6th Special NCB Seabee, WW II

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UNIT HISTORY	UNIT RIBBONS AND MEDALS	STATION LOG
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IN MEMORIAM

This web page is dedicated to the memory of Frederick George Siler, John Joseph Ratomski and

the men they served with in the 6^th Special Naval Construction Battalion during World War Two

Fred Siler enlisted into the U.S. Navy on January 28, 1943. Soon after he was sent to Virginia for his basic training. Upon completion of his military preparation he was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 6^th Special Naval Construction Battalion then stationed in San Francisco, California awaiting deployment into the South Pacific. By May, 1943 he had arrived in the Fiji Islands. During his service in the South Pacific he worked as a coxswain driving landing craft transporting war material between the supply ships and the

Frederick George Siler

beaches of the various islands where the battles against the enemy were raging. From 1943 to 1945 the 6^th NCB Battalion were posted at Noumea, Vella Lavella, Banika, Vunda Point, Fiji, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Puruata. After peace with Japan Fred was transferred to the Naval Ship Yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he worked as a Master-at-Arms. By the time of his separation from the U.S. Navy on December 1, 1945 he had attained the rank and rating as a Boatswains Mate , 2^nd Class.

John Joseph Ratomski was born in the Bronx, New York on June 5, 1922. Joe wanted to join the Marine Corps but was told that he could not because of color-blindness. This was a common reason why many men ended up in the Naval Construction Battalions during World War Two. Joe Ratomski enlisted into the United States Navy at New York City in December, 1942.

Upon completion of Boot Camp he was assigned to the Section One of the 6^th Special Naval Construction Battalion. By May, 1943 he was deployed to the South

John Joseph Ratomski

Pacific with his unit. He remained in the 6^th Special NCB as a Seaman 1^st Class until the end of the War and was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. After the War he returned home to New York where he married and had four children. Joe served his community as an Officer in the New York Police Department and worked out of the 47^th precinct in Bronx, New York. After a distinguished career that spanned over 30 years he retired as a Detective (1^st Class). Joe Ratomski passed away at Westbury, New York in 1988.

UNIT HISTORY

The

6th Special Seabees were a "Combat Stevedore" Battalion that saw action in the Pacific. Loading and unloading ships both in the safety of the rear areas and under the enemy's guns on invasion beachheads. They humped cargo manhandling the materials of war, fuel, ammunition, bombs, rations, vehicles, building materials, etc, to where they were needed The ships they were unloading were "prime targets" for the Japanese bombers and artillery units. The Stevedores hauled under fire, went in with combat troops, came out just as bruised and tired.

The First Section of the Sixth Special arrived at Port Hueneme on April 10, 1943, and embarked May 1, 1943, arriving at Nandi, Fiji Islands, May 15. On December 29, 1943, the first section left Nandi, arrived at Guadalcanal January 3, 1944, then left there January 16 for Torokina, Bougainville landing there four days later. The outfit worked at this base and also sent a detachment to the Treasury Islands, which rejoined the main body on Bougainville August 18,1944. The First Section left Torokina on October 1, 1944, and arrived at Ulithi Western Caroline, Islands, ten days later. The Sixth Special was inactivated early in July, 1945, on Oahu and sent back to the States. The Second Section of the Sixth Special left Port Hueneme June 11, 1943, for Guadalcanal. On September 29, the first echelon of the Second Section embarked for Vella Lavella, and on October 20, the second echelon left for the Russell Islands. Both units were attached to the Fourth Marines Advanced Depot. The first echelon left Vella Lavella on November 22, 1943, arriving at Bougainville the next day, and the second echelon left the Russell Islands December 19 and joined the first echelon on December 23. Parts of the first and second sections combined and were sent to the Treasury Islands March 1944. After returning to Bougainville the Second Section shipped to the Philippines in late October 1944. The Second Section was inactivated in June 1945..

6^th SPECIAL NCB

Unit Ribbons and Medals

`Combat Action Ribbon`

`Philippine Presidential`

`Unit Citation Ribbon`

Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon

See our “Image Gallery” for letter of Citation

given to the 108 men assigned to LST Flotilla

Five while in the Solomon Islands.

American Campaign Ribbon and Medal

Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Ribbon & Medal

`World War II`

`Victory Ribbon & Medal`

`Philippine Independence Ribbon & Medal`

`Philippine Liberation Ribbon & Medal`

6^TH SPECIAL NCB

Station Log

1943 - 1945

Nandi & Vunda Point, Fiji; Banika; New Caledonia; Guadalcanal; Bougainville; Ulithl Atoll; Samar; Philippine Islands; Vella Lavella; Puruata; Green Island; Russell Island; Treasure Island; Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii;

See our “Image Gallery” for additional information about the 6^th Special NCB Log

6^TH SPECIAL NCB (First Section) LOG

April 10, 1943

Arrived at the Naval Construction Battalion Center located at Port Hueneme, (pronounced "Why-nee-mee"), California.

May 1, 1943

Left Port Hueneme, California for Nandi in the Fiji Islands.

May 15, 1943

The 6th (Special) Construction Battalion arrived at Fiji on May 15 and assumed responsibility for all stevedoring activities from. the personnel of the 58th and CUB 3 who had handled all unloading up to this time. All vessels were anchored, and lighters were used between ships and a small pier. To facilitate the unloading, pontoon barges were assembled, two 3-by-7 type with propulsion units and one 4-by-7 tow barge. The harbor at Vunda Point had one T-shaped pier with a head about 75 feet by 300 feet, a loading capacity of some six tons, and 10 feet of water at low tide.

December 29, 1943

Departed Nandi, Fiji Islands for Guadalcanal.

January 3, 1944

Arrived at Guadalcanal.

January 16, 1944

Departed Guadalcanal for Torokina, Bougainville.

January 20, 1944

Arrived at Torokina, Bougainville. The outfit worked at this base and also sent a detachment to the Treasury Islands, which rejoined the main body on Bougainville August 18, 1944.

March 1944

Parts of the first and second sections combined and were sent to the Treasury Islands

October 1, 1944

Departed Torokina, Bougainville for Ulithi Atoll located in the Western Caroline Islands.

October 10, 1944

Arrived at Ulithi Atoll in the Western Caroline Islands.

July 1945

The First Section of the Sixth Special NCB was inactivated on Oahu, Hawaii and sent back to the States.

6^TH SPECIAL NCB (Second Section) LOG

April 10, 1943

Arrived at the Naval Construction Battalion Center located at Port Hueneme, (pronounced "Why-nee-mee"), California

June 11, 1943

Left Port Hueneme, California for Guadalcanal.

September 29, 1943

The First Echelon of the Second Section embarked from Guadalcanal for Vella Lavella. At Vella Lavella both units were attached to the Fourth Marines Advanced Depot.

October 20, 1943

The Second Echelon left Vella Lavella for the Russell Islands.

November 22, 1943

The First Echelon left Vella Lavella for Bougainville.

November 23, 1943

The First Echelon arrived at Bougainville.

December 19, 1943

The Second Echelon left the Russell Islands for Bougainville.

December 23, 1943

The Second Echelon arrives at Bougainville.

March 1944

Parts of the first and second sections combined and were sent to the Treasury Islands

October 1944

After returning to Bougainville from the Treasury Islands the Second Section shipped to the Philippines.

June 1945

The Second Section was inactivated.

6^th SPECIAL NCB

Unit Rosters

The following is a listing of rosters and or service records, in our “Image Gallery” of the men who served in this military unit. Roster(s) and associated service records that are not complete will be updated periodically.

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persons who were members of this military unit.

Roster of the 6^th Special Naval Construction Battalion – Section 1

Roster of the 6^th Special Naval Construction Battalion – Section 2

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6^TH SPECIAL NCB

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