Editing Seabee (section)

===African American Service: the Seabee stevedores===
[[File:"Group of CBs acting as stretcher bearers for the 7th Marines. Peleliu.", 09-1944 - NARA - 532537.jpg|thumb|"17th Special" Seabees with the 7th Marines on Peleliu made national news in an official U.S. Navy press release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_peleliu|title=Antill, Peter (2003), Peleliu, battle for (Operation Stalemate II) – The Pacific War's Forgotten Battle, September–November 1944, "Hitting the Beach 3rd paragraph"|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> NARA-532537]]
[[File:Lt Cmdr. Edward Swain Hope CEC.jpg|thumb|[[MIT]] grad Lt Cmdr. [[Edward S. Hope]] CEC was the most senior African American officer in the United States Navy during WWII.]]
In February 1942 [[Chief of Naval Operations|CNO]] Admiral [[Harold Rainsford Stark]] recommended African Americans for ratings in the construction trades. In April the Navy announced it would enlist African Americans in the Seabees. Even so, there were just two CBs that were "[[colored]]" units, the 34th and 80th.<ref name="AACB"/> Both had white Southern officers and black enlisted. Both battalions experienced problems with that arrangement that led to the replacement of the officers. The men of the 34th went on a hunger strike which made national news. The Commander of the 80th had 19 enlisted dishonorably discharged for sedition. The [[NAACP]] and [[Thurgood Marshall]] got 14 of those reversed.

In early 1943 the Navy commissioned its first African American officers.<ref name="Hope">{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/seabee/explore/civil-engineer-corps-history/lcdr-edward-s--hope.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507002604/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/seabee/explore/civil-engineer-corps-history/lcdr-edward-s--hope.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 May 2017|title=LCDR Edward S. Hope|website=NHHC|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The first to enter the Seabees officer corps was [[MIT]] graduate [[Edward S. Hope]].<ref name="Hope"/> In May 1943 he completed CEC training at Camp Endicott and was posted as the Public Works officer at Manana barracks Hawaii Territory.<ref name="Hope"/> That same year, the Navy drew up a proposal to raise the number of colored CBs to 5 and require that all non-rated men in the next 24 CBs be colored. The proposal was approved, but not acted on.

The lack of stevedores in combat zones was a huge issue for the Navy. Authorization for the formation of cargo handling CBs or "Special CBs" happened mid-September 1942.<ref name="CBHistory">[http://seabeemagazine.navylive.dod live.mil/326-2/ This week in Seabee History, Sept 17–23, Seabee Online Magazine, NAVFAC Engineering Command, Wash. Navy Yard, DC.]{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> By wars end 41 Special CBs had been commissioned of which 15 were "colored". Neither the Navy or NCF used that label, the units were simply segregated in the men assigned to them. The Special CBs were the first fully integrated units in the U.S. Navy.<ref name="AACB">{{Cite web|url=https://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/03/06/building-for-a-nation-and-equality-african-american-seabees-in-world-war-ii/|title=Building for a Nation and Equality: African American Seabees in World War II|first=Seabee|last=Magazine|access-date=7 August 2019|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510055729/https://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/03/06/building-for-a-nation-and-equality-african-american-seabees-in-world-war-ii/|url-status=dead}}</ref> V-J Day brought the decommissioning of all of them. The Special CBs were forerunners of today's [[Navy Cargo Handling Battalion]]s of the [[Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (United States)]]. The arrival of 15 African American Special CBs in Pearl Harbor made segregation an issue for the [[14th Naval District]].<ref name="CCB">[https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/files/2018/11/Quonset-Hut-33-Naval-Aviation.pdf Historical Content Significance, Naval Aviation Supply Depot Hut 33 at Waiawa Gulch, Peral City, U.S. Dept of Interior, Nat. Park Service, p. 10 ]</ref> For a protracted period the men lived in tents, but the disparity of treatment was obvious even to the Navy.<ref name="CCB"/> The 14th Naval District Command felt they deserved proper shelter with at least separate but equal barracks.<ref name="CCB"/> Manana Barracks and Waiawa Gulch became the United States' largest "colored" installation with over 4,000 Seabee stevedores barracked there.<ref name="CCB"/> It was the site of racial strife to the point that the camp was fenced in and placed under armed guard.<ref name="CCB"/> The Seabees were trucked to and from the docks in cattle trucks.<ref name="CCB"/> Two naval supply depots were located at Waiawa Gulch. At wars end 12,500 African Americans would serve in the Construction Battalions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/03/04/building-for-a-nation-and-for-equality-african-american-seabees-in-world-war-ii/#:~:text=Over%2012%2C500%20African%20Americans%20served,a%20group%20largely%20forgotten%20today|title=Building for a Nation and for Equality: African American Seabees in WWII, U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage Command, Dr. Frank A. Blazich Jr., March 4, 2014|accessdate=May 11, 2022|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501025525/https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/03/04/building-for-a-nation-and-for-equality-african-american-seabees-in-world-war-ii/#:~:text=Over%2012%2C500%20African%20Americans%20served,a%20group%20largely%20forgotten%20today|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 17th Special CB was one of the segregated Specials and was at [[Battle of Peleliu|Peleliu]] in September 1944. The unit is not listed in the USMC order of battle at [[Battle of Peleliu|Peleliu]] despite being attached to the 1st Marine Pioneers. On D-day, the [[7th Marines]] had a situation where they did not have the men to man the [[front line|lines]] and [[Medical evacuation|get the wounded to safety]]. Coming to their aid were the 2 companies of the 16th Marine Field Depot (segregated) and the 17th Special CB. The Japanese mounted a [[Banzai charge|banzai]] [[counter-attack]] at 0200 hours that night. By the time it was over, nearly the entire 17th had volunteered to carry [[ammunition]] to the [[front lines]] on the [[stretchers]] they brought the wounded back on. They filled the line where the wounded had been, manned [[37 mm gun M3|37mm guns]] that had lost crews and volunteered for anything the Marines needed. The 17th remained with the 7th Marines until the [[Flanking maneuver|right flank]] had been secured D+3.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/specials-cruisebooks/17%20Special.pdf |title=17th Special NCB cruisebook |website=NHHC |pages=29, 30 |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1431 |title=Seabees of 17th Special Naval Construction Battalion wait to assist wounded of 7th Marines |website=World War II Database |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815100834/http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1431 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1429 |title=African-American Marines of 16th Field Depot Rest on Peleliu |website=World War II Database |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=15 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315222635/http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1429 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicperiodicals.princeton.edu/historic/cgi-bin/historic?a=d&d=MarineCorpsChevron19441202-01.2.34&e=-------en-20--1--txt-IN-----|title=Marine Corps Chevron 2 December 1944 — Historical Periodicals|website=historicperiodicals.princeton.edu|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>Peleliu, 33rd Seabee Cruise-book, p.23, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, CA. 2024 [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/ncb-cruisebooks/33rd%20NCB%2C%201943-1945.pdf]</ref> There is nothing comparable in USMC history. According to the Military History Encyclopedia on the Web, "were it not for the Black Marine shore party---the (banzai) on the 7th Marines would not have been repulsed".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_peleliu.html|title=Peleliu, battle for (Operation Stalemate II) - The Pacific War's Forgotten Battle, September-November 1944|website=www.historyofwar.org|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref>
* On Peleliu, shore party detachments from the 33rd and 73rd CBs received Presidential Unit Citations as did the primary shore party (1st Marine Pioneers).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/navy-mc-awards-manual-rev1953/pt2-unit-awards.html|title=Pt. 2 - Unit Awards|website=NHHC|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The Commander of the 17th Special CB received the same commendatory letter as the Company Commanders of the 7th Marine Ammunition Co. and the 11th Marine Depot Co. Before the battle was even over, [[William H. Rupertus|Maj. Gen. Rupertus, USMC]] wrote to each: {{blockquote|text="The [[Negro|negro race]] can well be proud of the work performed [by the 11th Marine Depot Co./ 7th Marine Ammunition Co./ 17th Special CB]. The wholehearted co-operation and untiring efforts which demonstrated in every respect that they appreciated the privilege of wearing a Marine uniform and serving with the marines in combat. Please convey to your command these sentiments and inform them that in the eyes of the entire division they have earned a 'well done'."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/sec10.htm|title=The Right to Fight: African-American Marines in World War II (Peleliu and Iwo Jima)|website=www.nps.gov|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arI0HSFXwLkC&dq=commendation+letter+16th+Marine+Field+Depot+on+Peleliu&pg=PA480|title=African Americans at War: An Encyclopedia|first=Jonathan|last=Sutherland|date=May 11, 2004|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781576077467 |accessdate=May 11, 2022|via=Google Books}}</ref> The Department of the Navy made an official press release 28 November 1944 of the 17th CB's copy of this letter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/specials-cruisebooks/17%20Special.pdf |title=17th Special NCB cruisebook |website=NHHC |page=29 |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref>}}
* African American Seabees<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/03/04/building-for-a-nation-and-for-equality-african-american-seabees-in-world-war-ii/|title=The Sextant, Building for a Nation and for Equality: African American Seabees in World War II – 4 March 2014, Dr. Frank A. Blazich Jr., U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, NHHC|accessdate=May 11, 2022|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035342/http://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/03/04/building-for-a-nation-and-for-equality-african-american-seabees-in-world-war-ii/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seabeemuseum.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/breaking-down-barriers-the-34th-naval-construction-battalion/|title=Breaking Down Barriers: The 34th Naval Construction Battalion|date=February 7, 2018|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref>