Did You Know?

So you think you know all there is to know about the Navy SEABEES! Do you really?

This feature will present simple facts about the Navy SEABEES that might not be widely known outside the actual SEABEE community. You are invited to submit a SEABEE fact to “Did You Know” by e-mail to didyouknow@seabeesinfohq.org Your write-up should be no more than 300 words long. Facts will be selected for this feature by the site content editors at their sole discretion, based on the greatest enhancement to overall knowledge and understanding of SEABEE missions and accomplishments. Selected facts will be archived for future reference as new facts are added. Check the site frequently for new facts and to see if your submitted fact is posted.

Disclaimer Notice: Do not include copyrighted material. Submissions selected are subject to editing by the site operators. Due to volume of submissions received, no individual reply will be given. Inclusion on this Web site is not guaranteed. The Web site editors do not vouch for the accuracy of any facts submitted.

Example:

Did you know: “Fighting Beavers”?

The famous “Fighting Seabee” logo drawing that was adopted to represent the combined fighting and construction aspects of the newly created “Construction Battalions” or “CBs” of the Navy, almost was a “Fighting Beaver” instead! That didn’t happen because the logo’s creator did his homework. Frank J. Iafrate was a civilian employee of the Navy during the initial construction of the Naval Air Station at Quonset Point, R.I. early in 1942. His hobby was sketching and drawing caricatures of various Naval officers and civilians who visited his office to study construction drawings of the rapidly building Air Station. Frank later reported that a young officer who had just been assigned to the newest Navy organization, a Construction detachment, whose members were starting to report to Quonset Point Naval Air Station for initial training, asked him for a logo to represent his unit. Frank thought this over, and initially considered the highly skilled and hard-working beaver to represent the new construction outfit.

Very fortunately, Frank researched beavers in the library and rejected that idea when he discovered that beavers “turn tail and run” when confronted with danger. That was certainly not the proper image for tough construction men who were needed to stand their ground and fight! Eventually, Frank settled on our beloved BEE, who works diligently without bothering anyone until something interrupts his work. Then a rapid and “sharp” response is instantly forthcoming! That tells the story of the “SEABEE” units via the actions of a familiar creature from our natural world. “Fighting Beavers”? Nah. Good thing Frank had a library card!

TABLE OF CONTENTS of Did You Know?

Antique road grader soon to be "On the Road" again?

Quonset Huts, who really invented 'em, ..and why?

Rhino Ferries....SEABEES on Safari?

SEABEES fought and died with the first U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima?

ACORNs where only Palm trees grow?

SEABEES Build and Fight at the same time?

A SEABEE Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery?

Seven Navy SEABEE Reservists Killed in Action in Iraq!

Civilian Bridge dedicated to Navy SEABEES?

Orlando SEABEES Honor Shipmates Killed in Iraq

SEABEES help train new Afgan Army?

A SEABEE Prayer in Navy Bible?

A special song about the SEABEES?

SEABEE unit designations and rating title changes since 1942?

Florida SEABEES now serving in Iraq with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion -14?

SEABEES bridge way in Iraq

Seabees Gather to Honor Fallen Comrades

Navy SEABEES now closely integrated with Marines and U.S. Army in Iraq?

Seabees break ground on Iraq's future

Philippine Seabees modeled after U.S. "Fighting Seabees"?

Joe Buff recommends two books on Seabees in his online newsletter? Click here: http://www.joebuff.com/newsletter/news13.htm

SEABEES and Marines help uncover evidence of Saddam's crimes?

OPERATION SEABEES KNOWLEDGE seabeesinfohq.org E-Mail seabees@seabeesinfohq.org