European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I a. Sep in a Seabee moves tons of Sand to Cut Road from beachhead to Supply dump. A a piss we i Yew. Kab Road work Manchon Orea in fall of 195 Seo fees con do anything anytime anywhere putting together 1 Tou Pont pins in Ufa portable pier for Landing operation off California. Matter where you went they had it reputation. For in most cases they had already been there ahead of  often went Ashor unnoticed did their work and quietly moved out so thing would be ready or at least if what Betl when you arrived. I t time and time again they left this Mark and message which greeted Many a"1 Marine who thought he was storming Vir Gin shores. But All was not quiet and peaceful. They unloaded supplies on beachhead under enemy fire bulldozed Jungles at night in tropical downpours built airstrips on the Polar icecaps and when things got hot they wielded a a of Bane or Dozer arid  the i veiny uts of the picture. " these were the Seabee the can 0tf-Vmen of world War ii who celebrate their 20th anniversary today. They were Hearty lot. The Story of their deeds and. Accomplishments has been told and retold again and again. But it s a Story that never grows old and one Well Worth  Al started Back in world War i when the Navy organized its first Public work regiment at the great lakes naval train ing station. That was the very beginning. Thing Haven to changed much especially when it comes to Esprit de corps handwork and accomplishing the impossible. Part of that first regiment did construe Tion work in France. Half of the party sent overseas to build and operate the air station at poll Lac was from the first regi ment As was the Railroad party that assembled and operated the trains for the 14-Inch naval guns that did Yeoman duty on the Battle 1 Ines in. France. When world War i ended the regiment was disbanded and All but forgotten. How Ever the thought that construction battalions could be of great value to the Navy persisted in the minds of a few engineering officers whose responsibility a to design build and maintain what the Navy need ashore. These officers knew that men work ing under combat conditions and at isolate places need military training and discipline both for their own Protection an for the fulfilment of their Mission. The japanese attack on Wake Island atthe outbreak of world War ii proved this. The civilian construction workers awake not Only lacked weapons but had they been captured As fighting men the could have been shot As guerrillas. So the Navy authorized the establish ment of naval construction regiments con sisting of three battalions. Officers of the civil Engineer corps were put in charge of the Seabee St All of whom were and still Are enlisted  i could he of the to Hadiye hive out teamed blvd Tav not i on far. 12 Nau to i. The stars and strips