The Pacific Campaign

1943 to 1945

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 71 was activated at the US Naval Construction Training Center in Williamsburg, Virginia on 28 April 1943, then under went combat and construction training, primarily at Davisville and Port Hueneme. The entire Battalion boarded a troop transport in California on September 7, 1943 and on October 3, landed on the Beach on the island of Guadalcanal. In early November 1943, Seventy-One Seabees hit the beaches at Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville coming ashore with detachments from the 25th, 53rd, and the 75th Seabee Battalions, under steady fire from the Japanese. First order of business: offload two transports, with dozers and other heavy equipment to build roads, clear camp sites, and begin construction on a air field—all under constant air attacks, mortars and small arms fire. Within 22 days, Seventy-One had built a 40-foot wide taxiway. By December 10, the entire airfield was operational, despite the fact that on several occasions Battalion was pulled off the job to man defensive positions. On May 24, 1944, Seventy-One landed on the beach on Pityilu Island, to build a and clear the site for the airfield, completed on June 10, 1944. The Battalion was awarded a “well done” from ADM. Spruance.

     Detachments from MCB-71 came ashore on Okinawa on April 1, 1945, Easter Morning, with the assault troops, to serve as combat engineers and in support the ground troops rebuilding and improving the native roads and bridges destroyed in the assault. Seventy-One cleared away enemy mines, located, developed, and operated a water supply system for all units, cleared, repaired and extended abandoned enemy airfields, installed communication facilities, provided engineering assistance for garrisoned troops. The ‘Bees worked night and day in spite of Japanese sniper fire, artillery fire and air attacks.

     Early in June the Battalion moved further north with the Marines, establishing Camp #3, which was subject to nightly barrages of small arms fire and sappers. Seventy-One continued to widen Route One, repave wash outs, and bomb damage from Japanese planes.