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With Compassion for others,
Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held
a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his
side as he worked. |
Conceived by Admiral Ben Morell, The Seabees were established in 1942 at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. By the summer of that year, the first Seabee units were engaged in combat. From the construction and defense of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal to the Normandy Invasion, the CAN DO Seabees participated in every major amphibious assault in World War II. More than 325,000 men served with the Seabees in World War II, fighting and building in more than 400 locations before the war’s end.
In Korea, as in World War II, the CAN DO spirit shone again. Landing at Inchon, Seabees provided pontoon causeways within hours of the initial assault. Following Korea, the Seabees embarked on the largest earth-moving project in Seabee history by building the Naval Air Station at Cubi Point, Philippines.
The Seabees numbered 10,000 men in May of 1965 when the first battalions went across the beach at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. During the peak of the conflict, Seabee strength reached 25,000 men. The types of jobs ranged from the construction of logistical complexes in DaNang and Chu Lai to Special Forces camps in remote regions. It was at Dong Xoai that Petty Officer Marvin Shields was awarded the Seabee’s first and only Medal of Honor.
Today the Seabees perform peacetime construction and train to be ready when called upon again. Seabees deploy throughout the world in Europe, the Caribbean, Japan, and Guam. Major Seabee training, logistic, and homeport facilities are located in Port Hueneme, California, and Gulfport, Mississippi. Eight active Naval Mobile Construction Battalions home-ported at these facilities. In addition, there are also two active duty Amphibious Constructions Battalions and two Underwater Construction Teams. The Seabee reserves are organized into 12 battalions, two support units, and four regiments located throughout the United States.
Hurricane recovery in Charleston, South Carolina and Puerto Rico and the earthquake recovery in San Francisco in 1989 and Hurricane Andrew recovery in 1992 demonstrated the disaster recovery skills in the Seabee repertoire. During Operation Desert Shield / Storm, Seabees built advanced bases, constructed air fields with hardstands for Marine aircraft, provided petroleum and water facilities and accompanied the Marines into Kuwait. Active and reserve battalions served in country and in other support locations worldwide. Desert Shield / Storm, the largest recall of Reserve Seabees since the Vietnam Conflict, emphasized the success of the One Navy concept. Seabees continue to serve the nation with their participation in Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti and in refugee support in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and, most recently, recovery from Hurricane Bonnie in Honduras.
Elements of the Naval Construction Force have been involved in recovery efforts after the embassy bombings in Africa and the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. Navy Seabees are currently in Afghanistan, side by side with the US Marines, constructing advanced base and support facilities.