Archival Collections

Arthur G. Johnson served in a U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Seabee) from December 1942 through the end of World War II. This collection consists of an oral history interview transcript. In the transcript, Johnson recounts his experiences from basic training to North Africa, then on to Banica River in the South Pacific, Okinawa and back to Guam where he broke his neck, taking him out of the war. The interview also talks generally about the Seabees, family life after the war, camaraderie with the Marines, and censorship.

This collection consists of 278 photographs taken by an American Seabee in the Pacific during World War II. Many of the photographs document native life on the islands of New Caledonia, the Russell Islands, and Okinawa. There are images of native communities and homes, religious items, burial sites, workers, and other aspects of native life. They also document the operations of the 20th Naval Construction Battalion and various other US military units and operations. This includes photographs of construction, stevedoring, camp life, and American servicemen.

This collection relates to John W. Rockwood who served with the U.S. Navy during the Second World War in the 145th Construction Battalion Seabees. He served in the Solomon Islands and Okinawa.

This collection relates to Joseph G. Moretti who joined the U.S. Navy in Jacksonville, Florida in September 1942. He served in the Navy's Construction Battalion (Seabees) and the 8th Underwater Demolition Team (UDT8) until his discharge on August 14, 1945. He was stationed in Fort Peirce, Florida until he transferred to the Aleutian Islands and, later, the South Pacific. His collection includes an oral history recorded in 2000, Moretti's naval logbook, miscellaneous government documents from 1941 to 1957, news clippings from the 1990s, and photographs.

Kenneth D. Kelly served in the 78th US Naval Construction Battalion during World War II on New Caledonia, the Admiralty Islands, and on Okinawa. Included in his collection are a number of news articles related to the Seabees, his typed memoir, and a copy of the unit's battalion log.

This collection relates to Kenneth F. Cameron of Portland, Maine who provided a telephone interview on February 8, 2001, concerning his experiences in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The collection contains an oral history interview transcript.

This collection relates to Leonard Sinke who served as a United States Navy Carpenter's Mate, 3rd Class, in the Pacific Theater with the 109th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) during World War II in Hawaii, Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, and Guam. The collection includes an oral history tape, oral history transcript, photographs, silk pillow cases, and documents.

This collection contains World War II locally published U.S. Navy Seabees news bulletins. which contain articles about the recruitment, expansion and war time activities of the Navy Construction Battalions, the CBs or Seabees.

This collection relates to Electrician's Mate 1st Class Pasquale DiPierro who immigrated from Italy in 1920 and served with Company A, 5th Platoon, 118th Naval Construction Battalion, "Seabees" in the Pacific Theater during World War II on New Guinea and the Philippines. He was recalled during the Korean War and served again with the U.S. Navy in a construction battalion. The collection includes letters, military personnel documents, 118th Naval Construction Battalion newsletters, and objects.

This collection relates to U.S. Navy Electrician's Mate First Class William I. Criste who served during World War II with GROPAC 11, Section E-9. The materials relate to the battle, work, and life on Iwo Jima, including more than 100 photographs, military documents, and Japanese military artifacts.