SEABEES SAY!: Personal account of a SEABEE in Iwo Jima landing force in WW II, member of 133rd Naval Construction Battalion

Frank Riefle, 36, Seaman First Class U.S.N. of St Louis Missouri never expected to be on the front lines the first night. Riefle, armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle was a member of a squad of Seabees and Marines who were to furnish a perimeter guard around the shore party. He recalls," When our boat hit the beach I made a dive for the sand. I had just gotten down flat when my ring was knocked off the middle finger of my right hand by a piece of shrapnel. I was only scratched, but men were being hit all around me. Then two other Seabee rifleman and I were ordered to move up away from the beach and fire on some snipers. we moved 50 yards and some shells fell between us and the rest of the shore party. We went forward again to keep from being hit, and were forced to keep going as the barrage moved up behind us. By nightfall od D-Day, we were on the front lines." During the night Riefle made two trips back to the beach helping wounded men. The next day he and other Seabees made their way back to the shore party, which was unloading supplies on the beach, but not before says Riefle," I had fired a few more clips at the Japs." Riefle who is married and has six children was a driver for the Yellow cab company before being inducted in August 1943, He has been overseas since May, 1944.

This is just one story copied from the article which appeared in the "Seabee" Magazine in 1945.. The Seabees on Iwo were used as Marine Pioneer Battalions.

Submitted by John Ratomski. Thanks John! "Stormin' "

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