SEABEES in Marine Corps uniforms land on Pacific island of Peleliu in WW II.

MY POP WAS A "BAR" MAN (Browning Automatic Rifle ) WOUNDED ON PELELIU. HE TOLD ME MANY SEABEES WERE UP FRONT FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE MARINES. THEY WERE ALSO USED AS STRETCHER BEARERS (ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS DUTIES ON THAT ISLAND), NOT TO MENTION BRINGING UP SUPPLIES TO THE FRONT LINES AND REPAIRING THE AIRSTRIP THAT WAS UNDER CONSTANT MORTAR AND ARTILLERY FIRE!!. FIXING THAT AIRSTRIP PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE CAMPAIGN, NO AIRSTRIP, NO CLOSE AIR SUPPORT. (For the Marines engaging the Japanese in a desparate struggle for control of the island. ed.).

THREE SEABEE BATTALIONS LANDED WITH THE FIRST WAVES. BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC JAM ON THE REEF THEIR EQUIPMENT DIDN'T COME ASHORE UNTIL FOUR DAYS LATER. I WATCHED THE EPISODE OF "WAR STORIES " ON THIS AND IT REALLY MAKES ME ANGRY THAT THE BEES ARE NEVER MENTIONED!! AS IF THEY WERE NOT EVEN THERE. I DO KNOW THAT MANY WERE WEARING USMC UNIFORMS THEREFORE THE CONFUSION??? IN MY OPINION THE SEABEES DO NOT GET ENOUGH NOTORIETY OR PRESS FOR WHAT THEY DO. THEY ARE A TOUGH BUNCH (VERY UNDERATED).

BEST REGARDS,

JOHN RATOMSKI

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