Seabee Insignia on Uniforms: Early WWII

The United States Naval Construction Force has had the distinct privilege of wearing its insignia on at least one type of official US Navy uniform almost every year since its inception in 1941. This is the first in a series of blogs tracing the history of the Seabee insignia on uniforms that will be available the 15th of each month.

When the Seabees were established as reserve units in December of 1941, Rear Admiral Ben Moreell wanted clarification on how the newly created construction battalions would be recognized within the US Navy. Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) quickly added a series of specialty marks in early WWII, one of which was the use of “CB” to denote construction battalions.

The Blue Jacket Manual 1943

11th Edition;

pages 198-199

This first mark was worn at the left sleeve cuff on both the winter and summer dress uniforms of enlisted personnel as well as the CPO khaki and gray uniform. The letters were block-style throughout their use.

The first Seabee insignia were simple block letters sewn to Enlisted dress blue uniforms. The surrounding diamond was added later as per the 1943 Blue Jacket manual.

There were four colors of specialty marks. On the winter dress blues, the mark was white on black. On the summer whites and khaki uniforms, the mark was black with the appropriate background. When the gray uniform worn by Chief Petty Officers was issued, it also had a black specialty mark. These specialty marks were most common between 1942 and 1943, but still seen on Seabee uniforms through 1947.

This version of the specialty mark was used on the khaki uniform of a Seabee Chief Petty Officer.

Seabees had this version of the specialty mark on their white jumpers by the spring of 1942.

#LestWeForget – Munda, New Georgia

View of the airstrip at Munda, Solomon Islands.

Naval construction forces participated in the assault of New Georgia at three different points. The 47^th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) landed at Segi Point at the extreme southeast end of the island, and immediately set to work constructing an air strip. The 20^th Naval Construction Battalion, accompanying Marine assault forces, landed at Viru Harbor on the island’s southern coast, for the purpose of building a PT-boat base.

The New Georgia campaign, the second phase of the campaign for the Solomon, went much faster than did the struggle for Guadalcanal. On August 5, Munda airfield was captured, almost exactly a year after the Marines’ first Solomon landing. Speedy rehabilitation of the Munda field by the Seabees and Army engineers permitted US air forces to neutralize effectively the enemy’s remaining New Georgia position at Bairoko Harbor and that on Kolombangara Island. Participating in the landings was the 58^th  and 73^rd Naval Construction Battalions, charged with building a small air and naval base to serve as one more step up the Solomon chain.

Trying to get a permanent camp at Munda was difficult. The original spot picked out in “Death Valley” got too hot. The Japanese from Banga Island started shelling the Seabees with 3-inch guns. Smoke from the galley drew their fire. On August 15^, 1943, they cut loose. They missed the galley and hit the sick bay killing three men in the first shelling and wounded several others in the second. By the time the third hit everyone except those evacuating the wounded were in foxholes. The injured were immediately taken to Acorn 8 sick bay and orders were given to abandon camp.

Before the month was out the New Georgia campaign was considered closed; the Japanese retired farther northward to Bougainville, the largest island of the Solomon chain.

Fair Winds and Following Seas, Seabees…

S1c John Rosek

SF2c James Sparks

PhM1c Thomas Williams