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Essay / The Seabees in World War
Convinced that war was coming, the U.S. Navy realized that fighting halfway around the world would present new challenges. In 1940, the Navy began a program of using civilian contractors to build bases on Pacific islands. The use of civilian labor had to end when the United States officially entered the war because, under international law, civilians were not allowed to resist attacks by their enemies. If these civilians resisted enemy attacks, they could be executed as guerrillas. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Rear Admiral Ben Moreell had an idea on December 28, 1941, this idea led him to request permission to create and manage a single organization that would be able to support the Navy and Marines in remote locations and also have the ability to defend themselves if attacked. A week later his request was granted and he formed the first Seabee battalions at Davisville, Rhode Island, at a new naval base. Less than two weeks later, the first naval construction unit, consisting of 296 men, was deployed to Bora Bora. The Navy built its battalions with experienced, highly skilled craftsmen like electricians, carpenters, plumbers, equipment operators, and almost any construction or building trade was welcome. in the Seabees. These units were pressed into service in July 1942 to work on Midway Island. They were working on the new Sand Island airstrip and beginning to clean up the massive damage resulting from the Japanese bombings. During World War II, the Naval Construction Battalion enlisted an estimated 325,000 men to serve as Seabees. These men built using 60 different skilled trades and fought in over 400 locations before the war even ended. The Seabees did more than just support the Marines, they helped many Vietnamese by digging wells and opening roads that gave them access to ranches and markets. The Seabees also provided medical care to large numbers of Vietnamese and built up their villages by building schools, hospitals, utility systems (such as electricity), etc. The Seabees proved that they were really just “peace builders” by sharing their knowledge with the Vietnamese people. The Seabees continued to play a vital role in the global war on terrorism. The Seabees repaired runway facilities at Camp Rhino and Kandahar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, twenty-six Seabee units deployed to Kuwait. During this deployment, sixteen Seabees were killed. During this deployment, the Seabees constructed several aircraft parking areas, storage areas and more, which played a vital role in assisting coalition forces. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Today, the Seabees are primarily composed of reservists, the other third of the Seabees are active duty. Active duty members constitute six active battalions, two amphibious construction battalions (ACBs) and two underwater construction teams (UCTs). Their primary mission is to continue to ensure construction in the war zone. Seabees are always ready to deploy at short notice wherever they are needed. During their deployments, they..