The Birth of the Seabees
In 1942, with the United States entry into World War II, the military needed skilled engineering and construction personnel quickly. A call went out to the trades and the Naval Construction Battalions (NCB’s) were formed. The popular story of how the Construction Battalions became known as Seabees is that while observing Construction Battalion workers, Eleanor Roosevelt made a comment that they worked like “Busy Bees” – and CBs became Seabees.
The history of U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Ten began when
the 103rd Naval Construction Battalion was formed on 10 July 1943 at the Naval Construction Training Center at Camp Peary, Williamsburg, VA. The 103rd was decommissioned less than three months later (22 Sept 1943) to provide personnel for assignment to Construction Battalion Maintenance Units 536, 537, 538, and 539. Trained men were needed as maintenance units. Instead of waiting for the next group of Seabees to complete training, the Bureau of Yards and Docks reorganized the 103rd Naval Construction Battalion into four CBMUs.
The Bureau of Yards and Docks still needed another NCB, so the 103rd Naval Construction Battalion was activated for the second time on 15 Oct 1943 at Camp Peary. This is the beginning of the unbroken line that ended with the decommissioning of MCB Ten on 30 June 1976.
The 103rd immediately moved to the Naval Construction Training Center at Camp Endicott, Davisville, Rhode Island for training. The Battalion completed training there on 10 Dec 1943 and was then sent for further training at Camp Lee-Stephenson, Quoddy Village,Maine from 11 Dec 1943 to 20 April 20 1944 and then returned to Camp Endicott.
From 15 May to 01 July 1944, the battalion trained at the Advance Base Amphibious Training Unit, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY and then moved to the Advance Base Receiving Barracks, Port Hueneme, California.
During August, September and October 1944, Battalion Detachments served at nearby locations in California: Ojai, Mira Loma Airport, Oxnard and San Clemente and, St. Nicholas Islands.
On 25 Oct 1944, the Battalion shipped overseas from Port Hueneme arriving at Pearl Harbor on November 1. Moving in five echelons, the 103rd sailed for Guam, landing at that island on 29 Dec 1944 and 2, 9, 10 & 12 January 1945. Battalion strength upon arrival on Guam was 1,020 men and 31 officers.
The designation of the 103rd CB was changed to 103rd C.B (Maintenance) on 25 Sep 1945.
At the end of 1945, strength was 933 men and 24 officers. In July 1947, strength was 1006 men and 12 officers.
On Guam, the Battalion took part in completing construction of Northwest Field and facilities for the Naval Air Base’s West Field Number 3. In addition, they were responsible for building a 25,000 man Camp for the U.S. Marines.
The Battalion remained on Guam after the War to repair and rebuild. There were many detachments from Guam:
Truk in 1949 to build an Administrative community
Okinawa to extend airfield and build an NCO Club
Korea early in the war to extend “K-3” Airfield for Marines
NAS Atsugi to build streets, gutters, etc.
C o m m a n d i n g O f f i c e r s 1 9 4 3 – 1 9 5 2
CDR Benjamin W. Harig, CEC, USNR 15 Oct 1943 – Sep 1945
LCDR James P. Marshall, CEC, USNR Sep 1945 – Dec 1945
CDR Perry M. Boothe, CEC, USNR Dec 1945 – 28 Jan 1946
LCDR Waldron M. McLellon, CEC, USNR 28 Jan 1946 – 06 Nov 1946
CDR Rudolf G. Buller, CEC, USN 6 Nov 1946 – Mar 1948
CDR Thomas B. McGlashen, CEC, USN Mar 1948 – Jan 1950
CDR Ernest S. Bathke, CEC, USN Jan 1950 – May 1951
LCDR Ormond V. Evans, CEC, USN May 1951 – June 1951
CDR Mark H. Jordan, CEC, USN Jun 1951 – 01 Oct 1952
On October 1, 1952, the 103rd Naval Construction Battalion was disestablished on Guam and the U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Ten was established. The officers and men of NCB 103 were assigned to MCB Ten. MCB Ten was home-ported on Guam until Jan 1959 when it was relieved by MCB Eleven and MCB Ten finally became home-ported at Port Hueneme, California. The 103rd NCB was the longest serving NCB in the South Pacific – 7 years on Guam after WW II until re-designated MCB Ten in 1952.
C o m m a n d i n g O f f i c e r s 1 9 5 2 – 1 9 5 9
CDR J. F. Dowd, CEC, USNR 01 Oct 1952 – 02 Nov 1953
CDR W. F. Cline, CEC, USN 02 Nov 1953 – 02 Jul 1955
CDR W. M. Brown, CEC, USN 02 Jul 1955 – 21 Sep 1957
CDR J. P. Pollock, CEC, USN 21 Sep 1957 – 26 Jan 1959
CDR N. L. Martinson, CEC, USN 26 Jan 1959 –
Guam (ca. 1958) MCB Ten CO CDR J.P. Pollock (left) and unidentified XO.
Aerial View (circa 1950’s) of MCB Ten construction project.
After a period of training at Port Hueneme, the Battalion deployed to Adak and Kodiak, Alaska. The projects of the Main Body on Adak covered six major categories: building construction, waterfront facilities, utilities, drainage structures, heavy timber construction and earthmoving. Projects on Kodiak included: bridges, roofing, rehabilitation of foundations and facilities of several Naval Station buildings, and the receptionof a 300,000 gallon steel water tank.
TO BE CONTINUED
