Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

4th Naval Construction Battalion

Seabees

Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

1. 4th Naval Construction Battalion Marker

Inscription.

4th Naval Construction Battalion. Seabees. Pioneer Naval Construction Battalion in the Pacific Theater of War, We build? We fight? Can do!. The Fourth Battalion was commissioned at Camp Bradford, Virginia in May 1942 and shipped to Dutch Harbor in June 1942. The battalion was divided and served in the Aleutians on Adak, Unalaska, Amchitka, and Amaknak. Projects included building roads, submarine base, military installations, harbor docks, and living quarters for army, marine, and seabee personnel., The battalion returned to Camp Parks, California in June 1943. After reorganizing and receiving replacements it moved to Port Hueneme, California for more training. In December 1943 the battalion was shipped to Oahu, Hawaii and built housing for nineteen Seabee battalions, a tent city for housing marines, and detached duty on Pearl Harbor docks., The next deployment was in support of the liberation and development of Guam. A contingent of the Fourth was temporarily assigned to the Third Marines during the invasion in July 1944. The rest of the battalion waded ashore in August. The initial camp set up on Guam was destroyed by an exploding ammunition dump and there was some harassment from the Japanese that were still on the island after the island was declared secure. The major projects on Guam included a fuel drum storage dump, a naval ammunition depot, bomb storage dumps, a dam and treatment plant for water supply, a rest camp for submarine crews, and many miles of crushed coral roads. The largest project on Guam was Base 18 Hospital with 3300 beds when it was completed in time for casualties from the Battle of Iwo Jima starting on February 23, 1945 and continuing through March until 3721 patients had been received and 3534 were returned to duty., The final deployment was in support of the planned invasion of Japan. On July 7th, the battalion and equipment was loaded on seven lst landing craft ships, joined a convoy, and sailed to Okinawa., The battalion was on Okinawa getting ready for their duties required in the invasion of Japan, when the atomic bombs were dropped that ended the war. The battalion typically had a complement of 1087 men from the time it was commissioned until it was decommissioned on Okinawa on October 31, 1945. Over 1900 men served in its ranks.

Pioneer Naval Construction Battalion
in the Pacific Theater of War

We build? We fight? Can do!
The Fourth Battalion was commissioned at Camp Bradford, Virginia in May 1942 and shipped to Dutch Harbor in June 1942. The battalion was divided and served in the Aleutians on Adak, Unalaska, Amchitka, and Amaknak. Projects included building roads, submarine base, military installations, harbor docks, and living quarters for army, marine, and seabee personnel.

The battalion returned to Camp Parks, California in June 1943. After reorganizing and receiving replacements it moved to Port Hueneme, California for more training. In December 1943 the battalion was shipped to Oahu, Hawaii and built housing for nineteen Seabee battalions, a tent city for housing marines, and detached duty on Pearl Harbor docks.

The next deployment was in support of the liberation and development of Guam. A contingent of the Fourth was temporarily assigned to the Third Marines during the invasion in July 1944. The rest of the battalion waded ashore in August. The initial camp set up on Guam was destroyed by an exploding ammunition dump and there was some harassment from the Japanese that were still on the island after the island was declared secure. The major projects on Guam included a fuel drum storage

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dump, a naval ammunition depot, bomb storage dumps, a dam and treatment plant for water supply, a rest camp for submarine crews, and many miles of crushed coral roads. The largest project on Guam was Base 18 Hospital with 3300 beds when it was completed in time for casualties from the Battle of Iwo Jima starting on February 23, 1945 and continuing through March until 3721 patients had been received and 3534 were returned to duty.

The final deployment was in support of the planned invasion of Japan. On July 7th, the battalion and equipment was loaded on seven lst landing craft ships, joined a convoy, and sailed to Okinawa.

The battalion was on Okinawa getting ready for their duties required in the invasion of Japan, when the atomic bombs were dropped that ended the war. The battalion typically had a complement of 1087 men from the time it was commissioned until it was decommissioned on Okinawa on October 31, 1945. Over 1900 men served in its ranks.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is February 23, 1945.

Location. 30° 16.343′ N, 98° 52.036′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Memorial is at the intersection of East Main Street and North Washington Street on East Main Street. The marker is located in the central section of the WWII Veterans

The 4th Naval Construction Battalion Marker is the third large marker from the left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

2. The 4th Naval Construction Battalion Marker is the third large marker from the left

Memorial Courtyard which is a part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 340 E Main St, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S.S. Maury (DD-401) (here, next to this marker); Second Marine Division, FMF (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Hornet (here, next to this marker); Quentin R. Sawyer (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Kankakee (AO-39) (here, next to this marker); USS Scamp (SSN-588) (here, next to this marker); The Two DeHavens (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Taylor (DD/DDE-468) (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . .
1. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4. Wikipedia (Submitted on February 13, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Seabees in World War II. Wikipedia

The need for a militarized construction force became evident after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 28 Radm. Moreell requested authority to create Naval Construction Battalions. The Bureau of Navigation gave authorization on 5 January 1942. Three Battalions were officially authorized on 5 March 1942. Enlistment was voluntary until December when the Selective Service System became responsible for recruitment. Seabee Training Centers were named for former heads
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of the Civil Engineer Corps: Radm. Mordecai T. Endicott, Radm. Harry H. Rousseau, Radm. Richard C. Hollyday, Radm. Charles W. Park and RADM. Robert Peary.[11] One NCTC was named for the first CEC killed in action, Lt. Irwin W. Lee and Lt. (jg) George W. Stephenson of the 24th CB.

(Submitted on February 13, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 54 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 13, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.