Seabee History: Formation of the Seabees and World War II
WHAT IS A SEABEE
Between a Soldier and a Marine there stands an individual called a SEABEE.
SEABEES come in assorted sizes, shapes and weights, but all have the same code: Enjoy every second of every hour of every day, whether at work or at play, and to protest by griping (their MOST treasured privilege) when issued an order.
SEABEES are found everywhere: on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or more likely than not…turning to.
Mothers and sweethearts love them. Airdales and Fleet sailors hate them, Company Commanders tolerate them and Chief Petty Officers drive them.
A SEABEE is a composite, he has the appetite of a horse, digestion of a sword swallower, the energy of a mini H-bomb, the curiosity of a big cat, the lungs of a dictator, the imagination of Paul Bunyan, the slyness of a fox, the enthusiasm of a fire cracker and the spirit of a fighting ****. He likes: liberty, leave, holidays, weekends, women, chow, BEER, movies, geedunks, swimming, pin-ups, sleep and comic books.
A SEABEE isn't too thrilled about: Duty nights, watches, taps, reveille, routine discipline, officers, drills, marching or secured heads.
Nobody else is so early to rise without actually wanting to get up. No other person gets so much fun out of Liberty or Shore Patrol. No one can have so much fun on so little money or time.
A SEABEE is a magical creature: you can chew him out, but you can't get the work done without him; he is dirty, unpolished, not squared away, often overbearing and sometimes reluctant.
A SEABEE is a person of magical abilities: he can weld, build, drive, repair and fight all at the same time; he can destroy or he can beautify, instantly; he can make something out of nothing; work never tires him, nor does he seem to tire of it!
His motto is "CAN DO", to which he adds "HAS DONE" and "DID", these frequently impossible feats are recognized in the form of a "WELL DONE" by everyone from the Commanding Officer on down.
The average SEABEE is a thick-headed individual of a variety of nationalities. They won't admit to anyone or anywhere, except in the defense of their Battalion that they have the BEST job in the Navy. Without them, the Fleet would have nothing to talk about. Marines would have nothing to gripe about and History would have nothing to write about.
GOD BLESS THE SEABEES