[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEABEES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 2017

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with sincere appreciation and deep 
respect that I recognize the 75th Anniversary of the United States 
Navy's military construction force, the Seabees. For their 
contributions to our military and to countless individuals throughout 
the world, as well as their courage while facing danger head on, these 
brave and skilled service members are to be commended.
  In December 1941, following the tragic events at Pearl Harbor, the 
United States Navy recognized the need for the presence of construction 
battalions on our nation's coasts. It was from this realization that 
the Seabees came to be. The earliest Seabees, who served under the 
Navy's Civil Engineer Corps, were recruited with an emphasis on their 
skills in the construction trades, but due to the dangerous situations 
they would encounter, these men, who averaged 37 years of age, also 
needed to be ready and able to fight.
  Since World War II, the Seabees have put themselves in harm's way 
while performing construction projects to aid their fellow service 
members, as well as civilians affected by both war and natural 
disasters. In World War II alone, more than 325,000 Seabees served on 
six continents and were tasked with everything from the construction of 
airstrips, bridges, and roads to the building of hospitals, warehouses, 
and an incredible number of huts to house more than 1.5 million 
military members. During the Korean War, the Seabees were called upon 
to address a problem that was thought to be impossible. These skilled 
men managed to cut a mountain in half to make a runway at Cubi Point, 
located in the Philippines, while constructing a much-needed naval air 
station in the region. Throughout the war in Vietnam, the Seabees 
remained active in the construction of bridges, roads, and aircraft 
facilities while also providing much support to the people of Vietnam 
through the building of wells, schools, hospitals, and utilities. They 
also shared their expert knowledge and skills to train the Vietnamese 
people toward self-sufficiency. Efforts to support construction needs 
for the military and in supporting those affected by war have continued 
throughout the Persian Gulf War as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  The Seabees have also been called upon time and time again to provide 
much needed assistance, both within our borders and beyond, during 
times of crisis and devastation. From Hurricane Camille in 1969, to 
Hurricane Katrina in 2005, to the 2010 and 2011 disastrous earthquakes 
and tsunami that rocked Haiti and Japan, and many times in between, the 
Seabees have courageously put themselves in danger while working on 
rescue and cleanup efforts, as well as the vast rebuilding needed in 
these dire situations. They have been instrumental in rebuilding roads, 
housing, and the critical ports that were required for humanitarian 
supplies to reach these countries. In many of these instances, without 
the skilled and dedicated efforts of the Seabees, the outcomes would 
have been much worse for many more people.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in honoring the many dedicated Seabees who have 
served our nation for the past 75 years. They represent an important 
part of the United States Military, and are a true example of 
unwavering patriotism. Let us never forget the service, sacrifice, and 
contributions they made and continue to make on behalf of our nation, 
their fellow service members, and those in need throughout the world.

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