and Thirtieth United States Naval Construction Battalion”.
      Formed: 13 Sept 1943, Camp Peary, Williamsburg, Virginia
      Commissioned: 23 Oct 1943, Camp Endicott, Davisville, Rhode Island
      Published: September 1945

      This book belonged to my father-in-law, Harold L. Reich, Company B

    • Tarrel Clark says:

      Barbara, I served in the regular Navy for four years (1948 – 1952). Then I signed up with the Seabee reserves. I served 24 years with 24 years With RNMCB-14. After I retired my daughter gave me one of those books for Christmas. So I do have one.

  2. Donna says:

    My hometown of North Kingstown, RI was known as “The Atlantic Home of the Seabees.” While the land that housed the Seabees and the Quonset Naval Base is now primarily under civilian command, the Bee still stands at the old entrance to what was once the largest naval base on the East Coast. Many of my high school friends were from Navy families.

    • Colleen Nichols Smith says:

      My Dad also was a Seabee in the Pacific. I still have the broach and pillow that he bought my Mom. They too lived in Rhode Island during his training, I think N. Kingston or Warwick. He was an Ironworker with Local 40 in NYC.

    • Lyn Richey says:

      That’s cool….My sister was born in North Kingstown

      My Dad was stationed at Davisville til from 1969-1972….He was with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, He went to Antarctica under Antarctica Support Activities, Operation Deep Freeze, Public Works Dept to keep lighting, heating and water systems functioning properly for International scientific research to continue uninterrupted.
      He also helped construct two new stations for the researchers and he’d clear the runways for C-130’s to fly in/out.

      I still remember living there…I was 5 when we moved back to Indiana

  3. Larry Sneeringer says:

    My father ws a navy Lt and Dentist in the 4th Special Naval Construction Battalion. Was stationed in Okanawa in 1945-1946. Was there during the typhoon in 1945,

    • Richard L. Creviston says:

      Larry — I was also stationed on Okinawa in 1945 and “enjoyed” the Typhoon of that year. Saw a good many of our small craft washed up on the beaches and the great clean-up that the CB’s accomplished. I was with the Naval Military Government Unit. –

  4. Patti Wood says:

    2 of my uncles were Seabees. Paul served in the Aleutians. I have pictures of him there, then he headed to the Pacific where his brother Wayne was stationed. Since my grandfather owned a rigging business, there was not a piece of equipment they could not operate or fix. Both of them told me that they had to teach their officers how to work some of the equipment.

    • My dad, too, served in the Sea Bees during World War II. Here are my notes:
      Howard Leslie Alexander, Sr.
      Motor Machinist Mate Second Class, 32nd Naval Construction
      Battalion, Aleutian Islands, Pacific Theatre, August 1, 1942 –
      October, 1943
      23rd Naval Construction Battalion, Central Pacific Theatre, October,
      1943 – December 25, 1945
      “Three years, four months and twenty-five days.” – HLA, Sr.”

    • Barbara says:

      Your uncles may have worked with my dad. He was a motor machinist mate on subs at Dutch Harbor. There was lot of work with other groups.
      The stories he told about some of the things they did Oh how I wish I had taped them.
      He helped to put the radar tower up on the high point. He rode the crane down the hill side. The licensed operators could not or they would loose their licenses. Dad did not have one so it did not matter. Scared the he!! out of everyone else.

    • Jeanette Albertson says:

      My Grandfather was a Seebee in the Aleutians. I can’t remember the year. Does anyone know how I could find out about his service record.

  5. Carol Mayernick says:

    I am from Rhode Island. My late father in law was a SeaBee, that was his nickname at the local Vets club that he used to go to. I think the Sea Bee has been moved to the Museum in Quonset, RI Here is a link to the Museum. Copy and paste in your browser.
    http://www.seabeesmuseum.com/news.html

  6. Ally Anselmo says:

    My Father was a Navy SeaBee. I still have his Fighting SeeBee fringed pillow.
    He searved 2 Jun 1943 until the 24 October 1945.

    I remember a picture of him with several others holding a 12 foot python. Yes it was dead.

    Happy New Year to All

    • JoAnne Bohm says:

      My husband, Harry Wujcik, recently passed away (12/13/14) and was a member of the 84th Seabees (sec-treas). I recall a photograph of him and several others holding a very large snake. I’m hoping to get a copy of the photo this weekend. What was your father’s name? I have a copy of the 84th Seabees Address Book.

  7. Lasca Sullivan Bourgeois Burns says:

    My Uncle Jimmy Stebbins from El Paso was in service to the the U. S. Navy.

    He served with the SeeBees, He was stationed in the South Pacific on different Islands.

    In his letters to my mother in Texas (which were redacted because of security) we did not know where his unit was stationed? Naturally.
    They were moved round so much. Terrible times.

    He was able to write they were repairing runways in the morning.
    Destroyed in the nights by Japanese bombing raids.

    He spoke of standing in mud up to his knee after the rains making repairs.

    Thank you to all our Service Men who served our ‘Great Nation’

  8. Aaron J Bridwell says:

    I was one of the luck few who were SeaBees during Vietnam, home port Gulfport Mississippi, then to Hue, Vietnam. Great bunch of men who were already trained in their field and Uncle Sam trained us to be military (sort of). Went to Camp LeJeune for some additional military training. I tell everyone the SeaBees and Vietnam are just a part of me. I’ve taught post-secondary education for 30 years now manage a history museum in my home town.
    Can Do,
    Jack Bridwell

    • D.R. Eckroat says:

      You might have known my brother, John David E. He was in all those places you mentioned. I was with the Army in Danang. (MACV) My brother has passed..

      dr

    • Kayfrain says:

      My brother, Danny Carroll, was a Seabee during Vietnam War I remember he was in Marvel mountain & Monkey Mountain in Vietnam. He was there as it was being bombed. He was a second generation Seabee as our father, Joe Carroll, who served in WWII He was injured in the Phillipines putting up lights He hit a bad spot in the tree

    • Joseph Kopff says:

      Hi Jack,
      I also served in the CB’s. I was in MCB133 homeport of Gulfport, Miss.
      I also served in Vietnam in the area’s that you mentioned. I was in B Co then H Co. were you in MCB 133?

    • Dennis carter says:

      I served with mcb121 out of Gulfport and in Vietnam at Phu Bai near Hue 1967-1968. It was an amazing experience which included the Tet Offensive in early 1968.

  9. Michelle Novak says:

    So happy to see this in my inbox today. My father was a WWII SeaBee, and I have some wonderful photos of his time in the unit. He didn’t see much action in his unit as the command moved up the Pacific Island chain faster than anyone had predicted — leaving many SeaBees behind, including my dad’s unit, who remained in New Guinea for the duration.

    I was equally surprised to find a huge trove of images about the SeaBees at NARA’s College Park facility. These are de-classified press photos of certain units (unfortunately not my father’s) and are not indexed online, card catalog only. There are also some films on NARAs site. I’m going to dive into Fold3’s collections tonight.

    FYI, this is his unit. If you recognize a name, contact me.

    CMBU 528 / Hut 10 / Pits 4-5
    J Pavao, RI
    KE Peglow NY
    FW Reeb PA
    CP Sciola CT
    EL Ashline VT
    CD Bello UT
    FJ Amidon NY
    MJ Rispin MA
    V Gaplan PA
    FJ Gaulin MA
    PH Barr MO
    V Gonzales CO
    H Nowak NJ (My dad)
    JF Rutledge PA
    SC Martin KS
    KW Slover MO
    CA Smith WA
    CA Ten Eyck NY

  10. Pat Buffington says:

    Jack,
    My husband was a SeaBee during Vietnam. He was with the Fighting 40, and he was also in Hue. Not sure if he was at Camp LeJune. He was also over in Guam and some other places. I’m glad Fold3 has made this information available to us. Maybe some more of the Vets can find more of their buddies.

  11. Joan Pierson says:

    My father inlaw, Marty Pierson, was a proud SeaBee. His battalion was the 70th. We have his construction battalion shield hanging in our home.

  12. Bill Reynolds says:

    I was a Navy Corpsman assigned to MCB-74 out of Gulfport , Ms. Our first assignment was in DaNang , Vietnam for 11 months. The second assignment was in Chu Lai , Vietnam for another 11 months. These were very unique men and serving with a purpose. They like their forefathers were dedicated to their job and did not quit under any circumstance. I remember so many of them because they all came through my shot line and I either spent many nights in the field and on detachments.

  13. Doris Rinearson says:

    My father, Richard McInereny, served in the Sea Bees from about May1942 to November 1945. He was in the 17th battalion out of Chicago, IL. He went to boot camp in Gulfport, Mississippi. He shipped out to Newfoundland for 18 months preparing for the North Atlantic Fleet, but after a leave, he was transferred to the South Pacific Fleet, serving in the invasion of Saipan and the Marianna Islands. At the end of the war he was with Halsey’s fleet heading for Japan when the peace treaty was signed and sailed home.

  14. STEPHANIE SLEISTER says:

    My father, Marion (Mike) Sleister from Bartonville, Illinois was a Navy Seabee during WWII. He was in the New Hebrides, and he has pictures of the Japanese Bombing behind him. He passed away in 2006.

    • Terry Sain says:

      My father, William Austin (Bill) Sain served in the SeaBees and spoke of being in the Pacific theatre during WW-II and also being stationed in the New Hebrides. Unfortunately Dad passed away in 2006, and I regret not talking with him more about his time in the service.

  15. Leslie Taylor says:

    My father, Robert R. Allen, was a Sea Bee on Tinian Island. My mom was a WAVE and was stateside.

    • Davida Symonds says:

      My husband Robert Gregg Symonds served with the CB’s in WWII, he was with the 13th Batt. and served on Tinian during the building of the runways and bombing of Japan that ended the war,. they were sent to Okinawa for the landing in Japan.

    • Debra Atwood says:

      My late father-in-law, Eugene Bremmon, was a Seabee on Tinian Island too. He had pictures, but I don’t know where they are since he died.

  16. Karen Hogan says:

    My father Donald D. Street was a Sea Bee’s for 39 years, stationed last at Seattle, Took training in California, Hawaii, Overseas, Made E-9 Chief Pattie officer. Then was released from service. While in service he served in Okinawa, Manila, several other Islands over there. Also was in service on a ship in Alaska during Korean war, where he was on a ship heading to his station. When they hand been staffed by the Japanese. He received flack from over head firing in his back and received a purple heart. Almost lost his life because of this. He loved being in the Sea Bee’s especially on training missions, also served in Vietnam in the early 1960’s. Setting up basses there. I don’t have much of his paper work since it is in my Brothers collection of military information. My dad died in 1999 of Parkinson’s we feel brought on by nerve gasses and agent Orange.

  17. John Cook says:

    Served in mcb 74 and mcb 22 in Vietnam , the Seabees have a very rich history and what I experienced and learned has carried me through out my life , the motto can do fits what a person needs to do

  18. Sandi Estes says:

    My father was a Seabee in World War ii, be interesting to learn about them.

  19. Ella says:

    My brother and my daddy’s cousin were proud Seabees both serving in Vietnam. If you have never heard of the unspoken motto once a Seabee always a Seabee it was very true with both of these fine men. My brother was in NMCB 8 and then NMCB 5 after NMCB 8 was DE-commissioned. My wonderful brother passed away in 2005 at the young age of 56. He suffered for years with back pain. He went to doctor after doctor with no explanations for the pain until it was too late. In September 2004 he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma caused by Agent Orange. He passed away a hero in my eye in February 2005. Please all Vietnam Veterans if you get to feeling bad and have unexplained aches and pains please please have your physicians check for this horrible silent killer. God Bless you all and thank you for your wonderful service and devotion to a proud country. Anyone who has ever known a Seabee loves a Seabee. Ella

  20. Barbara Carlton says:

    Thanks for info. Father-in-law was Seabee on Wake Island and Okinawa. Tried contacting Museum years ago and got nowhere. Was hoping they had unit photos. Now I have his records I will see what Fold 3 has to offer.

    • Jean Zettler says:

      How did you get the records and from where – been trying to get my fathers for some time and run into dead ends. Thx

  21. Palmer Brown says:

    As a Marine assigned to a Navy Staff in the late 1980’s I worked directly for a Navy Admiral. In an informal discussion in his office, I told him that there were only three good parts to the Navy. When he asked what the were, I one was the Navy SeaBees who built things for us Marines. The second was the Navy Corpsman who patched us up is we should be wounded. The third was the Navy Chaplain, who if the Corpsman should ever fail, the Chapalin would send us on our way to “guardign the streets in Heaven’s Scenes.” I then took hold of his sleeve and said, “Admiral, you are none of those.” He good naturedly threw me out of his office, saying never darken his door again. In Vietnam, I got more support from the SeaBees than I could get from my own Marine Logisitcs elements. (If I had some beer to trade to the for their services)

  22. Dan Cedusky says:

    On March 5, all Construction Battalion personnel were officially named Seabees by the Navy Department. Admiral Moreell personally furnished them with their motto Construmus Batumius, or We Build, We Fight.

    Seabees call 5 March their birthday, not Jan5

  23. Dan Cedusky says:

    Former Seabees should belong to the Seabee Assoc

    NAVY SEABEE VETERANS of AMERICA

    http://www.nsva.org/

  24. Jana Hertz says:

    My uncle was a SeaBee. His name was Kenneth Russell Thomas (1914-1990). I am not sure where he served, but his headstone says COX US NAVY. He enlisted 11 Feb 1943 and served until 10 Jan 1946. Lost contact with his family after the death of my grandfather, his brother. Would like to learn more about Uncle red and his service.

  25. Charles "Andy" Anderson says:

    I was born on Jan 5 1942 and became a SeaBee in 1966 was with NMCB9 Charlie Co in Da Nang VN, lost a mortar crew on March 31 1968 in Phu Loc near Hue . After four tours in Viet Nam MCB9 was decommissioned in June of 1969 , and was the best in the west at Port Huememe Calif

  26. Sylvia Morgan Auten says:

    Hi, My father Wilbur W. Morgan was in the 145th Naval CB in Okinawa and other South Pacific Islands. He is pictures with Gene Moore of the Island which I take it to believe that they were both from Wheeling, W. Va. I have a full album of the photos during battle with snipers and of the Typhoon that some comments refer to. Also there is a picture of the lst Marine Cemetery on Okinawa. If I could submit these photos for copy to the proper source, I would.
    Sylvia Morgan Auten

  27. Mark Daily says:

    My father was a Seabee in the Philipines. He was made a honorary officer in the Luzon guerrillas.

  28. John Polley says:

    My uncle was an Electricians Mate First Class (E-6) and a cousin was a Constructionman (E-3) in the Seabees in WW2. I served with a CBU reserve unit from NE PA in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam 1970-1971. From 1977-1980, I served with Amphibious Construction Bn Two. After retiring from the Navy with 30+ years, I worked in logistics at the Second Naval Construction Brigade 2NCB which merged with 3NCB in 2002 to become the First Naval Construction Division, the operational command of all Seabees throughout the world (18,000+ at the time).

  29. Virginia Brock says:

    During WWII my Dad served with the 96th Seabees in China and in the Phillipines, He told me stories about his time on Manicani Island. He had lifelong interests in astronomy and in the weather. He left home to defend our nation in 1943. He returned just before Christmas in 1945 and surprised my Mother.

  30. Julie says:

    Nice article, but strange that you are marking Jan 5th – the Seabee Birthday is widely known to be celebrated on March 5 (1942).

  31. Caroline says:

    My cousin “Jon David Lee” served with the Sea Bees in DaNang, South Vietnam. from about 1962-1964. He was a heavy equipment mechanic. When asked what he did he’d say they created landing strips “among other things”. Reading this article now about all the “other things they did” I know his service was so vital to our overseas troops. Our Thanks To All of Those Who Served.

  32. Robert Garnett says:

    My Uncle, F. H. Garnett, was a Seebee,in WW I I

  33. Linda Hay says:

    My late father, William C. Richtmyre, enlisted once he had completed his degree in Civil Engineering in June 1942. His first assignment took him to Iceland where the unit built and airbase and saw to it that ships could be unloaded. They kept oil flowing in the pipes in winter by warming them with horse manure … perhaps provided by the Icelandic ponies which were better suited to the climate and the scarcity of fuel than trucks. He was an amateur photographer and I have scanned his images. Later he went to England, working on airbases for D Day and then was part of the invasion, setting up tank farms for the fuel being pumped ashore from barges. He did not make it to Paris, but headed instead for a brief period of leave in the US when he met and married my Mother. Then it was off to the Philipinnes and rugged conditions which were the opposite of those in Iceland. When peace came he headed back across the Pacific by troop ship and then across the US by train. All these are recorded in his photographs. One of the most memorable is a self portrait … sitting on his cot in shorts and heavy boots, the heat and humidity evident in the pose. After the war he continued to serve in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. He and his friends from the war stayed in touch the rest of their lives.

  34. Reuben Horsman says:

    My father was in the Swansea, If I remember right around 1968 in Vietnam, in a lot of islands insiuth Pacific as many Seabees were. His name was Leezelle Wesley Horsman, a name not easily to forget, I know he was stationed in oxnard,California. If any one remember s he ( I know it was a long time ago) please contact me. We lost him August 2010 with lung cancer, agent Orange, and abuttload of surgery s to his knees tgatwas shot out in Vietnam. I will leave my number here in San Antonia, Tx. 210-965-0983. Thanks for your time and your service. P.s I have a poem that I might be having put at the Arlington national cemetery in Washington for all the fallen Soldiers, it is called a American Soldiers. Please respond for a copy or just for support, for the memery that we can never forget, THANK YOU AGAIN

  35. Cheryl Viering says:

    I am looking for information on the WWI predecessor to the Seabees. My grandfather, Frank Henry Fletcher, was a carpenter at the Great Lakes naval base, and possibly served in Europe.

  36. Nancy C. Zier says:

    My brother, Jerry Cooney, was a Seabee and served at DaNang in Vietnam — does anyone know him? He suffers from COPD, has had major heart by-pass surgery, spends a lot of time with wife and grandchildren at their ball games. He lives in Laurel, MT

  37. Glen Whitney says:

    Married a Kleeberger, Ralph Kleeberberger was a Seabee.

  38. My father Francis Joseph Bice, MD of Kansas was a WWII SeaBee medic at the base in Charlestown, RI before shipping out. You can call it fate. My home in RI is across the road from the base in Ninigret Park. We walk the old landing fields, now paths, and swear we can hear the planes coming in for a landing. They were the gallant.

  39. My father, Francis J. Bice MD, trained as a medic at the SeaBee base in Charlestown, RI. Fate would have it that my home in RI is across the street from the base, now called Ninigret Park. When we walk the paths, we swear we can feel the planes coming in for landing on the air strips.

  40. Jan says:

    My dad, Gary Downes was in the SeaBees in California in the early 1940s. I would love to find more info on the Seabees out of Calif during that time.

  41. Arthur Bowen says:

    Though I was air Force I was trained by the SeaBees in California in 1970. Their training was excellent. I still have my Training certificate and am proud of my training there.

  42. robert plummer says:

    My Cousin Eddie Plummer was a Seabee during ww11 Don’t recall where he served

  43. George Howe says:

    My dad Sherman Howe Jr. from Redding,VT served as a Seebee at Hickham in Hawaii. I think around 1944 till the end of the war. He will be 90, 3/17 this year. He is still pretty sharp so I will ask more about his unit. One thing he could never stomach after his return was fresh pineapple. Said he ate enough there to last a lifetime.

    • Maury Cralle says:

      I urge you to record your Dad’s telling of his life story. Never know when it might be too late. That story will be very mingingful as you age and even more some to your children and grandchildren at some future date. Try and take along some momentoes to trigger his memory.
      There is stuff on the internet about how to conduct the interview(s).
      Good Luck.

  44. Sheri Lentzsch Coene says:

    My father was a Seebee back in the early 40’s I remember some what of his stories I just wish I listened a little bit better. I would love to find out more if there is information on him I would love to have it, is there a site that I could go to does anybody know ??

  45. Charles fuselier says:

    I served in MCB 5 in Danang and Mekong Delta in 1970.

  46. Jean Zettler says:

    My father, who died in Sept 2012 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on what would have been his 88th birthday on April 22, 2013 was a Seabee in the Pacific during WWII — he enlisted in Jan 1943 and went to training outside Williamsburg, VA in April 1943. December 1943 he left for the South Pacific from LA on the USS Louisville and was discharged early in 1946, later than his peers, due to his bout with malaria. He earned 2 gold stars — one at Tarawa and one at Okinawa. I think he was with the 14th Special Seabee Unit. He also served in the Tinian and Marshall Islands

  47. Margarito Ochoa, (Och) UCCM says:

    i spent 24 years in the SeaBees, 2 tours in Vietnam, retired in 1987, live in PA.

  48. Stewart M Harney SKC USN (ret) says:

    My dad served with the 93rd Battalion in the pacific during WWII. Are there any other family members of veterans of the 93rd. Am a historian by degree and would love to write a book about the battalion if I can gather enough information.

  49. Jan Hyde says:

    My father served during WWII, in the Seabees. He was older when I was born and passed when I was 19. Would love to have information about this. If I remember correctly, he was in the Phillipines. Are there any web sites to find any information on this?

  50. Douglas Jayne says:

    My father Willard Douglas Jayne was with the 33rd during War World II. He enlisted on 8-3-1942 and was discharge on 12-18-1945. He spoke little about his time in the service. I know he was in the South Pacific and attached to a Marine Division. I would like to know where in the South Pacific was the 33rd stationed?
    He used to go to the Seabees reunion until he passed away in 2004.

  51. Mary Jo Ernst Diab says:

    My late father was on the SeaBees in the Pacific in WW II. His name was Glenn Carroll Ernst Sr. from Illinois born in 1921. The only story I remember was of playing football with others on a runway they were building on an island. I also think he was a refrigeration specialist. Would be happy to learn more to document on and pass along. The only thing I have is a black cap that says Phillipines. Thank you.

    • Debra Atwood says:

      My late father-in-law was also on an island in the Pacific (Tinian Island). They were there to build the landing strip for the Enola Gay (dropped the bomb on Hiroshima). He had some pictures but I don’t know what happened to them after he & my former mother-in-law died.

    • Kerry slahta says:

      My grandaddy (RIP) was WW2 navy man. I salute your dad’s service. Thanks for sharing. Didn’t John Wayne make a movie about Seabees?

  52. Eugenia Clements says:

    My father, William E. Morris served with the Seabees in WWII. He was 32 years old when he enlisted. He trained at Camp Peary, then was at Great Lakes, and ultimately was assigned to a base in California. We have pictures of his unit, one of which has the names written on the back. Near the end of his life he told of a mission that he went on that was highly secret. He stated he had been told never to speak of it. I would like to know something about that mission, if it existed at all. We do know (from my mother) that Dad was changed somehow when he came home, as he was very sensitive to loud, sudden noises. Dad was very alert and “with it” at the time of his passing, so I am inclined to believe that something did happen. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

  53. Patricia Thompson says:

    My husband William L Thompson was in MCB-6 in 1966-1968 and was deployed to Chu Lai, Viet Nam from Davisville, Rhode Island. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia and is a member of the Facebook MCB-6 group. I’m sure he would love to hear from any of the guys that care to post on that group’s Facebook page.

  54. Marc vanic says:

    My uncle Cyril j vanic was in the seebees in world war two, he was born in 1923 and passed away in 2010 he used to meet a few times a year with his guys for lunch and by the time of his passing there were only a few left, he talked about it often and he was one of the best people ive ever known , i named my son Cyril after him !!!they were from a time when people were proud to be americans !!!

  55. Meggin Albitre says:

    My husband was a Seabee from 1976 until 1982. He was round to serve our wonderful country!

  56. Mary Ogden Ellis says:

    My father, Horatio Nash Ogden, was an officer in the SeaBees in the Solomon Islands. Unfortunately, he told me absolutely nothing about his experiences, but when he died in 1988, he left behind an absolute treasure trove of documents, letters, pictures, etc. In addition, my parents kept every letter that they wrote to each other during the 2 ½ years he was gone. They are numbered, in perfect order and fascinating to read. I have had them scanned onto CDs as they will eventually crumble. Of the pictures that I have, he wrote names on the back of 3 of them. Picture 1 – Henry Bensel, HNO (my father), Seymour Koteen (our dentist). Picture 2 – Chief Petty Officers: Crowder, Thetford, Morton, Savoy, Dawson, Warrant Officer Deens and HNO (my father) 73rd Naval Const Batt., Oct, 1943 “These are the heads of our electrical and machine shops. Deens is officer-in-charge of equipment maintenance.” Picture 3 – 15th Naval Const Regiment Staff, May, 1944 Shoemaker, Dr. Ball, Comdr Jeffords (the boss), Reynolds, HNO (my father), Gilroy, Sala, Skidmore, Dudley, Wiley. If anyone recognizes a name, I will be glad to share a copy of the picture.

  57. Yvonne L. says:

    I father Mac Keever was 16 when he singed up for the Navy Sea Bees in 1942 he was also in the Solomon Island and was on Tinian and Siapan building landing strips heavy equipment operator, I f anyone has pictures or remember his name I would like to hear from you he was born 1926 and died in 1975.

  58. David Critcher says:

    I joined the SeaBees in July of 1969 and did boot camp in Gulfport Mississippi. Was sent to Davisville RI and then joined MCB 7 and went to Chu Lai Vietnam.
    After that I came back to Davisville and eventually was selected to be on the Atlantic Fleet SeaBee drill team.
    Lots of memories

    • Lyn Richey says:

      Oh my gosh! My Dad was stationed at Davisville til from 1969-1972….He was with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, He went to Antarctica under Antarctica Support Activities, Operation Deep Freeze, Public Works Dept to keep lighting, heating and water systems functioning properly for International scientific research to continue uninterrupted.
      He also helped construct two new stations for the researchers and he’d clear the runways for C-130’s to fly in/out.

      I still remember living there…I was 5 when we moved back to Indiana.

  59. Melvin Richardson says:

    I was in the Seabees from Sept. 1943 to Feb. 1945. Boot training at Camp Perry, then in the 23rd SpeciaIl Battalion. Saw duty at Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, & Okinawa.

    • Ronald W. Curtis says:

      A salute to you Mr. Richardson. My father Ben Curtis was also on Okinawa but he talked very little about his time there, and space doesn’t allow me to share what he did tell us. I know he was there to prepare the landing area for the marines and soldiers to deploy. I also know it was a difficult time and that when he passed away at age 92 a couple of years ago he was buried still carrying Japanese shrapnel. Never enough can be said for the bravery and sacrifice of all those who served at that time. God’s blessings to you and another thanks for your sacrifice and service.

    • Lin Brasier says:

      My Dad and uncle were in the Seabees in WW II and served in Guadacanal and Solomon Tslands. I think he was on the 34th.

    • Tonya says:

      Thank you for your service Mr. Richardson. My grandfather served in the Seebees around the same time and location as yourself. His name was Robert (Bob) “Bull” Madison. The only story I have was that he kept getting demoted because of his hot temper. Once having struck a superior costing him some stripes prior to the war ending. He was from Virginia. I wish I knew more. All I knew was that he built the roads that my other Marine grandfather drove trucks over shortly after, tho they never met until after the war. God Bless you sir!

  60. I served 2 tours in Vietnam with mcb 74 out of Gulfport, Ms (67-69). Although the Vietnam war was very unpopular & divisive I was & am very proud of my service to the country. (Go hogs)

  61. A very informative article. Keep them coming. There are few who survived WWII and still are living and interested in this data. I’m searching for anyone who served on the USS Baltimore during 1942 – 45. Would be interest in sharing some data directed to the above address. cmg

  62. Cathi Kelley says:

    My husband’s uncle was in the 64th Seabee’s as a photographer. He and other officers and men of the 64th published a book about the work and activities of the 64th (1942-1946). It looks kind of like a yearbook. The dedication page reads “To the parents, wives and sweethearts of the men of the 64th Naval Construction Battalion, we humbly dedicate this volume. It is or sincere hope that through the pages of this book they may share with us some of the joys, fellowship, and cooperative effort which we experienced while in the service of our Country. To each of those who were with us in Spirit, we offer thanks for keeping the home fires burning brightly and for helping to keep America so nice to come home to.”
    There is an index with the full name and address of each person in the back. I would be happy to do a look up for anyone who knows or thinks their relative may have been in this unit.

    • Tony Brunnemann says:

      I had a brother Frank Cadwell Brunnemann, born in 1925, that served in the Seebees from 1943 to 1947. He was stationed at Attu Alaska and then re-enlisted when the Korean war broke out. This time he was stationed at Adak Alaska for four years. I know he was an underwater driver and that is all that we know. He died in 2005. His daughter tried to get his service record but was told that his file had been permanently sealed. Any information would be appreciated. I also know that he trained at Camp Perry, Ca.

    • Deborah Williams says:

      Hello, I am looking for information about Leslie Wareing, who was in the Philipines at the end of the war. If he is in the book, could you please send me info? Thanks!

    • Jan Hayes says:

      Cathy: my dad John C. Davis was in the Seabees during WW2, stationed in Okinawa I believe. Can you see if he was part of this battalion? He was born in 1912 and died in 1976. He would never speak of the WAR. When I asked, he said to never ask him again. My mother had a satin square pillow cover that said Fighting Seabees with the dates and unit he was in, but it was lost over the years.

    • Debbie Ditty says:

      I came across this about the Seabees. My father was in the Seabees around that time. I would be interested if my Dad was listed. His name is Wayne Darold Vollmar. He passed away in 1974 and he would never talk to us about this time in his life.

      Thank you

      Debbie

    • Charlene says:

      Cathi, I have a similar yearbook but mine is for the 79th construction battalion. My father served in the Pacific and Alaska. I noticed that in the book, they refer to travelling to island X but I do know he was on Saipan and Okinawa. I still have a batch of photos taken by a navy photographer of the carnage on those islands. Very tragic.

      Among the pictures in the yearbook is a photo of Olivia DeHaviland visiting their sick bay in March, 1944.

    • Cathi Kelley says:

      I tried to answer each post by clicking on it but it didn’t work so I’ll answer here.
      Deborah- Leslie Wareing isn’t listed as being in the 64th
      Jan- John C. Davis isn’t listed as being in the 64th either
      Debbie – I’m sorry but Wayne Vollmar isn’t listed in the book.
      Charlene – does your book list Frank Cadwell Brunnemann? Tony says he served in Alaska and you said your book on the 79th served in Alaska. My book says the 64th was in Newfoundland, Pearl Harbor and the Philippines. There are about 1,000 names in the index so I hope I can help someone.

    • Robert Bennett says:

      Is Joseph G. Bennett listed?

    • Cathi Kelley says:

      Robert,
      There are a couple of Bennette’s listed but not yours. Sorry!

    • Tonya says:

      Thank you so much Miss Cathi! Yes… could you please look up Robert (or Bob) Madison. His nickname was “Bull”. Thank you!

    • Cathi Kelley says:

      Tonya, There isn’t anyone with the last name Madison listed in the 64th NCB.

  63. lowell sund says:

    menber of mcb3 went to phillipines, SUBIC BAY to build the airfield our location called CUBI POINT. REMEMBER the SAN MAGUIEL beer truck YEH lll-lol had a good time with the girls at naval station ships service girls were very good dancer’s served 30 aug. 1951 to 24 mar. 1952 lets hear from u guys

  64. thomas traver says:

    My late dad, Howard P. Traver, was a Sea Bee in the South Pacific and helped
    construct the airstrip on Tinan that launched the Enola Gay on her famous bomb run. He was not happy with the results of that mission since so many people died, though the mission was necessary to bring the war to an end. He and our family became very involved with the Japanese culture after the war and we hosted numerous Japanese Foreign Exchange Students and helped start the Sister City Program in Portland, Oregon in the 60’s. My own daughter is deeply involved, speaks, writes and teaches Japanese and has been to Japan with one of our foreign exchange TEACHER students.

  65. John Scruggs says:

    My uncle, Jimmy Bain, was in the Seabees during WW II.When he came home he used what he had learned to rise to Asst. City Engineer for Jacksonville, Fl.

  66. Douglas Branham says:

    I am a former SeaBee having served 1961 – 1965 in MCB-5 leaving as an SWE-2.

  67. Garry Randall says:

    I was a seabee from 1984-1994, was injured on a exercise for desert shield in 1990. I served 5 years in the far East Asia and the Philippines and 4 years in San Diego, CA .My first year was in Port Hueneme Ca.

  68. Susan Pohl says:

    My father, Harley E May, was stationed in England during WWII. He was an electrician’s assistant. Not sure of the base. I have a picture of him and his comrades standing next to a generator they rebuilt. Will post once I get it scanned.

  69. Chris Kuebler says:

    All Seabees contact Diane Kuebler in mass. She is the historian for you

  70. J.Leon Courtney says:

    My brother George Courtney was in the Seabees during the height of WWII. The famous Hollywood actor Victor Mature served in the CBs at the same time my bro told me.

  71. Victor Joe McCammon says:

    I was a sea bee in the Navy, but it was ACB-1 do you have anything about then in Viet Nam?

  72. Roger McCain says:

    My late father Glenn F. McCain served in the Seabees in both the Philippines
    and China throughout the entire Pacific phase of the war. He was an accomplished diesel mechanic and wrapped up the final months of his service in a motor pool on mainland China.

  73. Tim Wheeler says:

    My father served in the Seabees in WW2 he talked about Guam, Guadal Canal and other places. He enlisted in the Navy December 9,1941 at the age of 32. His name was Joseph Crutcher Wheeler from Tyler, Texas. He passed away April 5. 1985.

    • Jan Schaefer says:

      Hi Mr Wheeler. My Dad was also a SeaBee during that time and served on Guam, and GuadalCanal. He had pictures but unfortunately they have been lost. His name was William Henry Schuetz. He was from Blue Jay Ohio and was around 32 years old also I believe. He would never talk a lot about what happened over there and he passed away in July of 1996. I’m always trying to find out info and any pictures of him with his company.

  74. Tony Graziani says:

    I was in the Sea Bee’s from 1962-1965 did my boot camp in San Diego Ca.
    went to Okinawa twice,we built the barracks for the Marines. I was a swe3.
    Would like to make contact with any of the guys I served with.

  75. Rick Peuser says:

    My Dad was in WW II in the SeaBees in the South Pacific. William Boyd Peuser from Scranton, Pennsylvania. He passed away in May 1986.

  76. Gene Douthit says:

    My uncle William (Bud) Miller, Carpenters Mate, 24th Naval Construction Battalion. Enlisted 10 July 42, served on Rendova, Munda, Solomon Islands. Discharged 8 Sept 43 Battle Fatigue (PTSD)

  77. Pam Roach says:

    My father, Archie Ronald Jones, served in the SeaBees also. The only thing I remember is that he was blown off of a barge and was in a hospital for sometime with burns. He was supposedly covered with wax everyday to seal the burned skin from the air and keep the pain away. I met a friend of my father’s once who was also a friend of my husband’s family. He had photos of my father and himself in the SeaBees. When he, Stanley “Stan” Poole, moved and died I don’t know who got his photo albums as he had no living children or family. I wish I knew where his albums are and where he and my father had served.

  78. Louise Elder Wagner says:

    Lawrence V. Elder was a Seabee during WWII, he served in the Pacific theater, recall he was in the Phillopines.

  79. Jack R. Lesueur says:

    my father was in the SEEBEES durning 2nd world and was there for de day. He said the get off a ship that these dead bodies were so deep in the water they had to walk over the dead. My father is the geatest man I Have known . Jack R . LESUEUR jr.

  80. Bertis Reed Parker says:

    I was in ACB 1 in the far east 1960-1962. Causeways and Beach Group.

  81. John Ratomski says:

    My late father was a WW2 Seabee, He spent 27 months in the Southwest and Central Pacific..I am a Seabee historian. The “Dirt Sailors” don’t get enough credit! “A Most Unsung Unit indeed”..During WW2, Many went right in with the Marines in the early waves of the invasions, but were not identified because they were wearing Marine uniforms..

    Anyone need information..My e-mail [email protected]

  82. Susan Esser Boahene says:

    My dad, John Donahue Esser, was in the SEEBEEs, WWII, in Iwojima and Okinawa. later to the Aleutiens where a lot of stress relieving apparently went on. He was from North Dakota at the time.

  83. My dad, David Wells Bright served in the SEABEES during WWII….He trained in SanDiego, Ca. then was shipped over to the Phillipines circa 1943,I think….He mentioned Borneo and Guam as places that he built bridges,housing,etc. In his spare time, he loved to collect shells on the beaches there….I still have some of them in my possession….Dad had a close friend named Eddie Aker. He gave a eulogy at Eddie’s passing about 20 years ago, I think it was….Anybody out there remember either of them???

  84. J Closterman says:

    Home of the SeaBees (CB’s) …. Davisville, RI

    • Lyn Richey says:

      My Dad was stationed at Davisville til from 1969-1972….He was with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, He went to Antarctica under Antarctica Support Activities, Operation Deep Freeze, Public Works Dept to keep lighting, heating and water systems functioning properly for International scientific research to continue uninterrupted.
      He also helped construct two new stations for the researchers and he’d clear the runways for C-130’s to fly in/out.

      I still remember living there…I was 5 when we moved back to Indiana

  85. Carol Bird says:

    My Mother’s brother, Clyde Thomas Reeves, born 1907, died 1982, was in the Seabees in WWII. He served in the Phillipines and S. Pacific, and I think was also stationed in Nova Scotia. Don’t know anything more.
    t

    • Cathi Kelley says:

      Carol,
      I found Clyde Thomas Reeves as a member of the 64th . In the index of my book it gives his full name and his address as Gen. Del. Beaver, Oklahoma. The 64th was commissioned 8 Jan, 1943 . They arrived in Argentia, Newfoundland in shifts between 27 Mar. and 3 Apr. 1943. Oct. 25, 1944 the 64th Seabees boarded the General Howze for Pearl Harbor. On 28 Apr., 1945 went ashore at Tubabao Island (Philippines) to build a U.S. Naval Receiving Station.

  86. john a notarianni says:

    u didn`t tell, there hq were in quonset,ri., and there portable houses were called quonset huts, and still in use today.

    • Lyn Richey says:

      My Dad was stationed at Davisville til from 1969-1972….He was with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, He went to Antarctica under Antarctica Support Activities, Operation Deep Freeze, Public Works Dept to keep lighting, heating and water systems functioning properly for International scientific research to continue uninterrupted.
      He also helped construct two new stations for the researchers and he’d clear the runways for C-130’s to fly in/out.

      I still remember living there…I was 5 when we moved back to Indiana

  87. Carol Hall Perry says:

    My late father Joseph Hall was a Seabee! I was 5 at the time he went in . Remember it well even at 5. He was on Tawaii(?) with the Demolition unit. Bless all those there and all over in all the wars! Born in 1916 passed on in April 1996. God rest his soul.
    Carol

  88. Jim Creed says:

    My step-father was CSF Eddie Gorman of Chicago. He was with the 26th Seabees on Guadalcanal. Any info on him or unit?

  89. Thanks for the information about the founding of the Seabees during World War Two.

    Woody Einkauf, my maternal grandfather, served in the Seabees. He was born during World War One and was named for President Woodrow Wilson.

    He told me only one story about his Seabee experiences during the war. He told this story only about two weeks before he passed away.

    The story was about his operating a bulldozer or other large machine (backhoe?) during or after Guadalcanal (if my own memory serves). He was still feeling some pain or guilt for driving the machine that buried so many of the Japanese dead. There were so many dead men, he said.

    War is stupid; war is hell. We are addicted to it.

    I honor my beloved grandfather and his experiences during World War Two as a Seabee; the man who was born during the War to End All Wars.

    “The future is a war.” -E. Cervenka
    –Patrick

  90. My brother Ted Albert Megonnigil was in the Cee Bees for 20 years. He passed away in 1996 in Tacoma WA. He didn’t talk much about the Korean War, but as he was writing me one time, there was a sniper he could see up in a tree. He made friends in the Phillipeans. I miss him

  91. Jack R L says:

    My DAD. Jack R. LESUEUR ! Was A SEABEES Durnig Second WORLD.
    I ask him what SEABEE, He told me it stood for ‘confused Bastereds”..
    layered told me to what SEEBEES s stood for. Years latered watched a program about the last base he had been on. He told that there that un-boarding the ship that. Thay Fright on the backs of thousand killeded Americans In the water like stacked cord wood. While. Taking enemy fire.!!! Dose anybody remembered JACK. R. LESUEUR.???

  92. Eugenia Clements says:

    My father, William E. Morris, enlisted in the Navy and Seabees in 1942, at age 34. He ultimately was stationed in California, although he trained at Camp Perry and Great Lakes. We have a number of pictures of his men, some with the names written on the back and in order. Being in the Seabees was one of the high points of his life. One picture we have shows my Dad with 2 very young men who served with him. He was a “Chief”.

  93. James Walter Hopper says:

    I was in the SeeBees from 1962-66. I went to Getmo Cuba in the winter of 62, Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico in winter of 63, with MCB-7. I switched to MCB-6 in 64 and went to Antarctica with Operation Deep Freeze ,Detachment Whisky, Oct. 64 – Mar. 65. Then went back to Antarctic again Oct. 65 – Mar. 66. My home base was Davisville RI. I would love to hear from any of you SeeBees or Scientist that were there.

  94. Barb Cessna says:

    My WWII Dad was on Saipan in 1944/1945, anyone else?

  95. Gayle Pard says:

    My Father was also in the CBs before joining the Army. I know he was in the Guadalcanal area at some point. Then was in The Pacific Theater later on, in the Army. He was a Georgia boy from Hoboken and joined the CBs to help his Mother as she was on the farm and his father has died-so he sent any money back to my Grandma. My fathers name was Hilton Dodge Hickox (but was known as “Wild Bill”), does anyone know how I can find the records of his service?