Henry Rifle Forums

Good Day, Everybody.

Got my American Rifleman, April 2017 edition in the mail yesterday. In the "News & Notes" section, I read about this celebration:

Seabees Celebrate 75 Years
March 5, 2017, marked a diamond anniversary for the U.S. Naval Construction Force known as the Seabees. The battalion motto, "We Build, We Fight" represents the core mission responsibility of paving the way in and out of battle. For this milestone year, a custom logo was created in memory of all those who've served. There are special celebration events planned for 2017 (visit history.navy.mil/seabeemuseum)

Congrats/Salute to our RetiredSeabee, and any other Henry Folk who served in this military force. Much thanks for your service.

I think that would be a nice tribute gun for HRA to offer.

2fewdaysafield wrote:I think that would be a nice tribute gun for HRA to offer.

They really should.

Thanks PT7, It is hard for me to digest that the Bees have only existed for 75 years. And that I was a part of the middle stretch. Did my 20 from 73 to 93. It just seemed like they had already been around forever back then.
I have a lot of old friends who will be in Gulfport Mississippi next month for a 75th reunion celebration.
The last battalion I was with cut their teeth in the invasion of Iwo Jima. They were supposed to go to Australia first so the Battalion mascot is a Kangaroo. But they never set foot there for duty, a few got to go for R&R much later. The flags and patches had already been made so they kept it. We referred to ourselves as Red Rats because the Kangaroo does resemble a large rat and the color chosen for it was red.
NMCB 133 has a very impressive combat history. I am proud to have walked in the footsteps of those brave souls who were there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Mob ... talion_133

My first battalion was NMCB 74. Our mascot was a beaver and the motto "Fearless" I have no idea why the beaver was chosen or why someone tagged the battalion as fearless.

salute indeed .... I don't know how realistic it is but John Wayne's 1944 movie "The Fighting Seabees" is one of my favorites ....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fighting_Seabees

RSb -- Thanks very much for sharing some of your military service history, and also the combat history of NMCB 133.

I just realized something as I read the Wikipedia info on this battalion whose members served at Iwo Jima. I've read a lot of WWII history, and also have any number of videos. Quite often the American flag-raising on Iwo Jimo is highlighted. Nothing wrong with that, but I've not often thought about all the Navy and Air Force support that went into that terrible conflict. The Landing Plan map, and the list of the construction activities performed by the Seabees were impressive, too. I can understand your service pride of "walking in their footsteps." Take care.

RetiredSeabee wrote:Thanks PT7, It is hard for me to digest that the Bees have only existed for 75 years. And that I was a part of the middle stretch. Did my 20 from 73 to 93. It just seemed like they had already been around forever back then.
I have a lot of old friends who will be in Gulfport Mississippi next month for a 75th reunion celebration.
The last battalion I was with cut their teeth in the invasion of Iwo Jima. They were supposed to go to Australia first so the Battalion mascot is a Kangaroo. But they never set foot there for duty, a few got to go for R&R much later. The flags and patches had already been made so they kept it. We referred to ourselves as Red Rats because the Kangaroo does resemble a large rat and the color chosen for it was red.
NMCB 133 has a very impressive combat history. I am proud to have walked in the footsteps of those brave souls who were there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Mob ... talion_133

My first battalion was NMCB 74. Our mascot was a beaver and the motto "Fearless" I have no idea why the beaver was chosen or why someone tagged the battalion as fearless.

Hats off.

I salute the Seabees!

Cate

When I reflect on meeting RSb, "Can do" certainly fits.

Sorry for being a bit tardy on this, Seabee, but add a big salute from me.

And add a "salute" from me also!