After WWII, Seabee numbers were reduced from their war time high of approximately 300,000 to less than 3,000. Uniform regulations were being reviewed and there was a push to simplify Navy uniforms. Between 1948 and 1950, there is no evidence that Naval Construction Force had any special designation on any of its uniforms. As part of the simplification, Seabees were wearing the US Navy’s dungarees which did not stand up to the work load!
During this same period, the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Rear Admiral Joseph Jelly, requested that the Naval Construction Force be allowed to use special uniform regulations. The Navy allowed certain rates to wear specialized clothing suited to the job. RADM Jelly sought approval for a uniform more suited to Seabee working conditions than the Navy’s traditional dungarees. He got the approval he wanted in sometime after July 1950.
By late 1950 or early 1951, active duty Seabees began wearing a dark olive drab green uniform as their utility uniform, with substantial numbers of Seabees regularly wearing the USMC HBT Coveralls. Reserve Seabees wear issued dungarees. This can be most easily substantiated in photographs of Seabees working at various locations throughout the Pacific including: Atsugi, Japan; Cubi Point, the Philippines and Korea from late 1950 thru 1953.
Seabees from MCB 2 in three different styles ofolive green uniforms rebuilding Atsugi for use as a Naval Air Station circa Spring 1951
By the end of 1951, the special clothing request was codified in NAVPERS 15665 and to one sentence in the 1951 Uniform Regulations Chapter 1 Section 2 Article 0116. Special Clothing (page1-5). In the years following, Naval Construction Force manuals, Naval Construction Force rating manuals and Seabee Combat Handbooks included the specifications for wearing of a specialized uniform, but there was no regulation or instruction for a specialized unit insignia. It was at this time that the first Seabee unit patches were created and used on non-regulation gear.
Airstrip at Betio two weeks following the island capture from the Japanese, Gilbert Islands.
During World War II, the Central Pacific island campaign began in November 1943. Tarawa, Makin, and Apamama in the Gilbert Islands fell between November 20-28. The toughest objective was the fortress of Betio, the main island of Tarawa Atoll. A savage air and naval bombardment razed the above-ground defenses, but the well dug-in Japanese defenders took nearly 1,000 American lives in one of the costliest island seizures of the Pacific War. D-Day plus 4 saw the first echelons of the 74th and 98th Naval Construction Battalions come ashore at Tarawa.
The largest problem involved cleaning up ravaged Betio Island, part of the Tarawa island group. As a base, it has been destroyed. Chaos, ruins, a litter of corpses and decaying food dumps extended over the entire 285 acres. Flies and mosquitoes, with ideal breeding conditions, existed in countless swarms; all water sources were brackish and polluted, with only salt water available for washing purposes. The menace to health was immediate and alarming, and it was little short of miraculous that no epidemic broke out, although dengue and dysentery appeared. The battalion lost no time in correcting these conditions.
Although no casualties were suffered by Seabee personnel, there was air raid damage to installations, stores, and equipment. Vehicles were burned or destroyed; others were perforated by bomb fragments, which also did considerable damage to tents; and heavy tire damage was caused, not only by the actual explosion of bombs, but by sharp fragments which littered roadways and the strip.
View of battle damage to Tarawa, Gilbert Islands. Tarawa Atoll was conquered between November 20th and 28th, 1943.
The Seabees had to clear and grade virtually every square foot of the island. In true Seabee fashion, they had Tarawa’s Japanese airstrip in use less than a day after landing. Keeping it in continuous operation, they resurfaced and lengthened the runway to 6,000 feet. In addition, they erected a fuel farm and housing facilities, and inventive Seabees used Japanese materials to rebuild Tarawa’s principal dock.
All grading and excavating work was rendered hazardous by buried mines and unexploded shells, as well as unpleasant by the decomposed bodies frequently uncovered. In the latter connection, Seabees were used extensively as burying details for both enemy and American dead.
Seabees swarming wreckage of a Japanese dive bomber, Gilbert Islands.
The poorly constructed Japanese airfield on Tarawa, blasted into uselessness by aerial bombardment and the heavy guns of the Pacific Fleet, and later by the weight of US airplanes, was transformed by hard-working Seabees into one of the finest landing strips in the Central Pacific. Although Marines scored the first victory of Tarawa, the Seabees scored another by expanding and rebuilding the Japanese airfield. Within weeks the Seabees built new barracks, constructed roads, and lengthened and improved the battered airfield after rebuilding its shattered installations.
Native Islander labor was solicited for many of the construction projects, Gilbert Islands.Seabee surveying a beach, Gilbert Islands.
The water supply was obtained from evaporators, and 19 wells producing brackish water were drilled to supply them. Evaporators with a total daily capacity of 20,000 gallons were installed and two 15,000-gallon and four 5,000-gallon wood-stave storage tanks erected, together with 7,000 feet of underground pipe-line.
Considerable work was done in converting enemy equipment into useable condtion, as well as salvaging worn-out and damaged US equipment. A small but effective detail was assigned to diving and salvage. This group recovered equipment and removed obstacles from the ocean floor and on several occasions examined and reported on hull damage to ships. Another group carried out extensive demolition work ashore.
In early 1944, Seabee units wrapped up construction on Tarawa and prepared for the next leg in the US leapfrogging campaign across the Pacific: Operation Flintlock – the Invasion of Kwajalein Atoll.
Bomb damage on Tarawa, November 1943. Sarcastic sign made by Seabees on Gilbert Island. Sign reads, “there is NO road here keep your damn trucks out”.
Funafuti, an atoll formerly part of the British-owned Ellice group of islands, was developed initially in the fall of 1942 to provide an air base, and scouting and ferry point for planes en route to the South Pacific area. However, its facilities came into their most important use later in connection with our push northwestward into the Gilbert and Marshall islands. On October 2, 1942, a detachment of the 2nd Naval Construction Battalion, comprising two officers and 120 men from the main battalion on Samoa, went ashore at Funafuti with the 5th Marine Defense Battalion. Thirty days later the 2nd NCB completed the airstrip, PBY station and Aviation gasoline tank farm that were key for the seaplane base.
In the early morning hours of 17 November 1943, two Seabees were killed in action during an enemy bombing attack.
By Chris Kurgan, John Korka, Marty Yingling, Chris Sparks, Doug Heiner, Chris Cronin, Jamie Rainwater, and Carl Rhoads
“The real [wo/]man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.” – Thomas Paine
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Fallujah, Iraq (June 16, 2006) – Seabees prepare a site for the construction of a bridge. Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four Zero (NMCB-40) were tasked with rebuilding a damaged bridge used heavily by Iraqi citizens. NMCB-40 is currently deployed providing support to Coalition Multi-National Forces throughout Iraq. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class John P. Curtis (RELEASED)
This month marks the 19th year since the Second Battle of Fallujah. Seabees from NMCB 4/NMCB23 and Army Combat Engineers from Alfa Company 120th Engineer Construction Battalion jointly supported Operation Phantom Fury/Al-Fajr (The Dawn) organized as Task Force Echo (TFE) under the Marine Expeditionary Group (MEG) led by RADM (ret) Ray Alexander. RADM (ret) John Korka who commanded Task Force Echo reflected, “I was honored and humbled to lead, and serve alongside, a group of men and women whose grit, warrior ethos, and enduring brotherly/sisterly camaraderie fostered such a tremendously strong unity. Our deep respect and unyielding care for each other outlasts any of the projects we left behind. The Team’s success supporting the battlefield enabled the first democratic elections for the Iraqi people in 56 years and cap stoned the deployment. Freedom does come at a cost and I am sure I speak for many others when I say that our time in Fallujah left an indelible memory in our minds and fortified our patriotic duty as Americans.”
After the overwhelming success of Operation Iraqi Freedom I, we had developed a false perception that we would retrograde our equipment and go back to deployment presence missions. All changed when four Blackwater contractors were killed and their bodies very publicly desecrated in Fallujah in March 2004, which led to the First Battle of Fallujah a month later. The operation was subsequently turned over in May 2004 to the Fallujah Brigade, a local militia, which was organized by the CIA. By September 2004 the Fallujah Brigade had turned its allegiance from the United States military to the Ba’ath insurgency.
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Fallujah, Iraq (Apr. 6, 2004) – The Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Seventy Four (NMCB-74), Tactical Movement Team (TMT), escorts a construction crew convoy through Fallujah, Iraq. NMCB-74 was deployed in Central Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Eric Powell (RELEASED)
NMCB 4 arrived in theater in August 2004. Within weeks of arrival, an enemy 122mm rocket impacted a road grader in camp with shrapnel killing SW3 Eric Knott and seriously wounding CUCM Marty Yingling, EOC Darren Williams, and SW3 Justin Sasser. At that moment, we came to understand the gravity of the fight that was to ensue. Marty Yingling reflected, “It was a much different deployment, at any given day Seabees were going to be called in general support of the Marine Corps to enable the fight to take back Fallujah.”
UCCM (ret) Doug Heiner volunteered to be the homeport liaison to support the Battalion’s families back home. He reflects, “As the Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) for the battalion, I was the official representative of the Secretary of the Navy, I exercised my duties for the first of three times for the deployment to provide information and resources to the Primary and Secondary next of kin in the event of a casualty. It became my full-time responsibility and mission to assist the Knott family during this very difficult time, and ensure they received the benefits and entitlements due. I enlisted the assistance of a couple of Seabees to build two shadow boxes because Eric’s parents were divorced and I wanted to ensure both families received one.”
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Fallujah, Iraq (Jan. 29, 2005) – U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Twenty Three (NMCB 23) patrol the streets of Fallujah, one day prior to IraqÕs historic democratic elections. Seabees have been assigned to Provisional Support Battalions (PSB) under the direction of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), commanded by U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General John F. Sattler. Seabees are providing additional security for coalition camps and voting precincts. Female Seabees will be assigned directly to polling stations, screening female citizens as they enter the voting precinct. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom (RELEASED
“Concurrently, we contacted all the Battalion families and held an emergency Family Readiness Group (FRG) meeting after we received the news of the attack. It was very difficult to stand up in front of the anxious crowd and break the news to them and say we’re two weeks into a six-month deployment, and this may not be the last time we have to meet like this. My mission was to support the families, but not mislead them or fill them full of false hope. It was a very sobering moment for all of us.”
“I flew to Nebraska to attend Eric’s funeral service and hand-deliver the shadow boxes to Eric’s parents, his dad, Randy (and Teri) in Grand Island, and his mom, Vera (and Steve) Thorpe in Hastings. During the service, Randy was presented the Purple Heart, posthumously for Eric’s sacrifice, by the Chief of Civil Engineers, Rear Admiral Mike Loose and Force Master Chief Harrell Richardson.”
“My tour as the Homeport Liaison was the most challenging job I had the opportunity to perform in my 30-year career. It was demanding on a level I had never experienced and I felt I was in the right place during our hardest moments doing what I was absolutely meant to do, take care of Seabees and their families.” – UCCM Doug Heiner (ret)
After losing the Task Force Operations Chief, CUCM Marty Yingling, FLTCM Del Terrell was fleeted up from Air Det AOIC to plan the Task Force’s support to Operation Phantom Fury. Shortly before the move back to main body, the khaki berthing tent Del had been assigned to was peppered by mortar shrapnel. Fortunately, no one was injured. Del laughingly reflects, “The worst part of planning for the Battle was listening to Kurgan’s set of Dave Matthews Live in Central Park CDs in the Ops Shop through the night until the early hours each morning. It still triggers a PTSD Response. However, I was truly amazed by the grit and passion these women and men possessed to not give in and focus on taking care of each other while accomplishing the mission. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of them and what they did.”
In late October 2004 after eleven straight years of Sea Duty, CUCM (ret) Chris Sparks joined NMCB 4 to assume the Operations Chief Role. After nearly two decades past, Chris reflects, “I joined the unit to the sound of 24 hour a day howitzer with the intermittent 500-pound bomb. The pace was unrelenting as the operation demanded immediate changes to convoy manifests every evening after 2200 as the next day’s tasking unfolded. The dedication of the team that pivoted and lost sleep every night to be ready for the next mission was humbling. After the battle commenced, the sound of medevac choppers was continuous as they landed at the LZ adjacent to our compound with wounded to be transported to Bravo Surgical.”
CAPT (ret) Chris Kurgan was TFE’s Operation Officer. Kurgan reflects, “TFE unified after the tragic impact to our fellow Seabees. Arriving with fresh energy, Chris Spark’s leadership was critical to rounding out and rallying our Team in making final battle preparations and completing tasking to support the operation. Task Force Echo Seabees constructed bed down facilities to support the influx of coalition forces, a prison for insurgents, and vehicle check points. We often relied on engineering reach back support from NAVFAC Atlantic to overcome technical challenges. I would send Jim Gale and Brian Crowder a classified email near midnight and would have a technical solution by 0600 the following morning. It was a true team effort between our active and reserve Force, Army combat engineers, and our Systems Command.”
On 8 November 2004, Seabees from Task Force Echo disconnected power at two electrical substations to secure power to the North side of Fallujah ahead of Regimental Combat Team 1 and Regimental Combat Team 2 assault. Seabees were embedded with both Regimental Combat teams to provide road clearance for seven miles of quick reaction force and medevac routes, harden buildings in Fallujah to be used as tactical operation centers, and provide power for communications, command and control.
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Fallujah, Iraq (May 20, 2006) – Seabees pour concrete on a road repair project in Fallujah, Iraq. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four Zero (NMCB-40) is providing support to Multi-National Coalition Forces throughout Iraq. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class John P. Curtis (RELEASED)
Throughout the main battle which had subsided by 16 November, Seabees expanded shelter to cover the wounded awaiting triage at Bravo Surgical, and restored large pumps to de-flood inundated portions of Fallujah that sat below the water level of the Euphrates River. Pump stations and generators that were damaged by shelling during the preparation of the battle space were repaired and augmented by portable pumps to remove over 60 million gallons of water, enabling the Marines to clear the last remaining pockets of insurgents hiding within the flooded areas. We also constructed biometric checkpoints to facilitate civilians to return to the city.
NMCB 23 arrived in theater and joined TFE on 27 September. We could not have supported the Second Battle of Fallujah nor sustained our repeated OIF/OEF deployments without the full support of our Reserve Force. The unit performed magnificently during the entire deployment. UCCM Chris Cronin (ret), Operations Chief for NMCB 23 reflects, “Members of NMCB 4 and NMCB 23 became one family, there was no distinction between the units. They overcame whatever kinetic challenge came before them through the fighting spirit of the Seabee family.”
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Fallujah, Iraq (Nov. 17, 2004) – Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Aaron Wolken mans a turret mounted M-240B machine gun atop a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to provide security while Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four (NMCB-4) clear debris from the streets of Fallujah, Iraq. NMCB-4 is homeported in Port Hueneme, California and is currently deployed in support of Operation Al Fajr (New Dawn). Operation Al Fajr is an offensive operation to eradicate enemy forces within the city of Fallujah in support of continuing security and stabilization operations in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Philip Forrest (RELEASED)
The Second Battle of Fallujah was the bloodiest battle the Marines fought since Vietnam. Coalition Forces suffered over 700 casualties, including over 100 killed in action. Insurgent casualties exceeded 1200 killed, with over 1500 prisoners taken and held in the prisons built by TFE. After the battle, Seabees constructed mortuaries and employed their equipment to dig graves for the enemy dead. Unlike the Blackwater contractors, the enemy were respectfully buried by the Marines and Soldiers they had fought in battle; with a proper Islamic prayer service and burial rights. Chaplain Rhoads, current chaplain of Naval Construction Group 1 and then NMCB 4 chaplain reflects, “War can do terrible things to the soul of a warrior. The actions and events, sights, sounds, tastes, and smells can conspire together to strip away one’s humanity if left to run their natural course. But by caring for the dead whether friend or foe, we leave open a spiritual door to comfort, healing and eventually peace.”
The Greeks define four types of love. Of the four types, philia love is referred to as the brotherly/sisterly love and bond between close friends that share suffering and sacrifice. There was no shortage of suffering and sacrifice during that deployment as six awards with valor, 21 combat action ribbons, and eight purple hearts were awarded to our teammates that built and fought. While the repressed memory of our time in Fallujah becomes more clouded as years pass, the philia love and respect we have for one another continues to grow in endearment. That same love extends to our immediate families who shared the bond of sacrifice. UCCM Jamie Rainwater (ret) reflects, “I was the command duty officer during the rocket attack on 4 September and during so many other harrowing days and nights throughout this battle and many others. The only way we stayed sane was relying on each other and finding a little bit of humor where we could. I love and miss the camaraderie and so many of my teammates. Like them, I try to find healing through my faith, and the memories of witnessing Seabees rise to their best to win despite adversity. Our times together changed my life.”
Master Chief Constructionman Martin Yingling, Chief Equipment Operator Darion Williams and Steelworker 3rd Class Justin Sasser stand at attention wearing Purple Hearts presented to them by Admiral Michael Loose for wounds sustained by indirect fire while working in Camp Fallujah, Iraq. Yingling, Williams and Sasser were part of a detachment assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 16 November 2004.
The Second Battle of Fallujah was one battle among many battles that our Seabees supported in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past two decades. The 700+ direct physical casualties/injuries noted above are a very small subset of the indirect physical body wear/tear, spiritual, and emotional injuries sustained by our community during the many combat deployments. Kurgan reflects, “During my major command opportunities, it was daily apparent to me of the burden our collective community carried out of shear patriotism and dedication to the Country and especially each other. Most of us have tried to forget those days, but our individual pains do not allow it and our personal emotional triggers ensure the collective sacrifice is not forgotten. The adversity of those experiences challenged us to grow in virtue and change to become better. I pray to God each day for healing and peace for our Seabees and their families.”
As we observed the world events that have occurred in the Middle East this past October, we are reminded of the quote from Mark Twain, “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” May freedom always prevail over tyranny by those willing to sacrifice and demonstrate the highest form of philia love of neighbor, God, and Country…and may we always provide a respectful burial for those that stand in the way.
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Camp Fallujah, Iraq (Feb. 1, 2005) Ð U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to the I Marine Expeditionary Force Engineer group (I MEG) display their teamÕs colors for the upcoming National Football League Super Bowl XXXIX between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. I MEG Seabees are providing engineering and construction support to U.S. Marines and coalition forces in Iraq. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom (RELEASED)
By 1944, Seabees had dropped the use of the diamond-shaped specialty mark from the cuff of their dress uniforms. The first uniform patch with a Seabee insignia was a multi-colored design 2.5” in diameter. The multi-colored patch had a medium blue background with the adopted Seabee insignia embroidered at the center, the text “SEABEES” embroidered in white under the logo, and a yellow hawser rope border, similar in both size and placement to U.S. Army unit patches used on their uniforms.
The patch is first found on the junior enlisted dress blue and dress white jumpers, with the earliest known date in the US Navy Seabee Museum collection of 1943. The Chief Petty Officer uniform also adopted the Seabee insignia patch on all the working and dress jackets – the white, blue, gray and khaki versions. It was worn on Seabee uniforms until the creation of the Department of Defense in 1949. At that time, the Naval Construction Force became a permanent part of the U.S. Navy and uniforms fell in line with the 1947 U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations.
Both of these uniforms have left shoulder Seabee insignia patches and were worn by Seabees at the end of WWII when they were discharged and heading home. The left uniform is a junior enlisted blue jumper, while the right uniform is the dress blue jacket of a Carpenter’s Mate Chief Petty Officer.
The third phase of the Solomon campaign revolved around US efforts to drive the Japanese from Bougainville. The assault, on October 27, 1943, was made by New Zealand forces, who were accompanied by a detachment from the 87th Naval Construction Battalion.
Sizeable detachments of Seabees stormed ashore at Bougainville Island with the Marine assault troops distinguished themselves by the skill and valor with which they were known. As the invasion forces approached the enemy beaches, the Seabees manned machine guns on Higgins boats, tank lighters, and landing craft. Daredevil builders leaped ashore from the first boats to nudge into the sand and methodically unload fuel, ammunition, rations, and packs with heavy fighting broke out all about them on the beaches. The Japanese were driven back into the jungle as the Seabees manned beach defenses with the Marines.
More than 100 Seabee officers and men who landed in the first wave were credited with additional acts of bravery performed with complete disregard for their personal safety.
On November 1, the 25th, 53rd, 71st, and 75th Naval Construction Battalions landed with the Third Marine Division at Empress Augusta Bay. The first task was to build airfields: a fighter strip at Torokina and a bomber strip and a fighter strip at Piva. Much of the construction plan was carried out under fire, but by early December the Torokina strip was complete and work had begun on the Piva field. By early January 1944, both bomber and fighter strips at Piva were in operation.
Occupation of Bougainville never extended beyond a small area in the vicinity of Torokina, and until V-J Day, Japanese troops in large numbers were present on the island. From the newly won bases, however, the enemy strongholds were attacked incessantly until their effectiveness was reduced to the vanishing point. Bougainville played a key part in the island hopping campaign across the Pacific and was critical in ejecting the Japanese from positions of advantage in New Guinea and in the Central Pacific.
Dedicated to the Seabees who gave their lives while engaged in carrying the banner of liberty and freedom in its advance to victory over the islands of the Pacific.
Beginning in 1964 the United States military buildup in South Vietnam interrupted the normal peacetime deployment pattern of the Naval Construction Force. The Seabees were slated to play an important and historic role in the growing Southeast Asian conflict. By autumn of 1968, when Vietnamese requirements reached their peak, world-wide Seabee strength had grown to more than 26,000 men, serving in 21 full-strength Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, 2 Construction Battalion Maintenance Units, and 2 Amphibious Construction Battalions.
From 1965 until 1969 the Seabee commitment in Southeast Asia rapidly increased, necessitating first the transfer of Atlantic Fleet battalions to the Pacific through a change of homeport, then the deployment to Vietnam of Atlantic Fleet battalions, and later, the establishment of nine additional battalions. This effort culminated in the recall to active duty of two reserve battalions in May 1968, bringing to 21 the number of battalions rotating to Vietnam at one time or another. In addition, there were two Amphibious Construction Battalions lending support to the Vietnam effort. During the same time period, to meet a requirement for Seabees to support such installations as the Naval Support Activities at DaNang and Saigon, the two Construction Battalion Maintenance Units, the two deployed Naval Construction Regiments, and the deployed Third Naval Construction Brigade rapidly increased their size.
Aerial view of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3’s camp on Da Nang (Đà Nẵng), Vietnam.Seabees from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 9 pour cement for a foundation on Da Nang (Đà Nẵng), Vietnam.
In 1965 the Seabee portion of the Vietnam Construction Program was concentrated at three northern coastal points, the ports of DaNang, Chu Lai, and Phu Bai. The first six construction battalions sent to Vietnam were deployed to these three points and, by 1966, as the construction program gathered momentum, eight battalions were at work simultaneously in the I Corps Area
At DaNang the Seabees built three badly needed cantonments. Temporary facilities which included strong-back tents, mess halls, shops, sheds, bathroom facilities, and a water distribution system were the first to be completed. In addition, Seabees repaired the important DaNang River Bridge, rendered technical aid to South Vietnamese troops who were building ramps for tank landing ships and small boats, and constructed warehouses and petroleum storage tanks. Fortification of the cantonments was also essential because of frequent enemy attacks. Despite Seabee-built machine gun positions and bunkers for perimeter defense, one such attack succeeded in destroying the newly built advance base hospital, killing two Seabees and wounding over ninety. In true Seabee tradition, the men rapidly rebuilt the entire hospital complex. Over the eight years Seabees deployed to DaNang, seventeen gave the ultimate sacrifice to help the people of Vietnam and proving that the Seabees really are “builders for peace.”
Destruction endured to Naval Quonset huts on Da Nang (Đà Nẵng), Vietnam after a Viet Nam Cong San attack on 28 October, 1965.
Just two months into an Iraq deployment, Construction Electrician 2nd Class Charles V. “Chuck” Komppa, a Navy Reservist with the Fort Lewis, WA- based Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 18, was killed in action 25 October 2006 while serving in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province. Komppa was serving with the battalion’s Detachment 0618, based out of Billings, MT. It was the 35-year-old’ s first deployment to Iraq. Seabees and other U.S. service members remembered on 28 October 2006, during a memorial service at the base chapel in Al Asad, Iraq.
As an electrician for the Navy, Komppa spent his days conducting electrical assessments and repair projects throughout western Al Anbar Province. At the time of his death, he was about to begin an electrical assessment in Haditha, Iraq, a Euphrates River city northwest of Baghdad. Komppa served five years active duty in the Navy as a machinist’s mate and was discharged in 1995. He rejoined the Navy as a Reservist after September 11, 2001, but this time as a construction electrician.
Very early in WWII, the Seabee insignia we know today was created by Frank Iafrate to represent the 1st Naval Construction Battalion and eventually all Seabees. Some of the first Seabee units were attached to the Marines. Thy received USMC utility uniforms known as HBTs with the USMC insignia stenciled on the left pocket and USMC over the pocket. Some examples have the user’s name stenciled across the upper back. But some of these WWII Seabee battalions seem to have wanted more.
The first examples of Seabees using their new “Bee” insignia on a utility uniform started turning up on Marine HBT utilities. The US Navy Seabee Museum has three examples on the Seabee insignia on WWII utility uniforms or coats. The first examples found were stenciled in black ink on the USMC P-1941 utility coat made of Herringbone Twill (HBT), seemingly influenced by the traditions of the Marines.
This USMC P-1941 utility coat is the first example in the Collection to show the Seabee insignia on a working uniform. A member of the 121st Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) wore it. As part of the 4th Marine Division, the 121st were issued HBT utilities. Battalion members asserted their distinct identity by stenciling their Seabee insignia on the back of the coat with the owner’s name. The MCB 3 was added when the owner was recalled to active duty as a reservist during the Korean Era.
The first utility coat with the Seabee insignia on the left breast is found on this USMC P-1941 utility coat, worn by a Seabee who served with Construction Battalion Detachment 1041, the 25th Special and the 27th Special. Though slightly faded from wear and use, the stencil is distinct with its placement over the left breast pocket close to the shoulder.
This N-1 Deck Coat is currently on exhibit and was worn by a member of 106th NCB. The battalion participated in the invasions and build up of Iwo Jima and Ie Shima, Okinawa. On the back of the coat is the first example of a multi-colored Seabee insignia on something other than a dress uniform. It was created sometime between 1944 and early 1945. The owner also wore the jacket in Japan during the early Cold War when he was recalled to active duty
For more information on the creation of the Seabee insignia:
While all Seabees are familiar with the Seabee insignia currently on their uniform, lesser known is the device used by Construction Battalions attached to the United States Marine Corps (USMC). In the earliest days of WWII, at least 7 battalions were directly attached to a Marine Regiment or Division chain of command. Originally, these Seabees were required to wear the appropriate USMC uniform in the same manner as Storekeepers, Supply Corps, Corpsmen and Medical Corps. Seeing themselves as a new “corps,” the first Seabees began developing their own identity to separate themselves as distinct from the USMC. Seabees chose the bare-chested man carrying both a rifle and a sledgehammer featured on the first US Navy World War II recruiting poster targeting construction workers.
In 1942, Seabees attached to the Marines wore a metal cap badge with the bare-chested man on their USMC garrison caps rather than the USMC globe. The US Navy Seabee Museum has several examples of the cap badge in either bronze or brass. There is no known evidence that the cap badge was an authorized device.
In addition, Seabees who were issued the USMC P1941 Herringbone Twill (HBT) utility uniform in beginning in 1942 replaced the USMC and globe on on the left chest pocket with the bare-chested man. There is one example of this uniform in the museum’s collection. While the bare-chested man went on to become a prominent feature of numerous WWII battalion plaques, evidence suggests that the WWII Seabee battalions attached to Marine Regiments and Divisions used this device first.
For more information on the Seabee/USMC relationship and Seabee units attached to the Marines:
U.S. Navy Seabee Museum 