If you look in the beginning of this thread I posted a few photo’s of my Dad. Pages 1 and 2. His name is Gillies Tardif, now 87 years old. Does your Dad have that 122nd Unit book by any chance? I haven’t been here for awhile but I will check soon for your answer.
Yes, our Dad, William Wilson Sutch, was in the 33rd Seabee Batallion serving in WW II in the Solomon Islands. He was a cook. We would enjoy hearing from others that may have know our Dad or been in the 33rd Seabee Batallion.
Dan and Gerry
I am doing research on behalf of a good friend. His name is Harry Hall. He turned 97 last month. Harry was a SeaBee at Samar in the Philippines during the middle of 1945 and then at Tientsin in China. I am looking for photographs, a written history of the unit, or ?
Since there is still interest in this thread ive moved it in to the american military section. Redirect expires in 10 days.
Please ask your friend what battalion he was in. Those dates and places you mentioned correspond to the unit my Dad was in - the 122nd.
To the best of my knowledge, my father was stationed at Port Lyautey during WW2 and I am just trying to find out some info about what he might have done while there. He went into the Navy Sea Bees shortly after Pearl Harbor and was sent to the New Jersey area and worked there before going overseas. Like most SeaBees at that time, he was “older” (29-30) when he went in and already knew how to weld so he ended up being an instructor teaching others how to weld. He returned home sometime around December 1945. He NEVER talked much at all about any of his experiences during the war and even my mother never heard him share much about it all. They are both gone now and I am just a curious son getting older and more curious (and more proud with every tiny bit of info I dig up) and having a huge regret that I didn’t “pry” more out of him about it. He was a Machinist Mate, Second Class with CB Maint Unit #566. His full name was Emmitt Lawrence Thompson but I am not sure if he went by Emmitt or Lawrence while in the service but he went by Lawrence at home. He was from Oklahoma and went back home there to spend the rest of his life. Any info that anyone has about that unit and what things they might have done while there, I would be honored to hear. My email address is johnnyrt@yahoo.com. Thank you so much for allowing me to post here.
I have a few things on the 33rd Seabee Battalion that may interest you. Send me an e-mail Jonathon17pim@aol.com
Hello my dad was in the Seabees and in the Phillipines in WWII. He left behind his war album that I inherited (he did in 1981 @ 57 years old). He never spoke about the war until a week before he passed. He turned to me and said the Japanese are getting even, their in my head. I have a lot of photos some are very graphic, but I also have a portrait of my dad done by hand. I was wondering if you found the offical site you were looking for, I too would like to find out more about my dad.
My grandfather was with the 40th from 42-44. He passed away in 1974 and I’m trying to track down any information (and pictures) I can about him. His name was Marion Ira Brown - he went by Ira. He had ears that stuck out “like taxi cab doors”, according to my Grama and Mom. Any information would be great!
My dad was in the Seabees in the Phillipines, he left behind a photo album. He never spoke about the war. He died in 1981 at the age of 57. I have the album and would like to share it with any other relatives to those who were there. I believe the operation my dad was in was called “The Phillipine Liberation” or something similar, like I said he never spoke about it. I will post some pictures. My dad’s name was George H Kately. Someone he served with did a portrait by hand of him. Would like to hear from others.
Hello - I am new to this and I see some of these posts are quite old. My dad is now 87 years old, and was a member of the 122 Battalion, Seabees. He is Paul Leslie (“Les”) Anderson and lives in North Dakota. I read him the post below and he was enthralled. He was in all of the same places mentioned below: Port Huaneme, New Guinea (Hollandia), Phillippines (Samar). He also PLAYED THE CLARINET in that USO show Bob Hope performed in. He served from 1943 to 1946. He was the company clerk, and also chaplain’s assistant. If you can share any names of your sailor dads and grandfathers who were in the 122ndI would love to share that with my dad to see if he remembers. I will also post some pictures the next time I visit him. Thanks so much.
Hi Dan and Gerry, I have another 33rd Seabee cook’s grandson on the line. Send me a private message and i will connect you.
Does anyone remember or have photos of Joe’s Hamburgers on Banika Island? We would appreciate any information or photos. Also anyone with connections to the Russell Islands (Banika, Pavuvu), Green Islands (Nissan, Barahan), and Guiuan.
As you probably know since I started this thread, my Dad was also in the 122nd. If your Dad has the 122nd book, my fathers name is Gillies L. Tardif and he is now 88 yrs old. He was a CM3, (Carpenters Mate 3rd class).
Any chance you could post some of those pics here? Sure would be neat to see them.
My wife’s grandfather was a Seebee during WWII. I believe he was over in the Pacific.
Well, see what info you can find about him and post here.
I will post some pictures first chance i get. Will try this weekend I’ll pick some group pictures. Sorry about the delay busy as heck all of a sudden. I did purchase some stuff at the SEABEE museum store 100% of the money goes to the museum out in Ca. The baseball cap was made in China (go figure)
Hi…I am new to this. My Dad was in the 122nd Seabee Battalion. He played clarinet in the band. He is 87 years old & still plays the clarinet & saxophone. He is Jack Witman & lives in PA. We have lots of pictures & would love to share them.
Thank you. I asked my dad if he knows your dad and so far is doesn’t ring a bell. I’ll see if I can find the 122nd book.
My Grandfather was a Seabee in CBMU 506, he served on Samoa before getting sick & being sent back to the states to a hospital.