Seabees ETO
#1

From the Caribbean and the Americas, the South Atlantic victory road led to North Africa where the Seabees faced combat for the first time in the Atlantic Theater of Operations. After landing with American assault forces on 7 November 1942, they proceeded to rapidly construct military facilities at Oran, Casablanca, Safi and Fedala. Later, while the Allied armies moved toward Tunisia and their final showdown with the Afrika Korps, the Seabees built a string of staging and training areas along the northern coast. Also active on the west coast of Africa, they constructed a huge naval air station at Port Lyautey, Morocco.

 

After the Allies had driven the Axis forces out of Tunisia, the Seabees began a large scale buildup at their new base in Bizerte. There they prepared a new weapon of war, the steel pontoon, that was to be used for the first time on the invasion beaches of Sicily. Actually, pontoons were not new to naval warfare. Xerxes had used such devices to cross the Hellespont when he invaded Greece in the 5th Century B.C. The Seabees, however, had added some new innovations and cleverly adapted them to the requirements of modern amphibious warfare. The classic pontoons were standardized in size and fitted with special tackle so that they could be quickly assembled to form causeways, piers, and other structures. As a result, these versatile "magic boxes" could be used to meet the exigencies of any number of situations.

 

The beaches of Sicily had previously been considered by both the Allies and Axis as an impossible site for a major amphibious landing. Nevertheless, with help of the Seabees and their new pontoons, the Allies were able to carry off a surprise attack on the weakly defended Sicilian beaches. The enemy was quickly outflanked and overpowered as large numbers of men and huge amounts of equipment poured ashore over pontoon causeways with a minimum of casualties and delay. Thus, the Seabees were instrumental in spelling the beginning of the end for the southern stronghold of the Axis.

 

These same landing techniques were later used at Salerno and Anzio on the Italian mainland. Unfortunately, the Germans had learned their lesson from the Sicilian debacle, and this time they were lying in wait. It was in the face of fierce resistance and heavy bombardment that the Allies suffered heavy casualties as they stormed ashore at both Salerno and Anzio, and the Seabees absorbed their share of the casualties. At Anzio the situation was particularly desperate. Anzio had been a diversionary landing behind enemy lines and, when the Germans staged a massive counterattack, the defenders were in critical danger of being pushed back into the sea. It was the Seabees' task to keep essential supplies and ammunition moving across their pontoon causeways to the struggling forces on their precarious beachhead. Only with their vital assistance were the Allies able to turn the tide of battle and push inland in the wake of the slowly retreating Germans. For many months, however, the Seabees remained at Anzio and, under continuous German bombardment, built cargo handling facilities, unloaded tank landing ships, and kept supplies moving to the front. German resistance in Southern Italy finally collapsed and Rome was taken on 4 June 1943. Even so, the Seabees had one more task in the Mediterranean, the invasion of Southern France through Toulon. While this was a relatively important job, it was eclipsed by the much bigger assignment they were handed on the North Atlantic road to victory, the Normandy invasion.

 

Although Seabee accomplishments on the North Atlantic road eventually culminated in the Normandy invasion, operations in that area had begun as early as March of 1942.

 

The Seabees were first used on construction projects in Iceland, Newfoundland, and Greenland at bases previously acquired by treaty from Great Britain. Seabees in Newfoundland helped construct a huge naval air station and naval base at Argentia. From these installations, aircraft and surface ships set forth to protect the many Allied convoys sailing the western sector of the North Atlantic.

 

To complete the huge arc of bases stretching across the North Atlantic, even more Seabees were sent to the British Isles. At Londonderry, Northern Ireland, they constructed a huge, deep water facility for naval craft and a naval air station that was capable of handling the largest aircraft. Lough Erne, Loch Ryan, and Rosneath in Scotland were transformed into huge storage depots, tank farms, industrial areas, and seaplane bases.

 

Only with the firm establishment of the Navy's control of the seas, and the logistic battle of the North Atlantic under control, did the Seabees move to the southwest coast of England to prepare for the great invasion. From Milford Haven on the northwest coast of Wales down to Plymouth and over to Exeter, the Seabees built invasion bases which teemed with activity. There they prepared for their most critical and multifaceted role in the Atlantic Theater of Operations.

 

During D-Day of the Normandy invasion, 6 June 1944, the Seabees were among the first to go ashore as members of naval combat demolition units. Working with U.S. Army Engineers, their crucial task was to destroy the steel and concrete barriers that the Germans had built in the water and on the beaches to forestall any amphibious landings. When dawn betrayed their presence, they came under murderous German fire. Whole teams were wiped out when shells prematurely detonated their explosives. Heedless of the danger, the survivors continued to work until all their explosive charges were planted. As a result of their heroic actions, the charges went off on schedule and huge holes were blown in the enemy's defenses.

 

The arduous assignment of the combat demolition units was only the beginning of the Seabees' work on Normandy's beaches. After the invasion fleet had arrived off the coast, The approximately 10,000 Seabees of Naval Construction Regiment 25 began manhandling their pontoon causeways onto the beach. It was over these causeways that the infantry charged ashore. Under constant German fire, directed at slowing or stopping the landings, the Seabees succeeded in placing large numbers of these pontoon causeways. Allied troops and tanks subsequently swept ashore in ever greater numbers and pushed the German defenders inland.

 

The Seabee contribution to the success of the invasion was not restricted to assembling and placing pontoon causeways. They also manned the large ferries known as Rhinos that carried men and supplies from the larger ships to the beaches. These ferries were actually little more than floating pontoon structures powered by giant outboard motors. Huge amounts of much needed equipment were hauled ashore on Rhinos during the first few days of the invasion.

 

The Seabees also built offshore cargo and docking facilities, piers, and breakwaters. These were constructed out of old cargo ships, special prefabricated concrete structures that were floated over from England, and the ubiquitous steel pontoons. The huge port area that was formed out of this odd combination of materials became known as Mulberry A. Even after the artificial harbor was partially destroyed in a severe storm, the Seabees landed hundreds of thousands of tons of war material daily. In addition to these massive amounts of supplies, by July 4, only 28 days after D-day, they had helped land more than a million Allied fighting men.

 

The liberation of Cherbourg and Le Havre led to the next big Seabee project. Mulberry A, for all its impressiveness, was only a temporary facility, and the established harbors of these two cities were desperately needed by the Allies. Knowing of this need, the Germans had cleverly devastated the harbors of Cherbourg and Le Havre before retreating. It thus fell to the Seabees to put these harbors quickly back into service. On the heels of the liberating armies, the Seabees entered Cherbourg and Le Havre. At Cherbourg the first cargoes were landed within 11 days and within a month the harbor was capable of handling 14 ships simultaneously. Seabee accomplishments at Le Havre were equally impressive.

 

As the front continued to move inland, other ports along the northern and western coasts of France were restored. At Brest, Lorient, and St. Nazaire, the Seabees rapidly cleared and rebuilt harbors to handle additional vital shipments of cargo.

 

The final great Seabee effort in the European Theater took place during the crossing of the Rhine River in March 1945. Many times during the Second World War the Seabees had been called upon to do odd jobs of an urgent nature, but this particular odd job was of special significance. The U.S. Army, concerned about the Rhine River's swift and tricky currents, called upon the Seabees to operate many of the landing craft that were to be used in breaking Germany's Rhine River barrier. The Seabees' first successful probe across the treacherous river was at Bad Neuenahr near Remagen. Further crossings followed in rapid succession as the Seabees made their task appear to be little more difficult than a sightseeing cruise.

 

On 22 March 1945, General George S. Patton, with Seabee assistance, put his armored forces across the Rhine at Oppenheim in a frontal assault which swept away the German defenders. To support Patton's advancing army, the Seabees built pontoon ferries similar to the Rhinos of D-day fame and used them to transport Patton's tanks across the river.

 

In all, the Seabees operated more than 300 craft which shuttled thousands of troops into the heart of Germany. One Seabee crew even had the honor of ferrying Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the Rhine on an inspection tour.

 

The 69th Naval Construction Battalion had the distinction of being the only complete battalion to serve in Germany. Arriving at Bremen on 27 April 1945, the Seabees of this battalion set up camp just outside the city. They immediately began the re-roofing of damaged buildings, installing plumbing and lighting, setting up shops and offices, and installing power lines. A detachment also repaired facilities at the nearby port of Bremerhaven.

 

Later, a large detachment from the 69th battalion was sent to Frankfurt-am-Main, which had been designated as the headquarters of the U.S. Navy for the occupation of Germany. There the detachment refurbished several buildings and performed considerable maintenance work. In August 1945 the men of this detachment completed their work and withdrew to Great Britain.

 

For the Seabees, the completion of this task marked the end of the North Atlantic road to victory. They had reached their goal. Their building and fighting exploits along the road had been noteworthy and valorous.

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#2

Interesting reading about Seabees in North Africa. Amongst my current reading (am usually reading a few books at a time), is the book, An Army at Dawn. It's a great read. Much detail, however as in most books, combat engineers and engineers in general are given a sentence or two amongst a few hundred pages. Every now and then (emphasis then), you'll find a paragraph that contains a sentence exclaiming, combat engineers led the way. That's about it.

 

But, your mention regarding Bizerte, Casablanca, Safi and Fedela stir great memories now that I've gotten my hands on the history of the VI Corps engineers. So your post is very timely and inspiring. I am glad that you took the time to place it here to make people more aware of the role of engineers even in North Africa.

 

The beginnings of the birth of the Baileys is worth mention too. What a great British invention. Baileys played a signifigant role in WWII. Without them, the war would have turned a different tide.

 

Thanks for your efforts. I do read them all. :pdt34:

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
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#3

I agree "so much" about the Engineers getting a sentence or two! The Bailey's seeme to be used more frequently in the ETO. Great Site Keep up the Work! It is appreciated.

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#4

Seabee role at Normandy

 

Although the Seabees did not pay a high price in comparative terms -- battalions of the 25th NCR sustained 10 dead, 2 missing and 60 wounded due to enemy action -- their mission was extremely important. The 25th NCR delivered about 35 percent of soldiers and much of vital war machinery to the beach.

 

Pontoon barges called Rhino ferries, transported thousands of trucks, tanks and artillery pieces from Liberty ships to pontoon causeways. Two large tent cities, one at Utah and the other at Omaha, housed and fed all Navy and Coast Guard personnel working the beaches. Though short lived, the artificial harbor at Omaha gave shelter to numerous ships and small craft.

 

Commissioning of the 25th NCR

 

One of two naval construction regiments operating in the ETO, the 25th NCR was formed late in planning process for Operation Overlord. By the commissioning date, allied engineers had made most equipment and tactical discussions. Construction of the artificial harbor and assemblage of the naval lighterage pontoon units was well under way when a small group of Seabees, led by Capt. Clyde W. Coryell, gathered to form the headquarters and command element of the regiment.

 

The 25th NCR was established in Plymouth, England on April Fools Day, 1944. You might say the joke was on Adolph Hitler as the regiment geared up to conduct operations on the Far Shore. Its mission was to train and organize naval construction units for movement of equipment and US troops over the invasion beaches.

 

The 81st NCB, 97th NCB (2nd Section), 111th NCB, 146th NCB and CBD 1006 were attached to the regiment upon its formation. In the months to follow, the 28th NCB, 69th NCB, 114th NCB and 30th NCB (Special) would be placed under its command. (The 97th NCB (2nd Section) was redesigned as the 108th NCB on April 27, 1944.)

 

Headquarters of the regiment were established on Omaha beach in a German bunker on June 16, 1944. On July 2 an advanced group established headquarters at Cherbourg. The move was completed on July 14. The advanced group again moved on September 19, this time to Le Harve. This moved was completed on October 11.

 

Then as quietly as the regiment was commissioned, it slipped into history on November 30, 1944. In contrast to its peak strength of eight NCBs and one CBD, only two battalions (69th and 114th NCBs) and three maintenance units (CBMUs 627, 628 and 629) remained attached to the 25th NCR. All other units had returned to NCTC Davisville, Rhode Island for eventual transfer to the pacific war.

 

The 25th NCR followed the all too familiar pattern of Seabee command and control units in World War II: they were established for an immediate mission; and when the mission was complete, the regiment or brigade was disestablished instead of moving it to the forward areas.

 

Task organization for Far Shore beaches

 

The 25th NCR was a key component of an extensive joint Army-Navy beach organization. Under command of Rear Adm. John Wilkes, the Navy’s beach organization was formed into the Service Force (CTF 127) of the Western Naval Task Force. Army responsibility for developing and operating its vast shore-based logistical support mechanism was assigned to the engineer special brigades, a new organization in the U.S. Army.

 

The Army’s beach force was organized into two large composite organizations under the Corps of Engineers: the 1st Engineer Special Brigade at Utah, and the Provisional Engineer Special Brigade Group at Omaha. The Omaha command consisted principally of the 5th and 6th Engineer Special Brigades and the 11th Port.

 

Generally, the Army controlled operations from the high water mark inland while the Navy directed all activities in the harbor. There were, however, several areas where the Army had jurisdiction over ships in the harbor: ships owned by the Army received their shipping orders from the Army and not the Navy. The Army also operated a flotilla of craft to unload ships. Several units operated the DUWK amphibian truck.

 

Naval organization for each beach consisted of a large port operation under command of naval officers, Capt. C. Camp at Omaha and Capt. J.E. Arnold at Utah. Called the NOIC (naval officer in charge) these officers directed all naval port operations. Each beach service group was split into port director, ferry control, recovery and repair, POL, construction and beach camp elements.

 

Although the 25th NCR was recognized as task unit (CTU 127.2.2) at equal command level to the NOICs, the regiment provided much of the labor and equipment required for the beach service group. In this arrangement, common to military and naval operations, the regiment maintained administrative and logistical control over its units while relinquishing operational control.

 

To illustrate the command relationship between the NOIC and 25th NCR, let us look at ferry control on Utah beach: Ferry Control, a division of the Port Director’s Office, directed movement of all ships and small craft in the harbor. Everything from large Liberty ships to LSTs and LCTs to Rhino Ferries were vying for a berth and place to unload their cargo. Most of the 241 ferry craft and 39 service craft reported directly to the Ferry Control Officer, Lt. V.M.L. Keonig for orders as well as maintenance, rations and pay.

 

Seabee units did not report completely to Ferry Control. Of the ferry and service craft assigned to Utah, 11 ferries and11 tugs were assigned to Rhino Ferry Group 3 of the 81st NCB. The battalion administered personnel (pay, advancement, discipline, service records maintenance for the crews) and logistical support (supply, rations, gasoline and repair for the barges).

 

Ferry Control directed operations. Ferry control instructed each Rhino ferry, which ship to unload. Once loaded with trucks, tanks and artillery pieces, the ferry proceeded to the beach. As it neared the beach, Ferry Control told the it which causeway to discharge its load of vital war materials. This scheme was repeated throughout the 25th NCR.

 

Mission of the 25th NCR

 

The Seabee mission on the Far Shore consisted of five major elements:

 

Assemble and operate the artificial harbor (Mulberry A) at Omaha. This included the Lobnitz pierheads, Phoenix caissons and Whale floating bridging. Assigned to the 108th NCB.

Operate Rhino ferries (RHF), Rhino tugs (RHT), warping tugs (RWT), pontoon causeways, dry docks and Rhino repair barges at Utah and Omaha. Assigned to at Utah and Omaha, 81st and 111th NCBs and CBD 1006.

Construct, operate and maintain petroleum, oil and lubricants installations at Utah and Omaha. Assigned to 146th NCB.

Construct and operate naval beach camps at Utah and Omaha. Assigned to 81st and 111th NCBs.

Provide construction element to Drew units. Drews were special naval base units organized to construct and operate one of the captured ports. Assigned 28th NCB.

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#5

25th USN Construction Regiment "NORMANDY"

CASUALTY REPORT

28th USN Construction Battalion

Evacuated - Battle Casualties 5 E. Men

Non-Battle Casualties 3 "

 

Missing (due to battle action) 3 "

111th USN Construction Battalion

Killed 1 E. Man

Evacuated - Battle Casualties 1 Off. 24 E. Men

Non-Battle Casualties 9 "

1006th USNCB Detachment

Killed 1 E. Man

Evacuated 3 E. Men

Missing (due to battle action) 2 "

108th USN Construction Battalion

Battle Casualties 7

Death - due to normal incident 1

146th USN Construction Battalion

Battle Casualty 1

Non-Battle Casualties (normal incident) 2

28th USN Construction Battalion

Battle Casualties 1 Officer

12 E. Men

The foregoing report is believed to be correct insofar as personnel on the

Far Shore is concerned. Those reported missing may be stragglers, and the

possibility exists they may be accounted for later. Reservation must be

made in accounting for crews that shipped from the UK to Far Shore and

have not yet arrived. Possibility of some attrition to these crews exists

but this will be revealed in monthly reports of the individual Battalions.

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#6

Often when we read of Seabees building a distant base naval base, the story begins thus: A Seabee battalion lands in the waves immediately proceeding ¾ sometimes preceding ¾ the Marines. As the Marines capture the island, the Seabees build a naval port to fuel and arm the fleet, an airfield to tend to the air forces and a supply depot to sustain all.

 

This story has a different twist: This time the Marines are not present; British and Canadian soldiers do their job. And instead of landing on a hostile beach, the Seabees disembark at a British occupied port 450 miles to the west of their objective.

 

Next the Seabees load their baggage and equipment onto British lorries and form large convoys. Then traveling east for two days at the heals of Field Marshal Montgomery's 21st Army Group, the Seabees set up a temporary camp in the middle of The Netherlands. There they wait for the British to capture their final objective.

 

Thus began one of the most unique missions in the annals of Seabee history. This is the story of the 69th NCB’s 450-mile overland movement to take the German ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

 

Seabees deploy to England, France and Germany

 

After six months service with the 10th NCR at NOB Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada, the battalion deployed to England. Arriving in Plymouth three weeks after D-Day, the 69th NCB began pontoon construction for the Army. Detachments were sent to Plymouth, Southampton, Portland, Weymouth, Falmouth, Dunkswell and Exeter. They expanded airfields and bases for the Navy. Additional work was done in Rosneath, Scotland.

 

The 69th NCB next did a month's stint at Omaha Beach, Normandy in October and November 1944 where they operated Rhino ferries and pontoon causeways, unloading Army troops and equipment onto the beach.

 

Returning to Plymouth, the 69th NCB was once again dispersed to locations throughout Southern England. For the next six months, the Seabees focused on base construction.

 

Then came the call: the 69th NCB and detachment of CBMU 629 were to form the construction element for U. S. CTF 126. CTF 126's mission was to construct and operate naval advance bases at the northern German port cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. These bases, located on the North Sea, were used to unload supplies for the American occupation forces in Germany.

 

"Sea going jeep jockeys" land

 

"Sea Going jeep jockeys of Uncle Sam's Navy landed in the German port of Bremen after a 450-mile cross country voyage. Assigned to take over harbor installations at the Big Weser River port when British Tommies captured the city, the sailors charted their course by road maps, bivouacked in German buildings and cooked their meals in the open air," reported the Paris Edition of the Stares and Stripes.

 

CTF 126, also known as Commander U. S. Naval Ports and Bases Germany, was organized into three parties: A reconnaissance group, composed of two reconnaissance parties, one each for Bremen and Bremerhaven, and two main body elements.

 

Lt. John Merle, OIC of the Seabee reconnaissance team for the Bremen reconnaissance party, tells the story: "While at Upporty, I was assigned two temporary additional duties, being two trips to London. . . . The purpose of these meetings was the assignment of a recon group from the 69th NCB to the British and Canadian forces. On April 1, 1945, two detachments each of one officer and five enlisted men were assigned to recon parties and logged out for CTF 126. I headed up the Bremen group and Lt. I. A. Kircher headed up the Bremerhaven group.

 

"We first landed in Ostend, Belgium and then headed north through Belgium and Holland. The task force (if you want to call it that) was led by a Capt. Vincent H. Godfrey who I remembered well because he had a navigator going down the road with him who couldn't even read a road map. And most of the crew were tigger happy kids."

 

The remainder of CTF 126 was organized into Naval Parties 1 through 8. Parties 1 through 4, as the first echelon to deploy to Germany, landed in Belgium in the first week of April 1945. The remaining parties were organized into the second echelon. They landed in Belgium a month later. The Seabees were assigned to Naval Parties 3 and 7.

 

The first echelon of Seabees departed Ostend, Belgium at 0500 on April 8, 1945. They moved slowly through Belgium in a 103-vehicle convoy. Seventeen hours and 220 miles later the convoy stopped and the men made camp in an open field near Kevelear, Germany. The convoy had traveled through Antwerp, Belgium and Venlo, Netherlands that day. During the night, the sound of artillery fire from the North reminded them that they were in the combat zone.

 

Although CTF 126 never came under direct attack from the retreating Germans, they felt the threat. They drove through countless villages devastated by the war. The Seabees were armed and ready to defend themselves.

 

"We stopped at one of the first towns in Holland for the night, and the group was assembled. One of the officers asked the captain what we should do in case of attack. . . . As it happened, about 10 minutes later, one of the German jet fighters came over the schoolyard, where we were assembled, and God knows we were lucky. He didn't do any strafing or bombing, which he could have done very easily. [He was] probably taking pictures instead," said Lt. Merle.

 

On April 9, the 69th NCB spent six and a half-hours on the road. Crossing the Rhine River at Rees, Germany over a Bailey bridge built by British Engineers, they turned north into the Netherlands again. The British aptly named the span, "London Bridge."

 

The Cruise Log of the 69th NCB continues: "Following closely at the heels of the Canadian 1st and British 2nd Armies . . . we passed though little Dutch towns that had been liberated for only a few days. As we passed through these places it seemed as if the entire population was on hand to welcome us. Happiness and relief from strain were written on everyone’s face."

 

"I was in the last truck of our convoy (other than the tow truck). The people were delighted to see us and as the last truck, our English driver would stay in town and allow us to communicate with the people. The people in Belgium and Holland were delighted and overwhelmed with us," said Joseph Campbell, a GM2c assigned to the armory.

 

"We crossed back into Holland and got a big welcome; joy was contagious. We threw gum, cigarettes, chocolate, K-rations and biscuits from the trucks," wrote CCM Robert Gillespie in the 69th NCB veteran’s newsletter, SiNi CoBa (for Sixty-Ninth Construction Battalion). (Chief Gillespie was a member of Lt. Merle's reconnaissance team.)

 

"People were unbelievable thankful, happy and friendly," said CSF Tom Batchelor.

 

That night they made camp in the abandoned yard of the Stork Manufacturing Plant in Helengo, Netherlands. For the next two weeks, the 69th NCB were the guests of the Dutch people while they waited for Bremen to fall.

 

Seabees build a staging camp

 

So what do 350 waylaid Seabee do for two weeks? They build.

 

They made the camp as home-like as possible. The Stork Plant was renovated for occupancy. Repairs were made; a field galley was set up so the crew could have hot chow; and electrical service and utilities were established. This was all done with construction materials procured from the Dutch Underground.

 

By the end of the first week, the 69th NCB had hot baths using coal from a German mine 50 miles distant. As part of a recreation program, tours were offered to local points of interest, including German V-1 launch sites. And, of course, all trucks and equipment were checked and overhauled in preparation for the coming move into Germany.

 

Despite long hours and anticipation, Chief Gillespie remembers there was time for friendly rivalry between the Seabees and their British drivers: Upon arrival in Helengo, "the British told the Hollanders we were prisoners of war. It did not take the kids long to find out differently." The Seabees’ talent and kindness soon proved otherwise. Their kindness and ability to build won the confidence to the Dutch people.

 

At 0600 on April 24, they began the 12-hour journey to their final destination: Bremen and Bremerhaven.

 

Signs at the German border reminded the Seabees they were entering a conquered country. "The big change came when we crossed the boarder into Germany. The big sign forbidding any contact with Germans greeted us just over the boarder. The people looked at us with sullen expressions. I remember wondering if they were frightened, mad or just plain burned out," said BM2c George Schmitt.

 

Movement into Bremen

 

The 69th NCB arrived in 22 miles southeast of their objective at 1800 on April 24, 1945. Camp was set up in Verden, Germany because Bremen was still under siege by Allied forces.

 

The 69th NCB occupied barracks formerly used by the German cavalry. The Seabees found ammunition, grenades, mines and booby-traps strewn everywhere. In order to occupy the buildings, a team of Seabees cleared the area of munitions. "The interior of the buildings were in deplorable condition. Work was stated immediately to restore all utility services and within a few days water, light, heat and power were available for the whole compound," said the official report of the 69th NCB.

 

Each night the Seabees were alerted for combat action. On the night of April 26, the Germans unsuccessfully attempted to strafe the Navy compound. The Seabees could see the work of the artillery and Air Force as the attack on Bremen continued.

 

Bremen fell to the British 1st Army on April 27, 1945. On April 28, Cdr. Frank N. Walsh, Commanding Officer of the 69th NCB, Lt. John Merle and SF2c Class W. C. Callender became the first Seabees to enter Bremen. As members of a naval reconnaissance party, they surveyed damage and made plans for construction of the NAB.

 

Even as the reconnaissance party did their work, a battery of British artillery fired from a field adjacent to the building selected as the naval barracks. The docks were alive with machine gun fire. German snipers fired at targets and several time bombs exploded. Then on April 30, the 69th NCB received reports the Germans had launched an unsuccessful counterattack on Bremen. Despite this threat and all of the munitions the Seabees had to clear in Verden, no Seabees were killed or wounded.

 

Then on May 4, 1945, the 69th NCB even kept one of the Seabees’ highest traditions: They "landed" before the Marines, or the Army in this case. "Not to be out done by the Sea Bees in the Pacific, . . . this unit had the pleasure of welcoming the 9th U. S. Army’s entrance into the city of Bremen," said Cdr. Walsh in a report to Admiral Ben Morrell. The 9th Army had come north from the American Zone of Occupation to provide security in the American Enclave, formed around the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

 

The 69th NCB started its movement into Bremen on April 29. By May 3, when that last of the Seabees from the first echelon had relocated to Bremen, work was in full swing. Instead of constructing a base from the ground up, buildings formerly occupied by the German Army and Navy were renovated for the NAB. Barracks, offices, port facilities, shops and galleys were made ready for the base.

 

On May 8, 1945, the war in Europe ended.

 

The second echelon of the 69th NCB landed in Ostend, Belgium on May 9. Two days later, Naval Parties 4 through 8 headed east toward Bremen. Arriving on May 13 at 1630, the second echelon joined the first echelon of the battalion. From there, the 69th NCB and CBMU 629 proceeded to build the bases at Bremen and Bremerhaven.

 

Construction detachments were quickly dispersed to several locations in Germany. Lt. Kircher led a large detail to Bremerhaven on May 14.Toward the end of the month, Lt. Merle led a reconnaissance party to Frankfurt where he made plans to renovate several buildings as the headquarters for the Commander U. S. Naval Forces Germany.

 

Ultimately, the CBMU 629 detachment completed their job and returned to its base in Paris, France and the 69th NCB sent a large detachment to Frankfurt.

 

By June when construction projects were almost done, the 69th NCB became the first Seabee unit to relocate by air. Starting on June 22 with two planeloads daily of 15 Seabees each, the battalion began the long journey home. By September, all Seabees were returned to their homeport in Davisville, Rhode Island, and on September 24, 1945, the 69th NCB was decommissioned, ending two and a half years of service.

 

This story is found in No. 2 (Spring 1998) of the Seabee Log.

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#7

This stuff is SO good, that I think I will copy into PDF files and place it on the main web. More people should read about this. Thanks. :pdt34:

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
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