Editing Seabee (section)

===Marine Corps===
USMC historian Gordon L. Rottman wrote "that one of the biggest contributions the Navy made to the Marine Corps during WWII was the creation of the Seabees".<ref>{{cite book |title=USMC WWII Order of Battle: Ground & Air units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945 |first=Gordon L. |last=Rottman |location=Westport, CT |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2002 |page=31}}</ref> In exchange, the Corps would be influential upon the CB organization and its history. After the experience of [[Battle of Guadalcanal|Guadalcanal]] the [[United States Department of War|Department of War]] decided that the Marines and Seabees would make all subsequent landings together.<ref name="WHNW">{{Cite web|url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2020/01/04/the-u-s-navys-seabees-bulldozing-a-road-to-victory/|title=The U.S. Navy's Seabees: Bulldozing a Road to Victory|date=January 4, 2020|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> That arrangement led to numerous Seabee claims that they had landed first, even leaving signs on the beach asking the Marines "What took you so long?"<ref name="WHNW"/> The Seabees in the UDTs made an effort of this<ref name="WHNW"/> of which their mates in the CBs approved.

When the first three CBs were formed the Seabees did not have a base of their own. Upon leaving [[Recruit training|boot]] the recruits were sent to [[National Youth Administration]] camps in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia to receive military training from the Marine Corps.<ref name="Bases.Ch6"/>{{rp|138}} The Marine Corps listed CBs on their [[Table of organization]]: "D-Series Division" for 1942,<ref>Rottman (2002), Fig. 4.2.</ref> "E-Series Division" for 1943,<ref>Rottman (2002), Fig. 4.3.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2KHCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT55|title=US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1943–44|first=Gordon L.|last=Rottman|date=February 20, 2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9781472801579 |accessdate=May 11, 2022|via=Google Books}}</ref> and "Amphibious Corps" for 1944–45.<ref>Rottman (2002) Fig. 4.2.1</ref>

When CBs were created the Marine Corps wanted one for each of the three Marine Divisions, but were told no because of war priorities. Even so, early Seabee units were connected with Marine Corps ops. The 1st Naval Construction Detachment (Bobcats)<ref name="Bases Op30 p 415"/> together with and A Co CB 3 was transferred to the Marines and redesignated 3rd Battalion [[22nd Marines]].<ref name="history.navy.mil">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Online%20Reading%20Room/Seabee%20FAQs/SeaBees%20and%20the%20US%20Marine%20Corps%20II.pdf |title=The Beginning of Seabees and the US Marine Corps: We Remember |website=Seabee Museum Archives |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> The Bobcats had deployed without receiving advanced military training. The 22nd Marines took care of that.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-24.html|title=HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 24]|website=www.ibiblio.org|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The 4th Construction Detachment was attached to the 5th Marine Defense Battalion for two years.<ref name="Seabee Unit Histories"/>

By autumn, the 18th, 19th and 25th CBs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://carol_fus.tripod.com/navy_hero_25th_ncb.html |first=John J. |last=Ratomski |title=The 25th NCB |website=WWII Stories in Their Own Words |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> had been transferred to the Corps as combat engineers.<ref name=Rottman>Rottman (2002), pp. 218–220.</ref> Each was attached to a composite engineer regiment,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCwVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA13|title=Battle Orders: USMC Pacific Theater of Operations 1943–44 |first=Gordon L. |last=Rottman |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2004 |page=13 |isbn=9781472802217 }}</ref> redesignated as 3rd Battalion:<ref name=Rottman /> [[17th Marine Regiment]], [[18th Marine Regiment]], [[19th Marine Regiment]], and [[20th Marine Regiment]]. The 18th and 19th CBs each claim to have been the first CBs authorized to wear standard USMC issue.<ref name="USMC-CB">{{Cite web|url=http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=1196923|title=Photo of: Marine with early Seabee insignia WWII, U.S. Militaria Forum|accessdate=May 11, 2022|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403215843/http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=1196923|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both received their military training and USMC [[duffle bag]] at MTC [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune|New River, NC]]. There is no record of how many CBs received USMC issue. It is known that the 31st, 43rd,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seabee-rvn.com/They-Served-Before-Us-WWII/World-War-II-1/i-47gtcBp/A |title=43rd Seabees Wearing USMC Uniforms – Maui, Hawaii |website=seabee-rvn.com |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> 76th,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/uniform/ww2unifcb.html |title=Navy Seabees in Marine Corps Service Uniform |website=Uniforms of WWII |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> 121st and 133rd CBs received partial or complete issues.<ref name="121stNCB">{{cite web |url=http://carol_fus.tripod.com/navy_hero_121st_ncb.html |first=John J. |last=Ratomski |title=121st NCB |website=WWII Stories in Their Own Words |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> On 15 January 1944 the 142nd CB was commissioned at New River,Camp Lejeune. On 2 February that Battalion arrived at Camp Pendelton for further training, mounting out 19 April.

After Guadalcanal amphibious operations became joint USMC/Seabee pairings. The 6th CB joined the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] after combat had started on Guadalcanal. The 18th CB was sent to join them from [[Fleet Marine Force]] depot Norfolk.<ref name="seabees93.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.seabees93.net/GI%20Naval%20Construction%20Battalions.htm|title=Seabee Battalion List|website=seabees93.net| access-date=18 October 2007}}</ref> Many more would follow. The 6th Special CB was tasked to the 4th Marines Depot in the [[Russell Islands|Russells]].<ref name="Seabee Unit Histories"/> November saw the 14th CB tasked to the 2nd Raider Bn on Guadalcanal. In June, the 24th CB had been tasked to the 9th Marine Defense Bn on [[Rendova]].<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.npshistory.com/publications/wapa/npswapa/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003121-00/sec2.htm/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003121-00/sec2.htm |first=Charles D. |last=Melson |series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series |title=Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons |chapter=The Munda Drive and the Fighting 9th |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |date=2013 |access-date=18 October 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The 33rd and 73rd CBs had dets tasked to the 1st Pioneers as shore party on [[Peleliu]]<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://www.thomas5.com/tribute/Vets10.html |title=Peleliu Shore Party |first=John J.|last=Ratomski |website=Tribute to Michael A. Lazaro and all other Peleliu Veterans |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> as was the 17th Special CB [[colored]]. At Enogi Inlet on [[Munda, Solomon Islands|Munda]], a 47th det was shore party to the 1st and 4th [[Marine Raiders]].<ref name="history.navy.mil"/> The 3rd Marine Div. made the Commander of the 71st CB shore party commander on Bougainville. His 71st had support from the 25th, 53rd, and 75th CBs.<ref name="71USNCB">{{cite book |title=71st U.S. NCB |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVZ2Wq35HQwC&pg=PT103|publisher=Seabee Museum |page=14}}</ref> At [[Cape Torokina]] the 75th had 100 men volunteer to make the assault of the 3rd Marines.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://ww2f.com/threads/seabees.4526/ |title=Seabees! |website=WWII Forums |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> Also at Bougainville, the 53rd provided shore parties to the 2nd Raiders on green beach and the 3rd Raiders on [[Cape Torokina|Puruata Island]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/forumnew/index.php|title=Forums|website=www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The 121st was formed at the CB Training Center of MTC Camp Lejuene as 3rd Bn 20th Marines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.witnesstowar.org/detail_photos/20 |title=WWII Seabees photos |website=Witness to War |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> They would be shore party to the 23rd Marines on Roi-Namur, Saipan, and Tinian.

When the Marine Engineer Regiments were inactivated in 1944, CBs were then tasked to Marine Divisions. For [[Iwo Jima]], the 31st and 133rd were attached to the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. The 133rd was shore party to the [[23rd Marines]].<ref name="4thMarDiv">{{cite web |url=http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4013coll8/id/1191 |title=4th Marine Div. Ops Report, Iwo Jima, 19 Feb. to 16 Mar., 1945 |website=Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library |access-date=18 October 2017}} PDFs 6 and 7, Appendix 1 Annex Dog (Shore Party Log D-Day–D+18)</ref> while the 31st CB was in the 5th Shore Party Regiment. The 31st demolitionsmen attached directly to the Division.<ref>Annex Uncle, 5th Marine Div. Operations Report, April 1945, NARA, College Park, Md.</ref><ref name="5th">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/fifthmarinedivis00chap|title=The Fifth Marine Division in World War II|first=John C.|last=Chapin|date=May 11, 1945|publisher=[Washington?] : Historical Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps|accessdate=May 11, 2022|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The 8th Marine Field Depot was the shore party command eschelon for Iwo Jima. They requested 26 heavy equipment operators and received volunteers from CB 8.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/ncb-cruisebooks/8TH%20NCB%201943-1943.pdf 8th NCB cruise book, 1946, Seabee Museum Archive, Port Hueneme, CA. p. 83/142 ]</ref> Okinawa saw the 58th, 71st, 130th, and 145th CBs detached from the Navy and tasked to the Marine Corps 6th, 2nd, and 1st Marine Divisions respectively.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/UnitListPages/NCB/058%20NCB.pdf 58th CB History file, Seabee Museum Archives webpage, Prot Hueneme, CA., Jan 15, 2015 ]</ref>

From Iwo Jima the 5th Marine Div. returned to [[Camp Tarawa]] to have the 116th CB attached.<ref name="5th"/> When Japan fell the 116th CB was part of the occupation force. [[V-J day]] left thousands of Japanese troops in China and the III Marine Amphibious Corps was sent there to get them home. The 33rd NCR was assigned to III Marine Amphib. Corps for this mission.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cI7rEUDQ6lEC&pg=PA470|title=Building the Navy's Bases in WWII: History of the BuDocks and the CEC 1940–1946 |volume=II |publisher=U.S. GPO |location=Washington, DC |date=1947 |page=470 |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref>

CBs were also tasked individually to the three USMC Amphibious Corps. The 19th CB started out with the [[I Marine Amphibious Corps|I MAC]]<ref name="seabees93.net"/> prior to joining the 17th Marines. The 53rd CB was attached to I MAC as Naval Construction Battalion I M.A.C. When I MAC was redesignated [[III Amphibious Corps]] the battalion became an element of the [[1st Provisional Marine Brigade]].<ref>{{cite book |title=53rd Naval Construction Battalion: the Marine Seabee 1st M.A.C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nkm07Z0YhUsC&pg=PA49|publisher=U.S. Navy Seabee Museum |pages=14 & 106}}</ref> For Guam, III Amphibious Corps had the 2nd Special CB, 25th, and 53rd CBs. The CO 25 CB was shore party commander for the 3rd Marines on beaches Red 1 and Red 2. The 3rd Marines would award 25's shore party 17 bronze stars.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/ncb-cruisebooks/25%20NCB%201942-45.pdf 25th NCB cruisebook, p. 97]</ref> [[V Amphibious Corps]] (VAC) had the 23rd Special and 62nd CBs on Iwo Jima. On Tinian the 6th Construction Brigade was attached to V Amphibious Corps.<ref name="Picssr">{{cite web |url=http://picssr.com/photos/usnavyseabeemuseum/page52?nsid=60248384@N05 |title=USN Seabee Museum Archives |website=Picssr |access-date=18 October 2017 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325065014/http://picssr.com/photos/usnavyseabeemuseum/page52?nsid=60248384@N05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Two sections of CBMU 515 saw combat with the 22nd Marines on Guam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-28.html|title=HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 28]|website=www.ibiblio.org|accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref>
* When the decision was made to construct Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton in 1942, BuDocks issued the main contracts to civilian contractors. However, the base project was so large that some smaller contracts were awarded to the Seabees, one of which was a Quonsent Camp for USMC instruction of Naval Construction Battalions in area 25(Vado del Rio).<ref name="MCBCP"/> Seabees were also involved in the construction of Camp Del Mar in area 21 and erected a temporary construction camp close by while they were assigned.<ref name="MCBCP">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mciwest.marines.mil/Portals/62/Docs/Government%20Affairs/INSTALLATION%20HISTORIES%20-%20MCIW.pdf|title=1st Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Installations-West, Installation Histories, USMC Official website p.2, 4|accessdate=May 11, 2022|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929010357/https://www.mciwest.marines.mil/Portals/62/Docs/Government%20Affairs/INSTALLATION%20HISTORIES%20-%20MCIW.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When the war ended the Seabees had a unique interservice standing with the U.S. Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Can Do! |first=Charles |last=Kester |magazine=Leatherneck |date=January 1963 |page=30 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hbfvAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA30|access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> Seabee historian [[William Bradford Huie]] wrote "that the two have a camaraderie unknown else-wheres in the U.S. military".<ref>{{cite book |title=Third Marine Division's Two Score and Ten History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZP9T9wr690C&pg=PA162|author=Third Marine Div. Assoc. |date=1992 |publisher=Turner Pub. Comp.|page=162 |isbn = 9781563110894|access-date=18 October 2017 }}</ref> Even though they are "Navy" the Seabees adopted USMC fatigues with a Seabee insignia in place of the EGA. At least 10 CB units incorporated USMC insignia into theirs. Admiral Moreell wrote, tongue in cheek, that the Marines were the best fighting men in the Pacific, but one had to serve 90 days with the Seabees to qualify to as a "Junior Bee".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GWlrJTKd5lAC&dq=The+navy+civil+engineer%2C+September+1963&pg=RA11-PA28|title=Navy Civil Engineer|date=May 11, 1963|publisher=Naval Facilities Engineering Command|accessdate=May 11, 2022|via=Google Books}}</ref>