6th Special SEABEE Battalion, WW II, Genealogy

6^TH SPECIAL

NAVAL CONSTRUCTION

BATTALION (NCB)

UNIT HISTORY	UNIT RIBBONS AND MEDALS	CAMPAIGNS
UNIT ROSTER	IMAGE GALLERY	WEBSITE RESOURCES

IN MEMORIAM

This webpage is dedicated to the memory of Frederick Siler, and the men

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

Fred 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 Headquaters 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 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.

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 Russells 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..

John J. Ratomski, Source: 1943-1945 Cruisebook for the 6th Special Naval Construction Battalion

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.

We welcome the submission of names and records of appropriate

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

= see more about this topic at our “Image Gallery

Use the following LINK to view the aforementioned rosters and or service records that pertain to this military unit.

MILITARY UNIT IMAGE GALLERIES AND ARCHIVES

6^TH SPECIAL NCB

Image Gallery

During our research we have collected and images and photographs that may be of interest to the history of this military unit. Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives and war experiences.