General Patton and the Seabees

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

On March 11, 1945 the Navy Seabees were called upon to put General George Patton's 3rd Army across the Rhine river. The Seabees were asked to operate landing craft, build pontoon causeways and operate Rhino ferries to facilitate the breaching of German defenses.

Pontoons and landing craft were loaded on enormous trucks at Normandy and hauled across France and the German border to the banks of the Rhine.

They first crossed the Rhine at Remagen, other crossing followed.

On March 22, 1945, General Patton's armored forces were put across the Rhine at Oppenheim in a Frontal assault against Hitler's forces.

The rest of the story is history.

 

[Inusuit]

Props to the Seabees and other combat engineers whose role in all wars is not sufficiently acknowledged or appreciated. Of the WWII generals, Patton is my hero despite his issues/denial of PTSD (known in WWII as combat fatigue).

 

[Nevada Ed]

I was in the Sea Bee's......

It was amazing at all the stuff they did from dirt work, bridges,
stringing telephone and downed power lines even demolition.

Headquarters Company had it easy............
They just typed away and keep notes in the air conditioned offices....................

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Through all my years in the Bees, we did all kinds of construction and demolition. These are some examples: heavy timber bridge, I'm third from the right, medium girder bridge, block walls, and metal buildings.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

We constructed many fighting positions. One of those air conditioned offices and me in front of my office.

 

[Texas Star]

I've always associated Seabees with the Pacific. I guess I assumed that Army forces did similar work in Europe.


And I knew that the bridge at Remagen was captured and supposed that the bridge was the main means for the Army to enter Germany.


Well, live and learn!

 

[raisedin99]

Pontoons and landing craft were loaded on enormous trucks at Normandy and hauled across France and the German border to the banks of the Rhine.

Will you elaborate on what type trucks were used?

terry

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Will you elaborate on what type trucks were used?

terry

I tried and failed to find a photo but IIRC they looked like the old fashioned MAC tractor with the boxy cab that one would associate with an 18 wheeler.

 

[Old Seabee]

SeaBees

Nice to see the old pic of greens when did they go to camo Chief Thanks OldSeabee 63-67 I never seen camo

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Nice to see the old pic of greens when did they go to camo Chief Thanks OldSeabee 63-67 I never seen camo

We went into camo in '94, IIRC. The old timers cried, you would have thought they'd lost their favorite hound. Every other service had already gone to camo so being in greens really stood out. The Viet vets were the most upset.

 

[the ringo kid]

Through all my years in the Bees, we did all kinds of construction and demolition. These are some examples: heavy timber bridge, I'm third from the right, medium girder bridge, block walls, and metal buildings.

Well done Sir! We have some county roads that have bridges across ravines etc-that look like this---only-they are now rickety and made out of R.R. ties.

I think these have been around since the 20s or early 30s??

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Well done Sir! We have some county roads that have bridges across ravines etc-that look like this---only-they are now rickety and made out of R.R. ties.

I think these have been around since the 20s or early 30s??

I doubt your bridges are exactly the same as this bridge is made of aluminum alloy. IIRC, it was designed for WWII by the British. It is packaged neatly on pallets to be dropped by parachute or cargo chute from low flying aircraft. It is used ahead of attacking forces to replace damaged bridges or were no bridge exist.

 

[DWalt]

Some may not be aware that the USAF has a combat engineering organization parallel to the Seabees, called REDHORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer) and with about the same capabilities. There are 15 REDHORSE squadrons throughout the active Air Force, Reserves, and Air National Guard.

 

[rolomac]

My Dad was in the Seabees in WWII in the South Pacific. I remember his stories about following the Marines after they had secured island beach-heads to begin building air strips. Islands he mentioned were Kwajaline, Eniwetok, and Bouganville among others (not sure about my spelling). He talked about operating heavy equipment while bullets were whistling past but thankfully the only injury he had was a broken ankle from jumping off a lumber pile. Wish he was still here to tell me more about it,

rolomac

 

[Tom S.]

Will you elaborate on what type trucks were used?

terry

I wonder if they were the M26. It was used to haul tanks, so it definitely falls under the heading of enormous. It was nicknamed the Dragon Wagon:

 

[jack the toad]

Nice to see the old pic of greens when did they go to camo Chief Thanks OldSeabee 63-67 I never seen camo

I had both greens and woodland. Should still have them stored somewhere on the place.

 

[bgrafsr]

Some may not be aware that the USAF has a combat engineering organization parallel to the Seabees, called REDHORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer) and with about the same capabilities. There are 15 REDHORSE squadrons throughout the active Air Force, Reserves, and Air National Guard.

There is a Red Horse detachment at Camp Perry in Ohio.

 

[jimmyj]

In my Father military service time there was a saying: "Never hit a Seabee, as you might be hitting your Father".

 

[shouldazagged]

In my Father military service time there was a saying: "Never hit a Seabee, as you might be hitting your Father".

Or grandfather.

 

[shouldazagged]

I always enjoy your posts, Master Chief.

I'll bet you're still a squared away, tough-looking guy. Old habits die hard.