The Seabees in The Global War

Convinced that war was approaching, the United States Navy realized that fighting halfway around the world would present new challenges. In 1940, the Navy began a program that consisted of using civilian contractors to build bases on Pacific island. The use of civilian labor had to come to a stop when the United States officially entered the war because under international law civilians were not permitted to resist attack from enemies. If those civilians were to resist enemy attack they could be executed as guerrillas.

Rear Admiral Ben Moreell had an idea on December 28, 1941, that idea caused him to request authority to create and man a unique organization that would be able to support the Navy and Marines in remote locations and also have the ability to defend themselves if they were ever attacked. One week later, his request was granted and he formed the original Seabee Battalions in Davisville, Rhode Island at a new Naval base. Less than two weeks later the first Naval construction unit, manned with 296 men, deployed to Bora Bora.

The Navy built their Battalions with experienced, highly skilled craftsmen like electricians, carpenters, plumbers, equipment operators and nearly any construction or building trade was welcome in the Seabees. Those units were put to work in July of 1942 to work on Midway Island. They were working on the new airstrip on Sand Island as well as starting to do the massive damage cleanup that was a result of the Japanese bombing. During World War II, the Naval Construction Battalion enlisted estimated amount 325,000 men to serve as a Seabee. Those men built using 60 different skilled trades and fought in over 400 locations before the war was even over. The Seabees did more than just support the Marines, they aided numerous of Vietnamese people by digging wells, paving roads that gave them access to ranches in addition to markets. The Seabees also provided medical treatment to a large number of Vietnamese people, as well as build their villages up by building schools, hospitals, utility systems (such as power), and more. The Seabees proved that they were really just “builders for peace” by sharing their knowledge with the Vietnamese people.

The Seabees continued to play a vital role in the Global War on Terrorism. The Seabees repaired the runway facilities at Camp Rhino and Kandahar to support the Operation Enduring Freedom. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, twenty-six Seabee units were deployed to Kuwait. During that deployment sixteen Seabees were killed. During that deployment the Seabees building multiple aircraft parking aprons, storage areas and more that played a vital role in aiding coalition forces.

Today, the Seabees are mainly manned by reservists, the other third of Seabees are active duty. The active duty members make up six active Battalions, two Amphibious Construction Battalions (ACB’s) and two Underwater Construction Teams (UCT’s). Their primary mission is to continue providing construction in the war zone. Seabees are always ready to deploy on short notice to anywhere that they are needed. During their deployments, they work hard from sun up to sun down and even through the night. Worldwide humanitarian missions are also manned by Seabees, they aid the United States in earthquake and hurricane recovery efforts. Seabees will always have the true spirit, that spirit is their “Can Do” attitude. That spirit is the belief that represents all Seabees past, present and future.