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  WWII NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALIONS

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1ST BATTALION

The First Battalion was commissioned at Camp Allen, Va., on March 15, 1942. Three weeks later, the first half of the Battalion, designated as the Second Construction Detachment, embarked for Tongatabu, just below the Samoa group. The other half of the First, designated as the Third Construction Detachment, sailed four days later for Efate New Hebrides. In April 1943, the Second and Third Detachments merged at Efate. In August of 1943, a detachment of 4 officers and 125 men which had been left behind at Tongatabu, sailed for Wallis Island, but rejoined the main body four months later. The First Battalion remained at Efate until they returned to the States in March of 1944. They were inactivated June 3, 1944.

2ND BATTALION

The Second Battalion was divided into the Fourth and Fifth detachment at time of commissioning In April. 1942, at Camp Allen. The Fourth detachment embarked at Norfolk and arrived at Upolu in the Samoan Islands, in May of 1942. One unit of the detachment was assigned to the Fifth Marine Defense Battalion on Funafuti, in April

1943. In July, the rest of the Fourth detachment moved to Tutuila, also in the Samoan group. The unit that was sent to Funafuti rejoined the Fourth detachment in January 1944. The second hail of the Second Battalion, known as the Fifth detachment embarked from San Diego, Calif. and arrived at Tutuila late in April. 1942. Two months later, this unit moved to Wallis Island, where they remained for a year, then rejoined the rest of the Second Battalion at Tutuila. The entire Battalion, with the exception of 116 men, arrived at Camp Parks on March 7, 1944. The rear echelon arrived in the States one month later for decommissioning.

3RD BATTALION

The Third Battalion was commissioned at Camp Allen in May 1942, and sent its complement overseas by companies. In June 1942, companies left for the following destinations: B Company left for Noumea. New Caledonia; C and D shipped out to the Fiji Islands, and A sailed for Bora Bora in the Society Islands. Headquarters company was distributed among the detachments. For the next 24 months, groups and detachments of the Third Battalion were ordered to duty at several of the Islands in the Samoan and Fiji groups, finally joining in Noumea, New Caledonia, in May 1944. Later that month, the entire Battalion sailed for the States and was decommissioned In July 1944.

4TH BATTALION

The Fourth was commissioned in Camp Bradford, Va., in May 1942 and shipped out of Bremerton, Wash. in June for Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The battalion was then divided Into three groups: 200 men were sent to Eider Point, 350 to Unalaska village and the remainder stationed at Fort Mears area, Amaknak Island. In August 1942, a detachment of 200 men was sent to Adak and Amchitka, In the Aleutians and remained there five months. In June 1943, the entire complement returned to Camp Parks for a 30-day leave. The second tour of duty for the Fourth began just before the New Year, 1944. They landed at Pearl Harbor and began work on Moanalua Seabee Camp. Six months later the Battalion - shipped out to Guam and worked on installations there until May 1945, when they sailed for Okinawa. They were still on that Island when Japan surrendered last August.

5TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Allen, Va., In May 1942, the Fifth arrived at Pearl Harbor the next month. From July of that year to April 1943, the Battalion sent detachments to Midway, Palmyra, in the Christmas Islands, Johnston Island and French Frigate Shoals. In June 1943, detachments were also shipped out to Canton and Kauai, T.H. Operation in all these bases was continued until March 1944, when the full complement went back to the States for leave. The second tour of duty for the Fifth began in January 1945 when the entire Battalion left for Samar. One detachment participated in the Balikpapan invasion. The Fifth was operating In the Philippines at war’s end but was awaiting orders to move on to China.

6TH BATTALION

Alter activation at Norfolk June 24, 1942, the Sixth NCB went from Gulfport to Moffet Field, Calif. to San Francisco, leaving for overseas July 21 and reach-ing Espiritu Santo Aug. 11 via Pago Pago, Samoa. The first echelon of 357 men and officers left for Guadalcanal Aug. 29, arriving Sept. 1 less than a month alter initial Invasions of that island. Second and third echelons went to Guadalcanal, with other portions of the Sixth landing at Tulagi. The entire Battalion left Guadalcanal Jan. 5, 1943, arriving at Auckland, New Zealand, Jan. 12 for a two-months stay. The Sixth reached Noumea, New Caledonia, March 12 for an 18-months assignment returning to Camp Parks, Calif., and Sept. 18, 1944 to end 26 months overseas. Alter duty at Parks for months, the Battalion transferred to Hueneme Jan. 23, 1945. In May, the Sixth sailed for Okinawa and was there at war’s close.

7TH BATTALION

Commissioned In the spring of 1942, the Seventh NCB left Norfolk June 18 and arrived at Hueneme June 23. The Battalion sailed July 17 from San Francisco with 22 officers and 902 men, reaching Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, on Aug. 11. The trip included stopovers at Pago Pago and Tutuila in the Samoan Islands. After 16 months as Espiritu Santo, the Seventh returned to San Francisco on Dec. 13, 1943. A year later, Dec. 16, 1944, the Seventh, with 1,082 men and 27 officers, left Camp Parks for San Fran-cisco and Pearl Harbor, reaching Pearl Dec. 29. In February 1945, the unit left in three echelons for Saipan, arriving in March. A few weeks later, the Seventh moved to Okinawa, where it was stationed at war’s end.

8TH BATTALION

After activation on May 23, 1942, the Eighth Battalion left Norfolk June 19 for Seattle, then embarked for Dutch Harbor July 9. The Eighth worked on 78 separately listed projects in the Amaknak, Dutch Harbor, and vicinity and on projects on eight outposts extending from Cold Bay on the east to Adak on the west. On all the outpost jobs except one, the Eighth landed on undeveloped beachheads under extreme conditions where no shelter or housing existed. Major projects included South Amaknak housing, submarine base construction, P.T. base facilities and Joint Command Post. Alter 13 months, the Battalion returned to Seattle and then to Camp Parks in August 1943. On its second tour, the Eighth left Hueneme for Pearl Harbor in June 1944. While at Pearl, the unit worked on 13 projects in the vicinity of Iroquois Point. In February 1945, the Battalion left Pearl for Iwo Jima, landing on March 3. The Eighth remained at Iwo through the war’s end. Since then the Battalion has been transferred to Hiroshima, Japan.

9TH BATTALION

After formation at Norfolk on June 6, 1942, the Ninth NCB was divided, with Section One going to Davisville and Section Two to New Orleans. Section One embarked for Iceland Aug. 5, arriving Aug. 18. The First Section returned to Davisville, Sept. 6, 1943. The activities of Section Two were unreported. For its second tour of duty, the Ninth transferred to Hueneme May 9, 1944, and sailed for Pearl Harbor June 25. At Pearl, the Ninth worked at Moanalua Ridge, NASD, Pearl City, Molokai, NASD Personnel Camp and Pearl City Junction. The Battalion moved on to Tinian, arriving Dec. 1. After several months’ duty at Tinian, the Ninth was ordered to Okinawa, where it was stationed at the close of the war.

10TH BATTALION

Activated at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., in the summer of 1942 the 10th NCB arrived at Pearl Harbor in September. At various Intervals, detachments of this outfit operated on several Midpac islands. For continuous service It is one of the oldest Battalions; however, the personnel has been rehabilitated from time to time until practically all of the original personnel has been transferred or discharged. On Nov. 4, 1944, the Battalion was designated as Brigade Headquarters Battalion for Hawaiian Area NCB. The Tenth (H.q.) Advance Detachment of 123 men and three officers were assigned to the 42nd NCB for temporary duty, and on March 7, 1945, enlisted personnel of the First Detachment transferred to the Fifth Brigade at Guam. In March and April, the Tenth left Pearl Harbor in three sections for Samar, and was stationed on that Island in the Philippines at the war’s end.

11TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., in June 1942, the 11th Battalion moved to Camp Bradford on July 1 and after a 26-day stay left for Port Hueneme. The Battalion embarked at Hueneme Aug. 12, for a 14-day voyage to Tutuila in the Samoa group On June 18, 1943, the outfit was detached from Tutuila and sailed for Noumea, New Caledonia, arriving June 26. One company of 200 men was sent to Ile Nou, a small island off the coast of New Caledonia to work be-tween July 1 and Nov. 1. The remainder of the men was stationed on the main Island. On Nov. 26 the unit sailed to Auckland, New Zealand, for a month of rehabilitation. Embarking again on Jan. 2. 1944, the Battalion arrived at Banika In the Russell Islands Jan. 8. On April 3, 1944, the outfit left Banika for the Admiralty Islands via Milne Bay, New Guinea, and arrived at Los Negros April 20. Sailing for home finally on Nov. 4, 1944, the Battalion arrived at Camp Parks on Nov. 22. Beginning its second overseas tour the outfit sailed for Subic Bay in the Philippines in May 1945. On V-J Day the unit was still at that base.

12TH BATTALION

The 12th Battalion began its overseas duty Aug. 18, 1942 when the outfit shipped out of Port Hueneme f or Kodiak, where it arrived Sept. 13. The following April three companies of the outfit left Kodiak for Dutch Harbor followed by the remainder of the Battalion the following month. On May 21, 1943 a detachment of three officers and 100 men from this Battalion landed on Attu. Beginning on June 19, 1943, the outfit left for Adak in three detachments. The second detachment left Dutch Harbor July 25 and the third on July 26. The Battalion turned homeward on Sept. 8, 1943 arriving in the United States Sept. 16. On July 29, 1944, the outfit was inactivated at Camp Parks.

13TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., July 13, 1942, the 13th Battalion was soon transferred to Port Hueneme. The outfit left Hueneme Aug. 15, and em-harked at Bremerton, Wash., on Aug. 18, arriving at Dutch Harbor Aug. 26. The following Spring two detachments were sent to Akutan, Alaska, and returned to the Battalion in June and July. On Aug. 14, 1943, the outfit sailed for the States, arriving Aug. 19 to end their first tour of duty. Beginning its second tour, the Battalion embarked at Port Hueneme June 9, 1944, and arrived at Pearl Harbor a week later. The outfit, minus a rear echelon, left for Tinian on Sept. 29, 1944, and went ashore on Oct. 24. The rear echelon arrived at Tinian Nov. 19, 1944. War’s end found them operating at Okinawa.

14TH BATTALION

The 14th Battalion was commissioned at Camp Allen in July 1942, and transferred to Camp Bradford on July 14. In August the outfit was moved to Hueneme via Davisville, and Oakland, Calif., arriving at Hueneme on Sept. 8, 1942. The following day the unit embarked for overseas duty and arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia on Sept. 29. At Noumea, the Battalion was split into two sections with the first section departing for Guadalcanal on Oct. 19, and arriving on Nov. 4. The second section left Noumea Nov. 5 and arrived at Espiritu Santo Nov. 8, 1942. The second section joined the first section at Guadalcanal in two detachments arriving on Guadalcanal Nov. 29 and Dec. 23. 1942. On Nov. 9, 1943 the entire outfit left Guadalcanal and reported at Pearl Harbor Nov. 27. Three days later the Battalion sailed for the States, arriving at Camp Parks Dec. 11. Beginning its second tour, the outfit moved out of Camp Parks Oct. 21, 1944, arriving at Pearl Harbor Oct. 29. War’s end found them on duty at Okinawa.

15TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Allen, the men of the 15th Battalion underwent advanced training at Camp Bradford and Port Hueneme before embarking for overseas duty at Treasure Island, Calif., on Sept. 15, 1942. The outfit arrived at Espiritu Santo Oct. 13, 1942 and after 13 month’s duty was sent to Auckland, New Zealand, for rest and rehabilitation in Nov. 1943. On Jan. 3, 1944, the first section left Auckland for Banika in the Russell Islands, arriving on Jan. 8. It was followed by the second section a week later. Section one was sent to Green Island, north of Bougainville on Feb. 22 and rejoined the Battalion after completing its job on April 3, 1944. From March 28 to May 31, 1944, approximately half the Battalion was detailed to work at Pavuvu Island, in the Russell’s. On Sept. 9, the entire outfit set sail from Banika, bound for the States and arrived at Oakland, Calif., on Oct. 1, 1944. Beginning its second tour of duty in June 1945, the Battalion shipped overseas bound for Okinawa, where they were located at war’s end.

16TH BATTALION

The Pacific-wide history of the 16th Battalion begins at Camp Allen, where the outfit was commissioned Aug. 2, 1942. Transferred the next day to Camp Bradford, the Battalion left for Port Hueneme Aug. 27. Alter a month at Hueneme, the Battalion shipped overseas from San Diego Sept. 30, and arrived at Pearl Harbor Oct. 4, 1942. On Aug. 14, 1943, the first two echelons left Pearl Harbor and arrived at Funafuti on Aug. 20 and 24. Beginning on Aug. 25 two echelons shipped out from Funafuti bound for Nukefetau in the Ellice Islands. The second echelon landed at Nukefetau Aug. 30. The third, fourth and fifth echelons sailed for another Ellis Island, Nanomea, landing on Sept. 5, 6 and 7, 1943. The sixth and seventh eche-lons departed for Nukefetau, arriving on Sept. 8 and Oct. 7, 1943. On Dec. 14, 1943, three detachments left the Ellice Islands, bound for Tarawa, Apenama and Makin Islands, all in the Gilbert group. On Feb. 6, 1944, the entire Battalion returned to Funafuti and two days later sailed for Pearl Harbor. Arriving at Pearl Feb. 15. On May 2, 1945 the unit was inactivated at Pearl Harbor.

17TH BATTALION

The 17th Battalion was commissioned at Camp Allen Aug. 8, 1942, and transferred to Camp Bradford the next day. On Sept. 1 the outfit was moved to Gulf-port, Miss, and three weeks later to Davisville, R. I. Embarking at Staten Island on Oct. 1, the Battalion arrived at Argentia, Newfoundland, on Oct. 12. On March 14, 1943, the ranks were swelled by the addition of CBD 1004, filling the Battalion complement. Returning home, the unit sailed from Argentia on Nov. 17, 1943, arriving at Davisville Nov. 20. On May 9, 1944, the outfit entrained for Port Hueneme, arriving May 14. After a month at Hueneme, and three months at nearby Point Mugu, the Battalion started its second overseas tour, sailing from Port Hueneme Sept. 11. 1944. Saipan was reached Oct. 6, 1944. After the Okinawa invasion the outfit was transferred there.

18TH BATTALION

The 18th battalion was commissioned at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., Aug. 11, 1942, and transferred that day to Davisville R. 1. On Sept. 6, C Company was transferred to C.B. Replacement Group, Fleet Marine Force, San Diego, Calif. The remainder of the Battalion was transferred to the FMF Base Depot, Norfolk. Embarking on Sept. 11, 1942, the unit arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia, Nov. 11. A, D and Headquarters companies disembarked at Noumea, while B Company sailed for Guadalcanal, landing Dec. 6, 1942. On Dec. 7, A. D and Headquarters companies sailed from Noumea for Guadalcanal on two ships and disembarked at Guadalcanal Dec. 12. More detachments of the outfit arrived at Guadalcanal Dec. 19 and 25. On April 7, 1943, the Battalion, minus the rear echelon, embarked at Guadalcanal and arrived at Wellington, New Zealand, April 16. The rear echelon arrived April 20. On April 26 the Battalion was redesigned as 3rd Battalion, 18th Marine Engineers, 2nd Marine Division. On Oct. 31, 1943 Companies H. Headquarters, and they sailed from Wellington for Tarawa. On Nov. 25 and 26, a detachment of 290 men and three officers from Companies I, H, and Headquarters Companies disembarked at Tarawa. The remainder of the force continued to Hilo, Hawaii. Landing Dec. 5. G Company left Wellington Nov. 29 and arrived at Hilo Dec. 12. Remainder of the echelons left Wellington a few days later and the last detachments arrived at Hilo Jan. 6, 1944. The group left at Tarawa embarked on Jan. 8, 1944, and arrived at Hilo Jan. 21. On April 1, 1944, the Battalion was re-designated as the 18th USN Construction Battalion and assigned to Corps Troops, Fifth Amphibious Corps, but remained attached to the Second Marine Division. On May 11, 1944, the Battalion, minus the rear echelon, left Hilo bound for Saipan. On June 15, 1944 CD-Day) seven shore party platoons landed on Saipan. On D-plus-1, nine more shore party platoons went ashore, and on D-plus-2, one shore party platoon landed. Turning their attention to Tinian, a group of two officers and six men went ashore on that island on July 24 (J-Day). On July 26 (J-plus-2) a detachment of 16 officers and 613 men landed on Tinian. The remaining men arrived from Saipan in small groups over a period of ten days. The rear echelon departed from Hilo in small groups during June and July, with the last group arriving on Tinian Sept. 5, 1944. In June 1945 the Battalion was inactivated.

19TH BATTALION

Activated in Norfolk, the 19th shipped out In September 1942 and arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia, where they were assigned to the First Marine Amphibious Corps. In March 1943, the 19th left Noumea and sailed for Australia, where they worked for five months. By March 1944, the entire Battalion had reached Cape Gloucester, New Britain after short tours of duty on Goodenough Island, off the eastern coast of Papua and Oro Bay, New Guinea. In May 1944, the Battalion moved once more, this time to the Russell Islands, where they worked until August. The entire complement completed the first tour of duty later that month and returned home in September 1944. The 19th regrouped at Hueneme in February of this year, then shipped out to Okinawa in June. At the time of Japan’s surrender, the 19th was working on installations on Okinawa.

20TH BATTALION

After being activated in October 1942, the 20th NCB left for Noumea, New Caledonia, In two sections. In May 1943, the forward echelon left Noumea and was sent to duty on Woodlark Island, off the lower tip of New Guinea. Next mouth, the second echelon sent groups to Oleana Bay, at Vangunu Island and to Viru Harbor, New Georgia. Part of the forward echelon than moved on to Kiriwana, just northwest of Woodlark, and was on duty there for three months. In April 1944, the forward echelon moved on to the Russell Islands and joined the second echelon, which had been sent to the Russells two months earlier In September, 1944, the entire Battalion shoved off for the States and ended their first tour of duty. The 20th regrouped in February 1945, and left for Saipan, When the war ended, they were operating on Okinawa.

21ST BATTALION

Formed at Norfolk, the 21st Battalion reached Hueneme Sept. 22, 1942, and embarked for Alaska Oct. 10. The Battalion operated from Dutch Harbor for 14 months, with detachments on Atka, Adak and Ogilaga. The 21st returned to Camp Parks Dec. 14, 1943. On its second tour of duty, the 21st reported to the Seventh Regiment July 27, 1944, at Pearl Harbor, and operated at Moanalua, Intrepid Point and Waipio Point until the Spring of 1945, when the Battalion moved on to Saipan and the Ryukyus to finish out the war.

22ND BATTALION

Organized in late summer, 1942, the 22nd NCB left for the Alaskan Theater Nov. 19. Both sections bad reached Sitka by Dec. 7. The Battalion moved from Sitka to Attu July 6, 1943, and returned to Camp Parks March 28, 1944, On June 19, 1944 the 22nd was inactivated.

23RD BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen on Sept. 4, 1942, the 23rd Battalion was moved at once to Davisville. R. I. On Oct. 17 the outfit arrived at Port Hueneme and was moved up to Seattle for embarkation Oct. 30. Sailing from Seattle Nov. 2, the Battalion arrived at NOB Kodiak Nov. 7. During November two detachments were sent from Kodiak to Cold Bay. On March 28, 1943, four officers and 223 men departed from Kodiak for Dutch Harbor, arriving April 2. On April 9, three officers and 108 men arrived at Atka and the following day a detachment of three officers and 118 men arrived at Adak. On April 25, 1943 more of the outfit arrived at Dutch Harbor from Kodiak. Detachments were sent from Dutch Harbor to Adak on April 26, May 1 and May 6. And a detachment was also sent to Attu on May 6. On May 12, B Company arrived at Dutch Harbor from Kodiak and was sent to Adak on June 3. From June 14 to 22, detachments were transferred from Adak to Attu. On June 17 D Company left Cold Bay for Attu, arriving on June 26, bringing the outfit all together again. After establishing a headquarters on Attu, the Battalion sailed for the States on Dec. 30, 1943, arriving at Seattle Jan. 12, 1944. The outfit was moved to Camp Parks for duty until June 20, 1944, when it was transferred to Port Hueneme. Beginning Its second overseas tour, the outfit left Port Hueneme July 19, 1944, arriving at Pearl Harbor July 26. On Oct. 16, the Battalion sailed west from Pearl and after stopping over 22 days at Eniwetok, arrived on Guam on Nov. 22, and was still there when the war ended.

24TH BATTALION

Organized on Sept. 4, 1942, the 24th NCB moved to Gulfport Oct. 1 and to Hueneme Oct.

7 before embarking Nov. 27 from San Pedro with destination Noumea, New Caledonia. After five months’ duty at Noumea, the 24th, in two echelons, switched to Guadalcanal early in June 1943. The first echelon of 370 men left the ‘Canal June 13 for maneuvers at New Hebrides, returning June 29 and leaving the same date for Rendova. The second echelon of 450 men left Guadal-canal and reached Kokurana and Baribuna July 18. From Aug. 7 to 15, the entire Battalion moved to Munda, New Georgia, via small landing boats for a seven-months’ stay. Following a rehabilitation leave at Auckland, New Zealand from April 3 to May 4, 1944, the 24th reached Banika in the Russell Islands May 9 for a four-months’ assignment before returning to the States and Camp Parks Sept. 29. The Battalion remained there until the spring of 1945, when it shipped out for Okinawa. Japan’s surrender found the 24th still on Okinawa.

25TH BATTALION

Activation on Sept. 13, 1942 at Norfolk launched the 25th Battalion on a long history spotlighted by nearly three years overseas duty. The outfit went to Hueneme, then to Camp Elliott at San Diego on Oct. 31. After 250 men were transferred to NCB Replacement Group, FMF-TC, the remainder of the 25th was attached to the Third Marine Division, FMF, and the unit designated as Third Battalion, 19th Marines, Third Marine Division. Remaining companies were renamed as Headquarters, G. H, and 1. On Jan. 1, 1943, Co. G and 1/5th of Headquarters transferred to Ninth Marines (Reinforced), Third Marine Division. Co. H. and 1/5th of Headquarters transferred to 21st Marines (Reinforced), Third Marine Division, on Jan. 25, Co. I, and 1/5th of Headquarters were attached to Headquarters, Amphibious Corps FMF, for administrative purposes on Feb. 15. The G and H detachments reached Auckland, New Zealand in Feb. 1943, and the Co. I detachment reached Auckland May 28 after a two months’ stay at Pago Pago, Tutuila, American Samoa. In June, G. H and I were detached from the Marines and returned to Battalion administration The 25th, now composed of a headquarters and three construction companies, moved to Guadalcanal in three echelons, the last group arriving at the ‘Canal on Aug. 1. It sent 386 men and 15 officers into the early Bougainville invasion, the group landing under enemy fire Nov. 1. From Nov. 6 to Nov. 28, an additional 317 men and six officers landed at Bougainville. The forward echelons returned to Guadalcanal by Jan. 7, 1944. The Battalion was re-designated as the 25th NCB on April 11 and released from administrative control of Third Marine Division: then it was attached to Third Amphibious Corps, FMF for administrative purposes and to the Third Marine Division for operational purposes. The forward echelon of 621 men and 23 officers Landed on Guam under enemy fire on July 21, and by Sept. 20, all personnel had moved to Guam. The 25th was released from the Marines and attached to the Fifth NC Brigade Aug. 17. At war’s close, the 25th was still operating on that island.

26TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen on Sept. 18, 1942, the 26th Battalion was immed-iately transferred to Camp Bradford. The outfit was then moved to Gulfport, Miss., and thence to Port Hueneme, arriving Nov. 2, 1942. Sailing from San Pedro, Calif., Nov. 28, 1942, their ship dropped anchor in Noumea harbor Dec. 10. At Noumea the outfit set up a temporary advanced base camp, and ten days later sailed for Guadalcanal. Arriving Dec. 26, the Battalion set up camp between Henderson Field and Lunga Point, as a relief for the Sixth Battalion. On Jan. 1, Company D was detached and assigned to work on Tulagi, returning to the Battalion Sept. 12, 1943. Starting home on Dec. 11, the outfit sailed into San Francisco Dec. 31, 1943, and was moved to Camp Parks. From May 24 to July 29, 1944, the 0-in-C, nine officers and 330 men were detached to work at the Elk Hill Oil Development, Tupman, Calif. On Aug. 8, 1944, the Battalion was re-designated as 26th Battalion, First and Second Section. Section One embarked at San Francisco to begin their second tour on Sept. 15, 1944, and arrived at Kodiak on Sept. 23, as relief for the 79th Battalion. It was later Inactivated and reformed as CBMU 634. Section Two shipped out to Dutch Harbor. It was also inactivated and reformed as CBMU 635.

27TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen, the 27th Battalion moved to Port Hueneme on Oct. 23, 1942. Sailing from San Pedro the next month, the outfit arrived at Tulagi Jan. 3, 1943. The Battalion was transferred to Guadalcanal Nov. 19, 1943. Leaving Guadalcanal Dec. 26, the outfit arrived at Auckland, New Zealand Dec. 31, returning to Guadalcanal Feb. 7,

1944. Moving in echelons, which left Guadalcanal between March 16 and March 28,

1944, the Battalion was transferred to Emirau in the Bismarck Archipelago. Turning homeward on Sept. 22, 1944, the Battalion arrived back at Camp Parks on Oct. 18. In February 1945, it was alerted at Camp Parks for its second overseas tour, and in April sailed for Okinawa.

28TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen, the 28th Battalion arrived at Camp Endicott, Davisville, R. I., on Oct. 31, 1942. Leaving in three groups for Iceland, the men arrived there on Dec. 4, and Dec. 22. 1942. On Aug. 3, 1943, the Battalion received 150 men from the first section of the Ninth Battalion. On Sept. 20, four officers and 273 men were detached for duty at the Naval Fuel Depot, Hvalfjordur, Iceland. Minus Company A and one half of Headquarters Company the Battalion left for the States. On Jan. 27, 1944, the detachment left in Iceland was assigned to the 146th Battalion. Beginning their second tour the Battalion left Davisville on April 19, 1944, arriving at Base 2 in Scotland April 26. Detachments were sent out to work at Netlev, Fowey, Plymouth and Falmouth, with headquarters at Teignmouth. On July 7 the outfit was ordered to Cherbourg in a number of detachments, with the last arriving July 25. On Sept. 17 the first section was transferred to Le Havre, followed by the second section three days later. A reconnaissance party of three officer, and 71 men was sent to Calais on temporary duty from Oct. 15 to Oct. 29. The Battalion’s Mobile Telephone Crew was assigned to work in Paris Nov. 1 and in Le Havre Nov. 15. The first echelon left France for England Nov. 5, arriving Nov. 9. The second echelon left France Nov. 24, arriving in England the next day. The first echelon left for the States on Nov. 14 and reported at Davisville on Nov. 26. They were followed by the second echelon, which arrived at Davisville Dec. 12. 1944.  Meanwhile the mobile telephone crew had been detatched and assigned to the

114th Battalion Nov. 10. On March 27, 1945, the Battalion began its third tour of duty as it left Davisville for Port Hueneme, arriving April 1. In April the outfit sailed for Nakagusuku on Okinawa, where war’s end found them serving. After the surrender the Battalion was sent to Yokosuka, Japan.

29TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen. Va., on Oct. 4, 1942, the 29th arrived at Davisville, R. I., Nov. 5 of that year, alter a month’s training at Camp Bradford. The first echelon embarked overseas from Davisville on Nov. 23, followed by the second echelon, which left Dec. 8. The entire Battalion reformed at Rosneath, Scotland on Dec. 14, 1342. For the next 21 months, the 29th sent out groups to various parts of the British Isles, including Londonderry, Exeter, Plymouth, Fowey, London, Teignmouth and other areas. A detachment of 95 men and four officers also was sent to France in August

1944. The Battalion came back to the States the next month, arriving at Davisville Sept. 12, 1944. The second tour of duty for the 29th began in Hueneme, where the Battalion arrived early in December. From Dec. 15 to Jan. 13, a detachment of 250 men was on duty at San Clemente Island, off the coast of California. The entire Battalion left the States Jan. 27, 1945, and arrived at Samar March 23. During the next five months, the 29th sent out working parties to various areas on Samar and Leyte. When the war ended, the 29th was still on duty in the Philippines. but was awaiting orders to transfer to China.

30TH BATTALION

Activated at NCTC Norfolk in Oct. 1942, and trained at Gulfport, Miss., the 30th shipped out to Trinidad, arriving there Dec. 30, 1942. From the Navy base in the British West Indies, the 30th sent out small groups of working parties to Dutch Guiana, Curacao, British Guiana and St. Lucia, all in the Caribbean area. The first tour of duty ended in Jan. 1944, when the entire Battalion returned to the States. The second assignment sent the 30th Quoddy Village, Maine; Davisville, Camp Parks and Camp Magu. In December 1944, the outfit arrived at Pearl Harbor where it was stationed until embarkation to Samar the following March. The 30th was still on duty in the Philippines at war’s end. After the surrender, the Battalion was scheduled to move to China.

31ST BATTALION

After activation at Davisville Oct. 9, 1942, the 31st NCB shipped out for Bermuda by way of Norfolk Dec. 3 of that year. For the next ten months, the outfit worked on Bermuda, returning home in October 1943. After 11 months in the States, during which time the 31st was at Davisville and Hueneme, it shipped out to Hilo, Hawaii, arriving Oct. 8, 1944. The Battalion was immediately attached to the Fifth Marine Division and from Dec. 24 to Jan. 7, the Battalion boarded various ships for transfer to target area. The Battalion went into action at Iwo Jima with the Fifth Marine Division. After the island was secured, the 31st was detached from the Marines and transferred over to the 41st Construction Regiment, where it built the winding road to the top of Mt. Suribachi. At war’s end, the 31st was still on duty on that island. Following the surrender the Battalion was moved to Omura, Japan.

32ND BATTALION

One tour of duty in the Alaskan sector was the history of the 32nd NCB before it was inactivated. The outfit arrived at Dutch Harbor Dec. 22, 1942, and then moved to Adak in three echelons. The Battalion switched operations to Andrew Lagoon Aug. 1. 1943, and in February. April and May of 1944, the unit returned to Camp Parks. The 32nd was disbanded on May 29, 1944.

33RD BATTALION

More than two years in the Southwest and Western Pacific was the record of the 33rd NCB. The Battalion left Hueneme Dec. 18. 1942, and reached Noumea, New Caledonia, Jan. 8, 1943. In February, the unit moved to Koli Pt., Guadalcanal, and then to Banika in the Russell Islands in March and April. The 33rd, alter a five-. weeks’ rest period at Auckland, New Zealand, returned to Banika Jan. 23, 1944, to stage for the Green Island invasion. The first echelon reached Green Feb. 15, with remaining echelons arriving by the sixth of March. Returning to the Russells in July and August for staging, the 33rd was assigned to the First Marine Division for the Palau Islands’ invasion. First echelon of 24 officers and 859 men participated in the savage Peleliu invasion Sept. 15, with rear echelons arriving in November and December. In the early spring of 1945, personnel with more than 20 months’ overseas service returned home.

34TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Norfolk on Oct. 23. 1942, the 34th NCB made stops at Gulfport and Hueneme before shipping out Jan. 7, 1943. The Battalion reached Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, on Feb. 6, via Noumea, New Caledonia, and went on to Halavo, Florida Islands, Feb. 12. The 34th transferred 250 men and officers to Guadalcanal March 26, and sent 180 officers and men to the Russell Islands April 20. The Battalion regrouped at Tulagi in November, and moved to Guadalcanal again in March 1944. In September, the 34th left the ‘Canal for the States, reaching Camp Parks Oct. 1. Starting its second overseas jaunt in April 1945. The 34th went to Okinawa, where it was at the war’s ending.

35TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Davisville, R. I., Oct. 22, 1942, the 35th Battalion was transferred to Norfolk, Va., on Dec. 14. The next day the outfit embarked for overseas duty and arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia Jan. 18, 1943. Four days later it sailed on a five-day trip to Espiritu Santo. The outfit was moved from there to the Russell Islands in three echelons, arriving in the Russells Feb. 27, June 17 and Aug. 21, 1943. On Jan. 9, 1944, the Battalion left the Russells for rehabilitation at Auckland, New Zealand, returning to the Russells on Feb. 23. A month Later the unit was moved to Lorengau on Manus Island, arriving there April 14. Turning homeward, the 35th embarked at Manus Nov. 5, 1944, and arrived at Camp Parks Nov. 22. On Feb. 1, 1945, the outfit was assigned its second overseas tour, and in May, it sailed for Manila, serving there until wars end.

36TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., the 36th Battalion was transferred to Camp Peary Nov. 17, 1942, the first Battalion to have the misfortune to enter this "hallowed" pound. On Dec. 15, they were happy to be transferred to Port Hueneme. Embarking in three echelons, the last of the outfit arrived at Espiritu Santo on Feb. 10, 1943. On Sept. 12, 1943, the outfit was moved to Banika in the Russells, and on Nov. 26, shipped via LST’s to Bougainville. Ordered to Noumea, New Caledonia, Aug. 14. 1944, the Battalion arrived Aug. 19, and on Sept. 5, embarked for home. The group reported at Camp Parks on Sept. 18, 1944. After leave and refitting, the Battalion embarked for its second overseas tour on Jan. 31, 1945, bound for Saipan. After the Okinawa invasion the outfit was moved to that island to serve for the remainder of the war.

37TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Endicott, Davisville, R. I., on Oct. 28, 1942, the 37th Battalion was transferred to the Army Base. Norfolk, Va., Dec. 14, and two days later embarked for Noumea, New Caledonia, where they arrived Jan. 18, 1943. The outfit moved in two echelons to Guadalcanal, arriving Sept. 1 and Sept. 3. 1943. Leaving Guadalcanal in three echelons, the first echelon arrived at Ondonga, New Georgia, Sept. 12. The second and third echelons got there Sept. 13 and 15. Moving again in February 1944 in three echelons, the outfit arrived on Green Island, Feb. 15, 19 and 24, 1944. Bound for home, the Battalion embarked on Oct. 4, 1944, and arrived at San Francisco on Oct. 26. In July 1945 the 37th began its second overseas tour of duty by sailing for Okinawa and were there at the war’s end.

38TH BATTALION

Forming at Norfolk, Va., in November 1942, the 38th went to Seattle, by way of Hueneme. They shipped out Jan. 9. 1943, arriving at Kodiak, Alaska, five days later. After six month of duty at Kodiak, the Battalion divided into three sections, one going to Kiska, the other two to Adak. The Battalion regrouped at Adak Dec. 5. 1943, and the next April, left for the States, arriving at Camp Parks May 11. During July and August of that summer, the 38th sent out two detachments to the Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1 In California. The second tour of duty for the Battalion began Nov. 23, 1944. Arriving in Pearl Harbor a week later, the 38th spent 13 days at Pearl, then shipped out to Tinian in two main sections, the last group arriving there Jan. 7. 1945. When the Japs surrendered, the 38th was still on duty at Its Marianas base. After the surrender, the Battalion was sent to Japan as a truck-operating unit, and split into four sections for duty at Hiroshima, Kabayana, Yokosuka and Omura.

39TH BATTALION

One of the longest continuous duty Battalions, the 39th has been overseas since Feb. 8, 1943. After being commissioned in Norfolk, Va., Nov. 23, 1942, the outfit was sent to Hueneme from where they shipped out to Maui, arriving there Feb. 17, 1943. After 19 months at Maui, the 39th sailed for Saipan, landing there Sept. 30. 1944. The Battalion was on Saipan at war’s end.

40TH BATTALION

The 40th was activated at Davisville, R. I. in November 1942, and sailed on Christmas Day of that year for overseas duty. The Battalion arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Feb. 3. 1943, and was stationed there until Nov. 25, when they sailed for Finschaven, New Guinea, by way of Noumea and Milne Bay. The entire Battalion arrived at Finschaven by Dec. 22, 1943. The 40th moved again the next February. when the first echelon shipped out for Los Negros, in the Admiralties. The second and third echelons moved on in March 1943, and joined the rest of the Battalion at Los Negros. The 40th remained there until July 21, 1944, when they returned to Noumea, New Caledonia. On Sept. 3, the outfit embarked at Noumea and headed for the States, arriving at Camp Parks Sept. 18. The second tour of duty for the 40th began Feb. 1. 1945, when the Battalion left Parks and sailed for Saipan. After a short stay in the Marianas base, the Battalion moved on to Okinawa, where it was still on duty at the war’s end.

41ST BATTALION

Formed at Camp Allen, Norfolk, on Nov. 30. 1942, the 41st NCB transferred to Camp Peary to Gulfport to Hueneme, before sailing overseas from Seattle Jan. 24, 1943. After operating at Kodiak for slightly more than a year, the Battalion returned to Camp Parks in March 1944. For its second tour of duty, the 41st was divided into two sections of 542 men each. Leaving Camp Parks, the two groups reached Hueneme June 6, 1944. The first section left for Guam Sept. 12 and the second section departed Oct. 1, also for Guam. The two sections consolidated at Guam Nov. 10, with the Battalion remaining on duty there through the war’s end.

42ND BATTALION

Transferred from Norfolk to Davisville in Oct. 1942, the 42nd NCB moved to Hueneme in December and sailed from Seattle Dec. 30, reaching Dutch Harbor Jan. 5, 1943. Detachments were assigned to Adak and Amchitka in March, with the entire Battalion grouping at Adak by November. In April 1945, the 42nd left Adak and returned to Camp Parks, Calif. The unit’s second trip overseas started Oct. 21, 1944. Arriving at Pearl Harbor Oct. 27, the 42nd sent its first echelon to Leyte Gulf Jan. 26, l945, with second and third groups following in March. All debarked at Samar, remaining on duty there through the close of the war in August.

43RD BATTALION

Organized at Davisville, R. I., in Nov. 1942 the 43rd NCB reached Hueneme Dec. 17 and sailed Jan. 2, 1943. The Battalion arrived at Kodiak, Alaska Jan. 10. Co. D transferred to Sand Point until July, when it returned to Kodiak. Another detachment of four officers and 96 men were assigned to Sand Point during August for 30 days duty. In January and February of 1944, the unit returned to Camp Parks in five echelons. Starting its second tour of overseas duty July 5, the 43rd landed at Oahu July 11 and operated there through April 1945. Moving later to Maui, the 43rd was scheduled to leave for Japan shortly after the close of the war in August.

44TH BATTALION

The 44th NCB, formed at Norfolk Dec. 1, 1942, went from there to Camp Peary, to Gulfport to Hueneme, reaching the latter camp Jan. 13, 1943. Preceded by two small groups, the main body of the Battalion sailed Feb. 27 for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, arriving March 18. In early April, the Battalion transferred to Manus Island and joined the Fifth Regiment. Dec. 2 it was detached from the Regiment and assigned to Commander Naval Base at Manus. After six weeks duty, the 44th was ordered to Noumea, New Caledonia, and from there to the States, arriving at Camp Parks Feb. 10, 1945. War’s end found the 44th on Okinawa, on its second tour of duty.

45TH BATTALION

Activated In the fall of 1942, the 45th NCB moved from Norfolk to Hueneme Dec. 28 and sailed for Alaska Jan. 21, 1943. The Battalion reached Kodiak Feb. 12, stayed seven months and then divided into three parts before moving to Sitka, Adak and Tanaga in September. They left Alaska May 1, 1944, reaching Camp Parks May 22, and on June 15, 1944, were disbanded.

46TH BATTALION

The 46th NCB was commissioned at Camp Endicott, Davisville, R. I., Nov. 18, 1942 and was moved to Hueneme Dec. 23. The outfit embarked in five echelons between Feb. 1, and Feb. 27, 1943, arriving at Guadalcanal between March 21 and April 30, 1943. Leaving the ‘Canal in two echelons, for Finschaven, New Guinea, the first echelon arrived Dec. 29, 1943, and the second echelon, which stopped enroute at Milne Bay, arrived at Finschaven on Jan. 5, 1944. Transferring from Finschaven to Los Negros Island in five echelons, beginning Feb. 29, 1944, the units arrived at Los Negros Mar. 2, Mar. 9, Mar. 13, Mar. 30 and April 19, 1944. The entire Battalion embarked from Los Negro: for the States Feb. 1, 1945 and arrived at Camp Parks Feb. 18. The following month the outfit was inactivated at Camp Parks.

47TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., on the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 47th Battalion was transferred to Camp Peary Dec. 10, 1942. Leaving Peary on Jan. 5, 1943, the outfit reached Port Hueneme on Jan. 10. A detachment of six officers and 150 men was detached from the outfit to work at Bolinas, Calif., between Jan. 28 and Feb. 28, 1943. Meanwhile, the outfit was attached to Acorn Seven Feb. 1, 1943. Shipping overseas on April 23, 1943, the outfit arrived in the Russell Islands June 13, 1943, disembarking enroute at Noumea, New Caledonia, and at Guadalcanal. Leaving in echelons, starting on June 29, the last echelon of men arrived at Segi Point, New Georgia, Aug. 2. On Aug. 8, a detachment of men and equipment were sent to Enogi Island for duty with the First and Fourth Marine Raiders, returning to the outfit Sept. 12. Aug. 31, the first echelon departed for Munda, New Georgia, and as transportation became available the remainder of the Battalion was moved to Munda, the last echelon reporting Jan. 15, 1944. Between January and October 1944, several detachments were detailed on temporary duty at Ondonga, New Georgia. On Oct. 10, 1944, the Battalion started to move to Noumea, New Caledonia, with the movement completed Nov. 19, when the Battalion reported for duty at Navy Base 131. A small detachment was sent to Espiritu Santo for temporary duty between Feb. 9 and March 7,1945. The Battalion served at Noumea until it was inactivated at that base June 23, 1945.

48TH BATTALION

Camp Peary Dec. 13, the outfit was officially commissioned at Peary Dec. 15, 1942. Leaving Peary Jan. 4, 1943, the outfit spent a month at Gu1fport, Miss., and then moved to Hueneme, arriving on Feb. 10. Embarking Feb. 19, 1943, the Battalion arrived at Pearl Harbor March 3. On March 4 and 6 the outfit was moved in two groups to Maui, where it was stationed at NAS, Puunene, until May 12, 1944, when it was relieved by the 127th Battalion. From May 12 to June 15, the 48th was engaged in military training at the Fourth Marine Division comp, Maui. Leaving Maui on June 15, the Battalion arrived at Iroquois Point, Oahu, on the 16th and sailed for Guam on June 24. The outfit arrived at Guam Aug. 4. On Aug. 9 and 10, 128 men were assigned to the Fifth Brigade Motor Pool on Guam. The 48th completed a number of large construction jobs there and stayed until the end of the war. One company occupied Rota in the Marianas after the surrender of that island. The unit is now being inactivated.

49TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Allen. Norfolk, Va., Dec. 18, 1942, the 49th NCB was transferred to Camp Peary on the same day. On Jan. 16, 1943, the outfit was moved to Davisville, R.I

and on Feb. 24 left there for Staten Island, for embarkation. Sailing on Feb. 25 the outfit arrived in Bermuda on the 27th. After nearly a year in Bermuda, the Battalion returned to Davisville, arriving Jan. 18, 1944. Beginning its second tour of duty, the Battalion left there Aug. 13, 1944, and arrived at Camp Parks Aug. 18. The outfit left Camp Parks Sept. 5 and arrived at Hueneme the next day. On Sept. 12, 1944 the unit embarked and arrived at Guam Oct. 24. During its tour of duty on Guam the 49th, assisted by the 94th, erected the Navy’s CinCPOA headquarters. In July 1945 the outfit was inactivated on Guam.

 50TH BATTALION

Commissioned Dec. 18, 1942 at Norfolk, Va., the 50th NCB moved to Gulfport Jan. 20th, 1943, and to Hueneme, Feb. 13. The Battalion shipped out March 5, reaching Pearl Harbor March 10 and leaving March 31 for Midway, arriving April 4. The first echelon returned to Oahu April 24 and the second echelon followed May 22. The 50th sent 17 men and one officer to participate in the assault on Angaur in the Palau Islands in September, 1944.The Battalion left Oahu Oct. 24, and arrived at Tinian Nov. 19. The detachment which took part in the Angaur invasion rejoined the 30th Dec. 10. At the war’s end, the outfit was still on Tinian.

51ST BATTALION

After formation at Davisville, R. 1., Dec. 2, 1942, the 51st NCB trekked across country to Hueneme and then to Seattle, sailing for Alaska early in February and arriving on the 17th at Dutch Harbor. Remaining slightly over a year, the unit left Dutch Harbor March 6, 1944, and reached Camp Parks March 15. The 51st began its second tour of duty Sept. 9, 1944, when it sailed for Ulithi in the Western Carolines, arriving Oct. 8. A forward detachment of 28 officers and 797 men moved to Saipan Dec. 30, and was joined by the rear echelon of four officers and 197 men April 26, 1945. The 51st finished out the war on Saipan, and after the surrender was sent to Marcus Island.

52ND BATTALION

The 52nd NCB started its first tour of duty Feb. 12, 1943, when it sailed from Seattle for Alaska, arriving at Dutch Harbor Feb. 17. The Battalion had been commissioned Dec. 6, 1942, at Davisville, R. I, and then moved to Gulfport and Hueneme. In April 1943, most of the Battalion transferred operations to Sand Bay on Great Sitkin Island. From May 31 to Oct. 31, the entire unit was at Sand Bay except for a small, varying group at Adak expediting Battalion business. By Feb. 9, 1944, the 52nd, except for Co. A. moved to Adak, and was joined by Co. A in April. The Battalion left Adak April 28 and returned to Hueneme May 12, 1944, via Seattle. A second tour of duty started Oct. 18, 1944, when the 52nd sailed from San Francisco, arriving at Pearl Harbor Oct. 24. The unit moved on to Guam April 30, 1945, and was operating there at the war’s close. In September 1945 the Battalion was in the process of being inactivated.

53RD BATTALION

Alter activation at Norfolk Dec. 22, 1942, the 53rd NCB moved to Davisville, R. I., Dec. 28, and was divided into two sections Jan. 16. 1943. The Second Section left Davisville Feb. 7 with orders to join a section of the 17th NCB to form the 120th NCB. Exact movements of Second Section are unreported following departure from Davisville. On Feb. 12, one company and one fourth of Headquarters Company of the First Section moved to Hadnot Point, New River, N. C. for duty with the Fleet Marine Force. Another company, with Headquarters group, went to San Diego for duty with FMF The Hadnot Point detachment was transferred into Naval Construction Replacement Group, Camp Lejeune, New River, N. C., Feb. 15. The 53rd was assigned 13 officers and 541 men from the replacement group at Lejeune, and seven officers and 268 men from replacement groups at Camps Elliott and Pendleton, San Diego. The contingents joined at San Diego Feb. 26, and sailed for Noumea, New Caledonia, March 11, arriving March 25. The 53rd was designated as Naval Construction Battalion, First Marine Amphibious Corps, April 14. The Battalion switched operations to Guadalcanal Oct. 12, 1943, and from there sent one detachment to Vella Lavella and several groups to Bougainville in November and December. The Battalion regrouped at Guadalcanal in January 1944, and on May 12 was redesignated the 53rd NCB. In six echelons, the unit moved to Guam, participating in the invasion, and was on duty there when the war ended.

54TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Bradford, near Norfolk, Dec. 24, 1942, the 54th NCB took military training at Camp Peary, Camp Thomas, and Davisville in January and February

1943. The first echelon, left Davisville Feb. 22 for Bayonne, N. J., for transfer to Algeria, North Africa, via Bermuda and Gibraltar, and arrived at Anew, Algeria March 27. The second echelon jumped from Davisville to Staten Island. N. Y., with destination Algeria, sailing March 5, reaching Oran, March 19, and Arzew March 21. In April the Battalion was operating at Arzew, Mostaganem, Cherchel, Port-Aux-Poules Tenes, Beni-Saf, and Nemours, Algeria. In May and June, the 54th went to Bizerte, and from July to November 1943 operated at Bizerte, Ferryville, Tunis, Karouba, LaGoulette and LaPerchie in Tunisia. The first echelon on Nov. 21 and second echelon on Nov. 23 sailed for U. S., the first reaching Norfolk Dec. 17, and the second landing at Bayonne, N. J., the same date. The two sections joined at Davisville Dec. 18. In July 1944, the Battalion entrained for Hueneme and remained until December. Starting its second tour, the 54th sailed Jan. 10, 1945, for the Philippines, via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok. The unit reached its destination, Guiuan. on southern Samar, March 7, and disembarked at Guiuan and Tubabao, Samar. In May and June, the 34th transferred to Mactan Island at Cebu and was operating there when the war closed.

55TH BATTALION

The 55th headed overseas March 5, 1943, and landed at Brisbane, Australia March 25. From Brisbane during the May, 1943-April 1944 period, the Battalion sent detachments to Merauke, Kanakopa, New Guinea, and Port Moresby, Palm Island, near Townsville and Cairns, Australia. On April 28, 1944 the 55th left Brisbane and arrived at Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, June 1. From Hollandia, the Battalion switched to Mios Woendi Island and operated there for the rest of 1944. Co. C, from Sept. 25 to Dec. 31, was located at Hollandia. On New Year’s Day, 1945, the 55th sailed from Mios Woendi for the U. S., arriving at Camp Parks Jan. 21. The unit was inactivated in March.

56TH BATTALION

Formed at Norfolk Dec. 24, 1942, the 56th transferred to Camp Parks Feb. 27, 1943 and to Hueneme March 15. The Battalion shipped to Pearl Harbor April 2, and was assigned to duty at the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, Oahu. Alter 14 months Hawaiian duty, the 56th went to Guam in August 1944, and remained there through the war’s end.

57TH BATTALION

The 57th Battalion was commissioned at Davisville, R. I., on Dec. 18, 1942, and was moved to Gulfport, Miss. on Jan. 29, 1943. On Feb. 14, the outfit left Gulfport and arrived at Port Hueneme Feb. 19. The main echelon embarked March 9 and a rear echelon, March 20. The first echelon arrived on Espiritu Santo March 25 and the rear echelon, April 11. On March 29, 1944, the Battalion was transferred to SoWesPac, attached to the Fourth Brigade, and sailed for Mantis, arriving April 15 and 18, 1944. On Feb. 1, 1945, the Battalion embarked at Manus, bound for the States, and arrived at Camp Parks Feb. 18. The following month the Battalion was inactivated at Camp Parks.

58TH BATTALION

The 58th NCB first shipped overseas from Hueneme April 13, 1943, arriving at Vunda Point, Fiji Islands May 4. Leaving Vunda Point July 23, the outfit reported at Guadalcanal July 30. During August 1943, the Battalion moved to Vella La Vella in the Solomons in echelons, departing Aug. 11, 13, 14, 17 and 23. On Jan. 2, 1944, the entire Battalion sailed for Auckland, New Zealand, arriving Jan. 9. On Feb. 11, 1944, the Battalion again moved, reaching Banika in the Russell Islands on Feb. 17. On March 28 it moved to the Admiralties, debarking at Los Negros on April 20. On Dec. 12, 1944, it returned to Guadalcanal. On March 11, 1945 the first echelon, comprised of 26 officers and 851 men left for Okinawa and on April 1 (L-Day) this group landed on that island in the assault echelon of the Sixth Marine Division. The outfit was still stationed on Okinawa at war’s end.

59TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Norfolk, Va., on Dec. 29, 1942, the 59th Battalion left Norfolk Feb. 28, 1843 and arrived at Hueneme on March 4. Leaving there March 21, the outfit sailed from San Francisco March 24 and arrived at Hilo, Hawaii, March 30. The Battalion operated at Kanuela, Hawaii, until April 20, 1944. Returning to Pearl Harbor the next day, the Battalion sailed for Guam in three echelons, leaving June 1, June 6 and June 18. The first echelon landed on Guam on July 27, with the remaining units landing on July 30, Aug. 2, 3, 10, 14 and 18. War’s end found them still stationed on Guam.

60TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Allen, Norfolk, Va., Dec. 24, 1942, the 60th Battalion transferred to Camp Endicott on Feb. 11, 1943, thence to Camp Parks on Feb. 17, and to Hueneme March 7. Embarking for overseas duty on March 25, the Battalion arrived in Brisbane, Australia, April 25. Leaving Brisbane for Townsville, Australia, in five echelons, the last unit embarked June 15, 1943. The five echelons sailed from Townsville on June 27, July 7, 9. 20 and 29, and arrived at Woodlark Island on July 1, 11, 13, 24 and Aug. 2, 1943. On Nov. 1 most of the outfit left Woodlark for Finschaven, New Guinea, with some 309 men remaining at Wood-lark as a maintenance unit. On May 13, 1944, the Battalion left for Brisbane for recuperation leave, returning to Finschaven June 17. On June 26, the outfit left Finschaven bound for Owi Island, arriving on July 8. During the summer and fall detachments were sent to Neomfoor Island, Amsterdam Island and Leyte, all returning after a few weeks’ temporary duty. On Dec. 18, 1944, the Battalion sailed for the States arriving at San Francisco Jan. 10, 1945. The outfit was moved to Camp Parks and decommissioned April 6, 1945.

61ST BATTALION

The 61st NCB was formed at Camp Peary in January 1943, and trained there until Feb. 27, when it departed for Gulf-port. Miss. After two weeks at Gulfport the Battalion left for Hueneme for additional training. The entire outfit shipped out April 14, arriving in Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, on May 2. Ten days later, the 61st boarded ship again and landed at Guadalcanal where they were on duty until February 1944. On Feb. 19 the outfit sailed for Auckland, N. Z., leaving there in the middle of March for Emirau in the Bismarck Archipelago. The 61st arrived at Emirau March 30 and remained until July 21, 1944, when it left for the Russell Islands, arriving there three days later. Alter a little more than two months in the Russells, the Battalion shipped out again, this time to the Philippines, by way of Manus and Hollandia. The 61st entered Leyte Gulf on Oct. 23 (D-Day plus three) and began unloading off Dulag, Leyte. In November and December of 1944, the outfit moved to Guiuan, Samar, the last echelon arriving on Dec. 30. It was still on duty there at wars end.

62ND BATTALION

Alter forming at Davisville in December 1942, the 62nd was sent to Hueneme for advanced training. The Battalion spent three weeks at Camp Rousseau then went to San Francisco, whence it shipped out on March 24 for Pearl Harbor. The 62nd was on duty in Oahu for 19 months, then went to Maui on Nov. 2 for the Iwo Jima staging. Embarkation tar the invasion began on Christmas Day, 1944, and by February 1, 1945, the last elements of the Battalion were aboard ship. The first landing party of the 62nd hit Iwo on Feb. 24, with the main body of the outfit coming ashore during the next three days. On VJ Day, the 62nd was still on Iwo Jima.

63RD BATTALION

This Battalion was formed In January. 1943 at Camp Peary and was commissioned the next month. It arrived at Hueneme March 23 after a brief training period at Gulfport, leaving the California base on April 30, 1943. On June 11, the outfit landed on Guadalcanal and was stationed there until Jan. 25, 1944, when it left for a month’s tour of duty at Auckland, N. Z. The 63rd left New Zealand Feb. 29 and after a short stay at Guadalcanal, sent the first echelon to Emirau on March 20, 1944. The last echelon arrived at Emirau from Guadalcanal in June. On Sept. 16, 1944, the main body of the 63rd departed Emirau for Manus, arriving there two days later. On March 25, 1945, the Battalion shipped out once more and landed at Manila April 8. When the Japs announced surrender, the 63rd was still on duty in the Philippines capital.

64Th BATTALION

Commissioned at Norfolk, VA, on Jan. 8, 1943, the 64th NCB was transferred to Davisville, R. I., March 5. Embarking for Argentia, Newfoundland, in two echelons on March 24 and 31, the groups arrived March 27 and April 3, 1943. Returning to the State., the Battalion left Argentia on New Years Day, 1944, and reported at Davisville on Jan. 5. Between May 30 and Sept. 18, 1944, a detachment was detailed for temporary duty at NAS, Melbourne, Fla. On Sept. 25, 1944, the outfit moved from Davisville, arriving at Camp Parka Sept. 30. Sailing from San Francisco on Oct. 25, the Battalion reported at Pearl Harbor Oct. 30. Stationed at Pearl until the following March, the outfit sailed for Samar in ten echelons between March 20 and 30, 1945, arriving in the Philippines at various dates between April 8 and May 3. At war’s end the outfit was still at the Guiuan naval base on Samar but had been tentatively alerted for China.

65TH BATTALION

The 65th NCB was born in the field at Freetown, Africa, as a result of the wedding of CBD 1001 and 1002 on March 31, 1943. In June the outfit sailed for home, landing at Boston June 23, and reporting at Camp Endicott on June 26. On Dec. 23, 1943, the outfit was officially inactivated and the personnel transferred to other units.

66TH BATTALION

Formed at Davisville, R. I. in January 1943, the 66th NCB was moved to Camp Parks June 25, arriving there July 1. Twelve days later the outfit moved to Hueneme, and sailed Aug. 18. The unit arrived at Adak in the Aleutians Aug 31. From April 26, 1944, a detachment was sent to Sand Bay for duty until Oct. 4, 1944. Beginning on July 1, 1944, detachments 01 varying size were sent from Adak to Attu. The largest of these groups left for Attu July 1 and July 28. All units were back with the Battalion at Adak on Nov. 14,

1944. On Dec. 12, the outfit sailed for the States and arrived at Camp Parks, Christmas, 1944. Starting its second overseas tour, the Battalion sailed for Okinawa in July 1945 and was stationed at Nakagusuku at the war’s end.

67TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Peary May 13, 1943, the 67th Battalion was designated as a replacement outfit. On July 29, the Battalion was transferred to Camp Endicott and in August its designation was changed from that of Replacement Battalion to Battalion in training, and it was given an overseas assignment. On Oct. 16 the unit arrived at Camp Parks and on Dec. 22 it was transferred to Hueneme. Sailing from Hueneme on Feb. 24, 1944, it reported to the 2nd Brigade at Pearl Harbor on March 1. Leaving Pearl on June 18, the outfit landed on Tinian Aug. 2. In June 1945 the outfit was transferred to Eniwetok in the Marshall’s, where it was stationed at war’s end.

68TH BATTALION

Formed at Norfolk, Va., Jan. 10, 1943, the 68th NCB was moved to Camp Peary Jan. 12. The outfit was transferred to Camp Endicott on March 19 and then to Camp Parks on May 12. On May 23, 1943, half of the 67th Battalion was designated as the second echelon of the 68th, and on June 8, the new second echelon was transferred from Camp Peary to join the outfit at Camp Parks. Meanwhile, on May 27, one half of the original 68th Battalion had been detached and formed into CBD 1008. On June 19, the outfit was transferred to Hueneme. Sailing from Hueneme on July 7, the Battalion arrived at Adak in the Aleutians on July 23. Proceeding to Attu, the outfit landed there on July 29, 1943. After a year and three months’ duty at Attu, the Battalion sailed for the States on Oct. 31, 1944, and arrived at Camp Parks Nov. 17. For its second tour of duty the 68th sailed for Okinawa in May 1945 and was still sta-tioned there at the end of hostilities.

69TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Peary Feb. 8, 1943, the 69th NCB spent six months at Argentia, Newfoundland-June 17 to Dec. 6-before returning to Camp Endicott at Davisville, R. I., Dec. 9. The Battalion sailed for England June 16, 1944, arriving at Plymouth July 1. From Aug. 11 to Sept. 10, a detachment of four officers and 33 men were on duty with COMUSBASFRANCE. From Aug. 12 to Oct. 5, one officer and 31 men were on duty at COUSNAAB at Falmouth. From Aug. 26 to Sept. 15, one officer and 71 men were on duty at USNAF at Dunkesweil. First echelon of five officers and 56 men reported at USNAB 11, Omaha Beach, France, for duty on Oct. 9, the main body of 69th following on Oct. 14. The unit returned to Plymouth, England Nov. 13 and sent detachments to Vicarage, Southampton, Falmouth, Exeter and Dunkesweil, England, and Rosneath, Scotland, for temporary duty during the Nov. 1944-April 1945 period. In April 1945, the first echelon of the 69th, preceded by four small detachments, logged out for CTF 126, and last reported activity of the 69th.

70TH BATTALION

Formed at Davisville, R. I., the 70th NCB embarked from New York April 28, 1943, and reached Oran, North Africa May 27. The Battalion transferred to Arzew, Algeria, maintaining headquarters there while sending detachments to Bizerte, Oran, Nemours, Beni-Saf, Amel-Turck, Mostaganem, Tenes and Port-Aux-Poules. One officer and 15 men from D Company participated in the Salerno operation Sept. 9, 1943. One officer and 100 men were detached Nov. 26, 1943, to form CBMU 578. The 70th returned to Davisville Christmas Day, 1943. In March. April, and May 1944, one officer and 50 men were on temporary duty at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla., on airfield construction. The 70th was designated officially as a pontoon Battalion Aug. 23, 1944, and sailed for Pearl Harbor Oct. 21, arriving Oct. 27. An advance echelon left for Guam Nov. 6, followed by several detachments in December and January. Fifteen officers and 276 men left Jan. 18 from Oahu to participate in the Iwo Jima assault in February. The Battalion was at Okinawa and Te Shima and is headed for various destinations in Japan, Korea and China.

71ST BATTALION

After formation at Camp Peary, the 71st NCB shifted to Davisville, Parks and Hueneme, arriving at the latter destination July 15, 1943. The Battalion sailed for Guadalcanal Sept. 7, arriving Oct. 5. The 71st sent three officers and 73 men into the Bougainville assault Nov. 1, with the bulk of the unit following later in November and December. The Battalion left Bougainville March 25, 1944 and ar-rived at Manus, Admiralty Islands April 17. From April 24 to Sept. 26, the 71st was at Pityilu in the Admiralties, moving to Los Negros on the latter date. Returning to Guadalcanal Dec. 12, the Battalion remained for two months, staging for the Okinawa invasion. In late February and early March, the unit left the ‘Canal for Okinawa, and was based there when the war ended.

72ND BATTALION

The 72nd NCB was organized at Camp Peary in January 1943 then jumped to Hueneme via Davisville and Parks. Leaving San Francisco April 24, the Battalion arrived at Pearl Harbor May 4 and was assigned to duty at Barbers Pt., Iroquois Pt. and Ewa, on Oahu. The 71st left the Hawaiian Islands June 18, 1944, landing on Guam in early August. At the war’s end the unit was still operating there. In September the Battalion was scheduled for movement to Nagasaki, Japan.

73RD BATTALION

Leaving Camp Peary March 17, 1943, the 73rd NCB moved to Camp Parks and then to Hueneme before embarking for Noumea, New Caledonia, May 12. After reaching Noumea May 29, the Battalion shifted to Guadalcanal July 13. One officer and 56 men made special surveys of Roviana and Saseville as temporary dispersal areas for cargo en route to Munda, New Georgia, then moved on to Munda Aug. 6. Main body of the Battalion reached Munda Aug. 9. After 11 months on Munda, the Battalion moved to Banika in the Russell Islands in July 1944. One officer and 27 men reported to Pavuvu near Banika Aug. 21 for detached duty with the First Marine Division as riggers, crane operators and shore party maintenance crew for the Peleliu invasion. A forward echelon of 27 officers and 893 men left Banika Aug. 27 for the Peleliu push and took part in D-Day beach landings Sept. 15. The rear echelon followed in December. After helping build up the Peleliu roads and airstrips, the 73rd was inactivated in July 1045, and returned to the States after 26 months of overseas duty.

74TH BATTALION

Immediately after forming in Camp Peary in April 1943, the 74th was transferred to Davisville for training, where it remained until June 30. On that date, the Battalion was moved to Camp Parks, Calif., preparatory to shipping out. The 74th embarked for Pearl Harbor from Hueneme in three echelons beginning Sept. 24. The last echelon arrived at Pearl on Oct. 18, 1943. On Oct. 30 of that year, half the Battalion left Pearl and arrived at Tarawa on Nov. 24, three days after 0-Day. The rest of the outfit landed on Tarawa in two sections during November and December. From Tarawa, the 74th moved to Kwajalein in February and March 1944, shortly after another D-Day. The first detachment of the Battalion headed back for Pearl Harbor on June 4, 1944, followed by five other sections, the last one arriving at Pearl in October. The next stop for the 74th was Okinawa, where It was still on duty at war’s end.

75TH BATTALION

The 75th was transferred to Camp Parks from Camp Endicott March 18, 1943, then moved down to Hueneme April 18. On June 9 the outfit shipped out and arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia, where it remained until Sept. 16, 1943. On that date, the Battalion left Noumea, and stopped off briefly at Guadalcanal from where it sent out a detachment of 100 men to Bougainville Nov. 1. 1943. By Nov. 23 the last of five detachments of the 75th arrived at Bougainville from Guadalcanal. The entire Battalion was stationed there until May 25, when it sailed for Banika. From May 27 to Aug. 13 the 75th operated at Banika, then moved on to Milne Bay, New Guinea. From Milne Bay, the Battalion shipped to the Philippines, the first echelon of nearly 800 men arriving in Leyte Gulf, Oct. 24. The last echelons arrived at Leyte by the middle of November. On Nov. 9, 1943, the 75th moved to San Antonio, Samar, then began setting up permanent camp at Calicoan Island. On March 2, 1945, the Battalion had completed the move to Calicoan and was still at that location when Japan surrendered.

76TH BATTALION

Formed at Norfolk, Va., in Jan. 1943, the 76th received additional training at Gulfport, Miss., then moved on to Hueneme April 1, 1943. The Battalion shipped out of Hueneme April 5 went up to San Francisco, then headed for Pearl Harbor where It landed April 16. Half of the Battalion remained on Oahu, the rest shipped out to Palmyra. The entire Battalion regrouped on Oahu in Jar. 1944, and remained there on duty until June 18, when it shipped out for Guam The first detachments went ashore Aug. 4; debarkation was completed Aug. 14, 1944. The 76th was still on duty on Guam at the time the war ended.

77TH BATTALION

Shifting from Camp Peary where it was commissioned in Jan. 1943, the 77th NCB went to Davisville. and then to Hueneme before sailing Aug. 2, 1943. The unit arrived at Guadalcanal Sept. 3, at Vella Lavella Sept. 25 and Bougainville Dec. 10. Next stop was Emirau in the St. Matthias group, above New Ireland, on April 14, 1944. The 77th’s forward echelon of 27 officers and 80 men left Emirau for Brisbane, Australia Dec. 16, arriving Dec. 22, with two officers and 101 men remaining at Emirau. The forward echelon in March 1945 transferred to Manila, where it was at the end of the war and due for inactivation.

78TH BATTALION

The 78th NCB made trips to Davisville, Gulfport and Hueneme after organiza-tion at Camp Peary on Feb. 9, 1943. It sailed from Hueneme June 18, and readied Noumea, New Caledonia July 13. On Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 in two echelons, the 78th left for Milne Bay, New Guinea, for transshipment by LST’s to Finschaven. The first echelon reached Finschaven Dec. 9 and second group arrived Dec. 22. Sixty men were temporarily detached Dec. 16 for duty on an airstrip at Dreger Harbor with the 60th NCB. The 77th transferred to Los Negros, Admiralty Islands in March 1944, and worked on projects on Los Negros and Manus. The Battalion left Lorengau, Manus Island, in Decem-ber for Noumea and remained there until spring, when it moved to Okinawa to finish out the war.

79TH BATTALION

Launched Feb. 1, 1943, at Norfolk, the 79th NCB traveled to Gulfport, Hueneme and Seattle before shipping out May 6. The Battalion arrived at Kodiak, Alaska, May 10. The 79th remained in the Alaskan sector until the fall of 1944, with detachments at Cold Bay, Amchitka and Adak. Second tour of duty started Jan. 31, 1945, when the unit left Camp Parks for overseas, reaching Saipan Feb. 26. The first echelon of 21 officers and 727 men left Saipan for Okinawa April 21, landing April 30. The second echelon followed May 15. The 79th remained at Okinawa through the end of the war.

80TH BATTALION

Formed at Norfolk, Va., Jan. 26, 1943, the 80th Battalion moved to Gulf port, Miss. March 14. Sailing from Gulfport July 19. 1943, the Battalion arrived in Trinidad Aug. 3. Returning to the States, they left Trinidad May 6, 1944, and reported at Camp Endicott May 13. A month later the unit departed for Port Hueneme and arrived there on June 18. After 11 months at Hueneme, the outfit sailed on its second overseas tour May 18, 1945 bound for Subic Bay in the Philippines. The men arrived at Subic Bay June 16 and were stationed there at war’s end.

81ST BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Peary Feb. 13, 1943, the 81st Battalion was moved to Camp Endicott April 10. On July 5, the outfit was split into two sections. The first section embarked Aug. 20, 1943, and arrived at Rosneath Scotland Aug. 26. The second section sailed Sept. 5 landing at Rosneath on Sept. 23. The first and second sections were reunited Oct. 5. Between October 1943 and May 1944 the outfit had detachments operating at Rosneath, Milford Haven, Fowey, Penarth, Bicester, Falmouth, Salcombe, St. Mawes, Dartmouth, Newton, Abbot, Plymouth and London. In May 1944 all outside detachments were secured and personnel transferred to headquarters at Falmouth. On June 6 (D-Day) the Battalion began operations at Utah Beach in Normandy. On Sept. 6, a detachment left for Paris. Returning to England in two echelons, the first unit arrived at Plymouth Oct. 10. The second echelon, plus the Paris detachment arrived at Teignmouth, Devon, England Oct. 18. Sailing for home, the first echelon arrived at Davisville, R. I. Oct. 29, 1944, and the second echelon reported Nov. 10. Starting its second tour, the outfit sailed from Davisville Jan. 22. 1945, passed through the Panama Canal Jan. 30, and arrived at Pearl Harbor Feb. 15. In March the Battalion sailed from Pearl and after brief stops at Eniwetok and Ulithi, arrived at Hagushi Beach, Okinawa May 2. The following day the unit set up headquarters on Awase Peninsula and had detachments operating at Hagushi, Kuba Saki and Nakagusuku. On May 17, a detachment was sent to Ie Shima. At war’s end the outfit was still operating at Okinawa.

82ND BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Endicott Jan. 28, 1943, the 82nd Battalion spent two months at Endicott and three weeks at Gulfport before arriving at Port Hueneme April 28, 1943. Sailing from Hueneme on July 10, 1943, the outfit arrived at Guadalcanal, via Noumea, New Caledonia, on Aug. 19, 1943. On Aug. 29, a detachment was sent to Vella Lavella, and on Sept. 5 a small detachment was moved to Munda, New Georgia. Moving in five echelons, the outfit transferred to Ondonga, New Georgia, between Sept. 10 and 14. Moving in three echelons, the outfit arrived at Sterling in the Treasury Islands on Dec. 10, 11, 21, 1943. Meanwhile the group detached to Vella Lavella rejoined the outfit at Sterling Dec. 23. The outfit was transferred to Nepoui, New Caledonia August 1944, with two echelons arriving at Nepoui Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 1944. During the winter several small detachments were detailed to the Russell Islands on temporary duty. On May 2, 1945, the outfit sailed from Nepoui and arrived at Eniwetok on May 11. The next stop was Ulithi, where the Battalion arrived on May 25. Sailing again on June 12, the outfit landed on Okinawa June 18. War’s end found them still there.

83RD BATTALION

Formed at Norfolk, Va., on Feb. 2. 1943, the 83rd Battalion moved to Gulfport, Miss. March 16. Leaving for Trinidad in two echelons, the first section embarked April 29, 1943, and arrived May 21. The second section followed a month later. On May 23, 1944, 25 men were detached for duty with CBMU 559 and on May 30 the outfit sailed for home, arriving at Davisville June 5. On Oct. 14, 1944, the Battalion moved to Camp Parks and after two weeks transferred to Hueneme. Embarking on its second overseas tour, the Battalion sailed from San Pedro Dec. 27, 1944, and landed at Pearl Harbor Jan. 3, 1945. On March 29 the unit sailed from Pearl Harbor and arrived at Samar April 22. At war’s end the outfit was on duty at the Guiuan naval base on Samar. In September 1945, the outfit was scheduled for shipment to Tientsin, China.

84TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Davisville, R. I., Feb. 3, 1943, the 83rd Battalion arrived at Camp Parks April 27. Transferred to Hueneme on May 15, the outfit sailed overseas May 31, 1943 and arrived at Brisbane June 19. On June 30, twenty officers and 569 men sailed for Milne Bay, arriving on July 7. On Aug. 1, a small detachment moved from Brisbane to Darwin, Australia. On Sept. 4, Company D sailed from Brisbane, arriving at Milne Bay Sept. 12. From September 1943 to February 1944 the outfit had men stationed at Milne Bay, Brisbane and Darwin. In February two officers and 127 men of Company B were sent to Thursday Island. On March 24 the main body of the Battalion left Milne Bay and arrived at Brisbane on March 31. On April 22 a detachment was ordered to Sydney. Early in July the men of Company B returned to Brisbane from Thursday Island. On July 12 a detachment moved from Brisbane to Townsville. On Aug. 16 the Battalion left Brisbane and picking up the detachment at Townsville arrived at Biak Aug. 30. Leaving Biak Sept. 23, the unit arrived at Morotai Sept. 27 and left a month later. On March 14, 1945 the Battalion arrived at Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, in the Philippines where it was stationed at war’s end.

85TH BATTALION

The 85th Battalion was commissioned at Camp Allen on Feb. 6, 1943, moved to Davisville. R. I., Feb. 9 to Gulfport, Miss. April 16, and to Port Hueneme May 6. On May 16, 1943 Company B was detached to form CBMU 509. Sailing from Seattle on May 25. 1943, the Battalion arrived at Dutch Harbor May 30. On Nov. 1, 1943, the personnel of CBMU 508 were attached to the Battalion as Company B. From March 7 to Aug. 31, 1944, a detachment of the Battalion was on duty at Attu, and on the day it returned to the told, the first echelon embarked for the States, arriving at Camp Parks Sept. 9. The second echelon reached Camp Parks Oct. 11. The outfit was transferred to Port Hueneme Jan. 23, 1945. On Jan. 27 a detachment was sent to Coronado, Calif. It returned on Feb. 15. On Jan. 30 another detachment was ordered to Thermal, Calif., returning Feb. 14. On March 6, 1945, the Battalion sailed overseas for the second time, arriving at Espiritu Santo on March 19. The Battalion was still stationed there at the end of the war. Alter the Japanese surrender the 85th was sent to Wake Island.

86TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Allen in February 1943 the 88th Battalion moved through Camp Endicott and Camp Parks, before sailing overseas from Port Hueneme May 20, 1943, bound for Adak via Dutch Harbor. It arrived on Adak June 3. 1943. A detachment of 80 men was sent to Great Sitkin Island in September and returned in December. Another Detachment was sent to Great Sitkin Island April 30. 1944, and returned to the Battalion Nov. 6. In July 1944 small detachments were sent to Amchitka, Tanaga and Andrews Lagoon, assembling with the Battalion at Adak again Nov. 14, 1944. Next day the outfit sailed for home, arriving at Camp Parks Nov. 30. In May 1945 the Battalion again sailed from the States bound for Okinawa where wars end found it stationed.

87TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary Feb. 23, 1943, the 87th Battalion was transferred to Camp Endicott and then to Port Hueneme June 19. Sailing Aug. 28, 1943 the outfit arrived at Banika in the Russell Islands, via Noumea, New Caledonia Sept 30. The first echelon left Banika Oct. 18 and arrived with assault forces at Mona and Sterling in the Treasury Islands. The second and third echelons arrived at Sterling Nov. 28 and Dec. 11, 1943. The outfit transferred to Noumea, New Caledonia in two echelons, landing Sept 10 and 30. 1944. Sailing for Saipan in January 1945, the groups landed Jan. 27, Feb. 17, & March 3, 1945. Moving again to Okinawa, the two echelons arrived April 27 and May 14, 1945. War’s end found them still there.

88TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Endicott Feb. 8, 1943, the 88th Battalion was stationed at Camp Parks a  month before shipping overseas from Port Hueneme July 3, 1943. The outfit arrived at Mt. Dore, New Caledonia, on July 19. Transferred to Guadalcanal in two sections, the first section landed Nov. 16, 1943, and the second section on Dec. 28. In January the outfit left Guadalcanal in three echelon arriving on Treasury Island Jan. 5, 15 and 20,

1944. The last of March the Battalion moved again, this time to Emirau Island. Early in October 1944 the outfit was divided into two sections. Detachment B arrived at Ulithi on Oct. 9 and Detachment A landed on Leyte Oct. 29, moving to Samar three days later. On Nov. 9 Detachment A moved to Jinamoc, another isle in the Philippines. Detachment B left Ulithi Feb. 7, 1945, and arrived on Samar Feb. 10. At the war’s end Detachment A was still as Jinamoc and Detachment B at the Guiuan naval base on Samar.

89TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Allen in February 1943, the 89th Battalion was transferred to Camp Peary later that month. On April 21 it was moved to Camp Parks. After serving more than a year as a replacement pool, the 89th was decommissioned at Camp Parks July 15, 1944.

90TH BATTALION

The 90th Battalion was commissioned at Camp Peary July 25, 1943. Moving first to Camp Parks and then to Port Hueneme, the Battalion shipped out of Hueneme in two sections Oct. 2 and Oct. 13, 1943, arriving at Pearl Harbor Oct. 6 and 19. Between July 23 and Nov. 15, 1944, a detachment was on duty with a pontoon outfit and participated in the invasions of Angaur and Peleliu. On Jan. 5 and Feb. 15, 1945, small units were detached for duty with the Fifth Amphibious Corps and the 95th Battalion. On Feb. 19, 1945, the Battalion sailed for Iwo Jima, arriving on that island March 14. On March 20 and Apr11 30, 1945, the two detachments returned to the Battalion at Iwo Jima. At the end of the war the outfit was still on Iwo Jima. Following the Japanese surrender the Battalion was sent to Yokosuka, Japan.

91ST BATTALION

After formation and training at Camp Peary and Endicott, the 91st moved on to Camp Parks June 15, 1943. The next month the Battalion was sent to Hueneme, from where it embarked Sept. 21. Arriving at Milne Bay, New Guinea Oct. 21. 1943, the 91st began construction work at Ladaya Hilimoi, Stringer Bay, Gilli Gilli and other areas on the base. In June 1944 C Company was sent to Madang for assignment, while B Company departed for work at Palm Island, Australia. On July 11, the main body of the Battalion arrived at Finschaven, where they were joined the next month by part of C Company, which had been at Madang. On Aug. 31, the Palm Island detachment moved to Brisbane for further assignment. During October, the entire Battalion, with the exception of the Brisbane detachment, assembled at Finschaven and on Dec. 12, 1944, embarked for the Philippines. The 91st reached Leyte the day after Christmas, but departed two days later for Manicani Island. On Dec. 29 the Battalion received the Brisbane detachment, and by February 1945, detachments which had been rolling up bases at Madang, rejoined the main body. At war’s end, the 91st was stationed on Manicani, in the Philippines.

92ND BATTALION

After being formed at Camp Peary in May 1943, the 92nd was sent to Endicott for advanced training, then to Hueneme, arriving there Aug. 4, 1943. The Battalion left Hueneme in three echelons, the last arriving at Oahu Oct. 2. The entire Battalion was stationed on Oahu until Feb. 2. 1944, when a detachment of 95 men was sent to Kauai for temporary duty with the 99th. The detachment returned April 27. During May and June 1944, small detachments were sent out on duty with GroPac 6 and 8 and the 6th NC Brigade, these detachments arriving at Saipan shortly after D-Day. The main body of the 92nd left Oahu in sections during June and July, arriving at Tinian throughout August. On Sept. 1, the GroPac duty men were transferred to the main body of the 92nd on Tinian. The last echelon from Oahu arrived Sept. 18. The Battalion was still on duty with the 6th NC Brigade on Tinian when the war ended.

93RD BATTALION

After forming at Camp Peary, the 93rd was transferred to Endicott May 15, 1943, then to Camp Parks in July. On Aug. 9, the Battalion was moved to Hueneme, whence it embarked Oct. 14, 1943. The 93rd reached the Russell Islands on Nov. 10 and remained there on duty until Feb. 12. 1944, when the first echelon left the Russells and went to Green Island in the northern Solomons group. By Feb. 25, the entire Battalion had moved to Green Island and was stationed there until Oct. 25. The outfit embarked once more, arriving at Leyte Gulf Nov. 14, 1944. The next day, the 93rd disembarked at San Antonio, Samar. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 30, 1944, the Battalion moved to Guiuan in 16 detachments arriving early in January 1945. The 93rd was still operating at the Philip pines base last August.

94TH BATTALION

After formation in May 1943, the 94th was transferred to Endicott, where all hands received additional training until Oct. 22. On that date, the Battalion moved to Lido Beach, Long Island, and was stationed there until Dec. 10, when It boarded ship for Pearl Harbor. Four days out, the ship put in for repairs at Charleston, S. C. and the Battalion was beached until Dec. 16. The 94th finally arrived at Pearl Harbor Jan. 10, 1944 and was stationed at Red Hill until Sept. 19. On Oct. 17, the Battalion docked at Apra Harbor, Guam, joining the 40th NC Regiment upon its formation in November. When the Japs surrendered, the 94th was still on duty in the Marianas.

95TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary, the 95th was transferred to Camp Parks July 30, 1943, then to Hueneme Aug. 20. The Battalion shipped out on Oct. 27, 1943, arriving at Pearl Harbor Nov. 3. After a little more than two weeks at Pearl, the 95th shipped out again, this time to Apamama in the Gilberts where it remained on duty until March of 1944. On March 1, half the Battalion was sent to Roi-Namur, with remaining personnel returning to Pearl Harbor in early April. The Roi-Namur section came back to Pearl Harbor Aug. 12. The 95th left Hawaii Feb. 20, 1945, and landed at Iwo Jima March 14, remaining at Iwo through the end of the war.

96TH BATTALION

After activation June 12, 1943, the 96th NCB shifted to Davisville to Gulf port and back to Davisville before sailing Dec. 31. The Battalion reached it destination, Terceira. Azores, Jan. 9, 1944, and built Santa Rita camp, worked at Pria docks and Lagens airfield at Terceira. Arriving back at Bayonne, N. J., Aug. 3, the 96th was re-organized for a second tour of duty and shipped overseas Jan. 27, 1945. The unit reached Manicani Island in the Samar area of the Philippines March 13, and was in operation at Guiuan on southern Samar when the war ended. In September the outfit was scheduled for shipment to China.

97TH BATTALION

The 97th NCB spent nearly two years in England after its formation at Camp Peary June 18. 1943. Arriving in the United Kingdom Sept. 18, the 97th was located at NOB One, Londonderry, N. I. During the months that followed the battalion sent detachments to London, Dunkeswell, Exeter, Heathfield and Lough Neagh. On Sept. 1, 1944, the 97th was operating as a maintenance unit at the following bases: Plymouth, Salcombe, Exeter, Dartmouth, Teignmouth and Heathfield, all in Devon; Southampton, Hants, Portland-Weymouth, Dorset, Fowey and Falmouth, Cornwall; Milford-Haven, Wales; Rosneath, Scotland, and London.

98TH BATTALION

Embarking from Hueneme Oct. 19, 1943 after being commissioned at Camp Peary June 30, the 98th NCB reached Oahu Oct. 25 and was assigned to Waiawa Gulch. First Section of the 98th left Nov. 15 for the Gilbert Islands, reaching Tarawa Nov. 24. Second Section followed Dec. 4, and the Third Section on Jan. 17, 1944. Detachments of the 98th relieved part of the 74th NCB at Cora and Helen Islands. The 98th returned to Pearl Harbor in April 1944 and remained for nearly a year before switching to Maui Island in several sections during March and April 1945. The 98th was still at Maui at war’s end. A month after the Japanese surrender the outfit was scheduled to be transferred to Sasebo, Japan.

99TH BATTALION

Activated June 24. 1943 at Camp Peary, the 99th NCB shifted from Davisville to Camp Parks to Hueneme to San Francisco before sailing for overseas duty Nov. 8. Arriving at Oahu Nov. 12, the Battalion set up camp at Waiawa Gulch. Detachments were sent to Kauai and Hilo in November, and to Johnston Island and French Frigate Shoals in January 1944. Other groups went to Canton Island. The 99th furnished one officer and 19 men for the Angaur invasion Sept. 17, 1944 in the Palau Islands, with another group of one officer and 26 men reaching Angaur Sept. 24. The Battalion moved from Waiawa Gulch to Aiea to Moanalua Ridge. In March and April 1945, the 99th transferred to Samar in the Philippines, where it was at the end of the war.

100TH BATTALION

Reflecting the growing might of the Seabees, the 100th "Century" Battalion was commissioned July 1, 1943 at Camp Peary, and thereafter moved to Gulfport and Hueneme before sailing for overseas Nov. 21. Arriving at Pearl Harbor, the 100th lingered only for six weeks before moving on to Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands. The unit left Majuro and returned to Pearl Harbor July 5, 1944. One officer and 17 men were sent on temporary duty with a pontoon detachment for the Angaur invasion in the Palau Islands. In March 1945, the 100th left Pearl Harbor and landed at Guiuan, Samar Island in the Philippines, and remained through the end of the war.

101ST BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary, the 101st Battalion was commissioned at Camp Endicott Aug. 13, 1943. After a brief stay at Gulfport, Miss., the outfit arrived at Port Hueneme Nov. 7, 1943. The Battalion was stationed at Port Hueneme and nearby Point Mugu until April 25, 1944, when it sailed for Pearl Harbor. On Sept. 21. 1944 the Battalion sailed for Saipan, where the men disembarked Oct. 6. Serving at Saipan until June 20, 1945, the unit transferred to Okinawa, landing on June 26. War’s end found the outfit still stationed on Okinawa

102ND BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary July 6, 1943, the 102nd Battalion was officially commissioned at Camp Endicott Aug. 19, 1943. After a brief stay at Camp Parks, the Battalion arrived at Hueneme Oct. 21, 1943. On Dec. 22, one officer and 60 men were detached to form CED 1069. The Battalion embarked at Hueneme on Feb. 21, 1944 and arrived at Finschaven, New Guinea, via Milne Bay Mar. 24. A small boat detail was detached on May 6 for duty with the 113th Battalion. On June 13, the outfit arrived at Hollandia. Between October 1944 and February 1945, five detachments were ordered for temporary duty in the Philippines. On Feb. 19, 1945 the Battalion departed for Subic Bay and arrived on Feb. 29. On March 15, another group was detached from the outfit to form CED 1082. At the end of hostilities the Battalion was still stationed on Luzon.

103RD BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary on Oct. 15, 1943, the 103rd Battalion moved to Camp Endicott Oct. 16. From Dec. 11, 1943 to April 20, 1944, the outfit was stationed at Quoddy Village, Maine, and then returned to Camp Endicott. From May 15 to July 1, the unit served at Lido Beach, New York, and then moved to Port Hueneme. During August, September and October the Battalion had detachments serving at Ojai, Calif., Mira Loma airport, Oxnard, Calif., San Clemente Island and St. Nicholas Island. On Oct. 25, 1944, the Battalion shipped overseas from Hueneme, arriving at Pearl Harbor Nov. 1. Moving in five echelons the outfit sailed for Guam landing at that island on Dec. 28. 1944, and Jan. 2, 9, 10 and 12, 1945. At war’s end it was still on Guam.

104TH BATTALION

Organized at Camp Peary, the 104th Battalion had brief duty at Camp Endicott, and four months at Gulfport, Miss., before it sailed for Milne Bay Dec. 15, 1943. Arriving at Milne Bay Feb. 2. 1944, the Battalion was stationed at Gamadodo until March 26. Sailing for Los Negros, the Battalion arrived there on April 1, for four months duty before returning to Milne Bay Aug. 4. On Sept. 7, 1944, a draft of 100 men was assigned to PAD 3. These men returned to the outfit Dec. 2. On Sept. 25, 1944, a draft of 224 men was sent to Australia and returned on Nov. 22. On Dec. 13 a draft of 56 men was ordered to Sual Port to build a PT base. This job was completed on April 9, 1945 and these men returned to the Battalion. On Jan. 6, 1944 the Battalion left Milne Bay and reported at Leyte Jan. 22, 1945.

105TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary in August 1943, the 105th trained at Camp Parks and Hueneme during September and October. On Oct 19, a detachment of 225 men left for duty on San Clemente Island, returning Nov. 10, 1943. On Dec. 15, the entire Battalion shipped out from Hueneme and arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea, Jan. 13, 1944. During January and February 1944, small detachments were sent to Hilimoi and Gamadodo and on April 1, the major part of the Battalion moved to Gamadodo. On Sept. 4, 1944, the 105th returned to their original base on Stringer Bay and remained there until Oct. 11, when the first echelon embarked for Tacloban, Leyte. They landed Oct. 24, and the next day, sent 400 men to Anabong Point, Leyte. The second echelon left Milne Bay Oct. 29, arriving at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Nov. 12. On the same day, a part of the Anabong detachment left the San Antonio, Samar. From November 1944 to June 1945, small groups of the 105th Battalion were sent on duty assignments to Talosa, Guiuan, Balingaga, Osmena and other localities in and around Samar. At war’s end, the 105th was still operating in the Philippines.

106TH BATTALION

The 106th Battalion was formed at Camp Peary Oct. 19, 1943, and was stationed at Camp Endicott and Camp Parks before arriving at Port Hueneme Feb. 29, 1944. On April 1, 1945 the Battalion was split into two sections. Section Two shipped out of Hueneme July 16, 1944 arriving at Pearl Harbor July 23. A detachment of one officer and 25 men left Pearl for Iwo Jima Jan. 18, 1945, and landed on Feb. 19 (D-Day). The second echelon of Section Two arrived at Iwo on March 25. The unit operated at Iwo until September 1945, when it was inactivated at Iwo Section One stayed at Port Hueneme for 13 months and shipped out in March 1945 bound for Ie Shima. War’s end found it still there.

107TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary in July 1943 the 107th Battalion had brief tours of duty at Camp Endicott and Camp Parks and arrived at Port Hueneme Nov 10, 1943. Shipping overseas from Hueneme Feb. 20, 1944 the Battalion arrived at Iroquois Point, Oahu, Feb. 25. Leaving Oahu on Feb. 27, the outfit arrived at Kwajalein atoll March 6 and the following day four officers and 242 men participated in the initial landing on Ebeye Island. Transferring to Bigej, another of the Marshall group, in two echelons, the sections landed on June 1 and July 4, 1944. Moving again on Sept. 1. 1944, the outfit sailed for Tinian, via Eniwetok, and disembarked on Tinian on Sept. 10. At wars end the Battalion was still on duty at Tinian.

108TH BATTALION

The original 108th Battalion was formed at Camp Peary in August 1943. On Aug. 30 it was moved to Gulfport for duty until Dec. 13. On that date the outfit moved back to Peary and was inactivated. In July 1943 the 97th Battalion was split into Section One and Section Two at Camp Endicott. On Oct. 20, 1943, both sections were shipped overseas from Davisville and landed at Rosneath, Scotland. From December 1943 to March 1944 the outfit operated at Rosneath, Plymouth and Netley In April the 97th was redesignated as the 108th Battalion. On June 6 (D-Day) the outfit took part in the Normandy Invasion On Aug 3, the outfit moved to Tilbury, England, and on Oct. 18, 1944, sailed from Teignmouth bound for home. The Battalion reported at Davisville, R. I. on Oct 25. It was inactivated at Davisville Dec. 1, 1944.

109TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary in July 1943, the 109th Battalion had duty at Camp Endicott and Camp Parks before arriving at Port Hueneme Oct 15, 1943. Embarking for overseas duty at Hueneme on Nov. 22. 1943 the Battalion arrived on Oahu on Dec. 1. Sailing from Oahu in two echelons, they arrived on Kwajalein Feb. 2 and 6. 1944. Embarking at Roi-Namur on July 2, 1944, the unit returned to Oahu, landing July 13. Sailing again in four echelons, the detachments landed on Guam Dec. 28. 29 and 30, 1944 and Jan. 12. 1945. The outfit was still operating at Guam when the war ended.

110TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Peary Aug. 12, 1943, the 110th Battalion moved through Gulfport, Miss., and arrived at Port Hueneme on Oct. 23, 1943. On Nov. 10 the outfit was officially attached to Acorn 22 at Hueneme. The first echelon traveled to Oakland, Calif.. and embarked Nov. 22. On the same date the second echelon embarked at Hueneme. Both sections arrived at Pearl Harbor Dec. 1, 1943. The two echelons embarked at Iroquois Point, Oahu Feb. 10 and 12, 1944, and landed at Eniwetok on Feb. 22 and 24. Sailing westward again, this time in five echelons, the men went ashore at Tinian on Sept. 9 and 18, and Oct. 1, 9 and 20, 1944. At the end of the war, the outfit was still on Tinian.

111Th BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Peary in September 1943, the 111th NCB was transferred to Camp Endicott on Sept. 10. 1943. Leaving Davisville R. I. on Jan 29, 1944, the outfit sailed for England, where they operated at Plymouth, Falmouth, Dartmouth and Swansea. On April 27, 1944, CBD 1048 was disbanded and the personnel attached to the 111th Battalion. From D-Day until late in July the Battalion operated Rhino Ferries and pontoon tugs. On Oct. 18, 1944, the first echelon sailed for the States and reported at Davisville Oct 26 On Oct. 24, the third echelon was assigned a special inland waterway project on the European continent. The second echelon sailed for home Nov. 1, arriving at Davisville Nov.

10. The third echelon sailed Nov. 14 and the Battalion was reunited at Davisville when the group landed Nov. 26, 1944. Embarking again at Boston on Jan. 16, 1945, the outfit was assigned to the Seventh Fleet. The Battalion arrived at Calicoan, Samar. March 8. Until the end of the war the outfit was in the Leyte- Samar area, with detachments assigned to the Mindanao operation and the Tarakan, Brunei Bay and Balikpapan operations on Borneo.

112TH BATTALION

After formation at Peary, the 112th NCB moved to Quoddy Village, Maine, Sept. 12, 1943. From Quoddy, the Battalion moved to Hueneme arriving there Dec. 16 then shipped out Feb. 24. 1944, disembarking at Pearl Harbor March 2. The outfit worked at Pearl until Dec. 23, when they loaded for Tinian. During its stay at Pearl, the 112th temporarily assigned half its personnel to the 56th Battalion and received 253 men from the 74th. On Tinian, the Battalion worked until May 1945, when the unit again prepared for forward movement, shipping out for Okinawa in July. When the war ended, the 112th was still on duty at Okinawa.

113TH BATTALION

The 113th NCB was formed at Camp Peary in July 1943, moved to Endicott on Aug. 6 to Gulfport on Sept. 17 and to Hueneme on Dec. 5. Sailing from Hueneme on Feb. 21, 1944, they arrived at Hollandia via Finschaven, New Guinea, May 9. On June 3, 1944, Detachment A left Hollandia and two days later Landed on an island near Biak. This turned out to be the wrong island and the detachment was landed at Mios Woendi on June 8 to construct a PT base. Completing the base on July 2, the unit returned to Hollandia. Detachment A left Hollandia on July 25 for Amsterdam Island to build another PT base and returned Aug. 28. The same detachment built PT bases on Soemesoeme Island, near Morotai in September, and on Samar, in the Philippines, in November. Detachment B joined Detachment A at Leyte Gull early in December. On Dec. 12, both units left Leyte, with Detachment A arriving at Mindoro to build a PT base Dec. 15, 1944. On the same date the LST carrying Detachment B was sunk by enemy action off Mindoro Island. The survivors arrived at Hollandia on Dec. 23, and were transferred to the receiving barracks for survivors leave. On Jan. 12, 1945, Detachment C arrived at Mindoro for construction of NABU Seven. On Feb. 7, Detachment D landed on Mindoro to assist in the construction of the naval base. At war’s end the outfit was still based there.

114TH BATTALION

After organizing at Peary in the summer of 1943, the 114th NCB moved to Davisville Aug. 11 then transferred to Lido Beach, L I. Oct. 24, 1943. The Battalion shipped out in July 1944, arriving at Rosneath, Scotland Aug 5. Three days later, the outfit was in transit to Cherbourg, France. On Aug. 27, 1944, one company was sent to Nantes, while 260 men and 5 officers went to Pontivy on Sept. 1. On Nov. 12, 1944, three CBMUs were formed from the personnel of the 114th, maintenance units 627, 628 and 629, the men being detached during November and December. The remaining men of the 114th returned to the States Dec. 26, 1944. The second tour of duty for the Battalion began in April 1945, when the outfit arrived at Seattle reached Attu May 15, relieving the 138th Battalion and was still located up north when the war ended.

115TH BATTALION

Formed and trained at Peary, the 115th moved to Davisville in September 1943. On Dec. 10, the Battalion shipped out for Milne Bay, New Guinea, and while on duty there, sent detachments to Brisbane in September, 1944. On New Year’s Day 1945, the Battalion was in transit to Luzon, arriving in the Philippines Jan 21; the next move began Feb. 7 when the outfit moved to Subic Bay. The 115th was on duty in the Philippines when the Japs surrendered.

116TH BATTALION

The 116th NCB embarked from Hueneme Feb. 28, 1944 after short training periods at Peary, Davisville, and Gulf port, arriving at Pearl Harbor March 5. Battalion remained on duty on Oahu until March 1945, when it moved to Camp Tarawa on the island of Hawaii. In August the 116th prepared to move again and in September 1945, landed on Japan where it is flow operating.

117TH BATTALION

Activated and trained at Camp Peary, the 117 NCB moved to Gulfport Sept. 26, 1943 and embarked Feb. 23, 1944 for Pearl Harbor. The Battalion was on duty on Oahu until Sept. 2, when it shipped out again, landing on Saipan sometime during November. The 117th was scheduled to move to Okinawa, but plans were cancelled. When the war ended, the Battalion was still on Saipan.

118TH BATTALION

Commissioned in the summer of 1943 at Peary, the 118th NCB moved to Davisville in August, then to Gulfport in September. On Feb. 25, 1944, the Battalion shipped out, arriving at Gamadodo, Milne Bay, sometime the next month and remained there on duty until March 1945, when 19 officers and 900 men departed for Mindanao, P. I., leaving a small detachment behind. While at Gamadodo, the 118th operated at ABCD and ASPD at Milne Bay. On April 6, a detachment of 100 men left Mindanao for Zamboanga on additional duty orders. When the war ended, the Battalion had orders to move to Subic Bay, in the Philippines.

119TH BATTALION

This NCB was formed at Peary in the summer of 1943 and moved to Davisville in August, then to Quoddy Village in December. The Battalion left for Milne Bay Feb. 21,

1944. Alter a short stay there the 119th left Milne Bay, arriving in Hollandia June 13. 1944. Detachments, meanwhile, were sent to Aitope and to Wopde Island. The Battalion was on duty at Hollandia until March 1945, when it shipped out once more, landing at Manila late that month. It was on duty in the Philippines when the war ended.

120TH BATTALION

The 120th NCB was formed overseas in Casablanca, North Africa, Feb. 19, 1943. Personnel were gathered from the second sections of the 47th and 53rd NCB. In June 1943, headquarters were set up at Oran, with units operating at Arzero, Casablanca and Pt. Lyautey. Later, other units were stationed at Algiers, Span, Jura and other North African localities. In September, detachments were sent into Palermo, Sicily and Termini. The Battalion continued to operate in the Mediterranean area until June 1944, when it was sent back to the States and inactivated in August 1944.

121ST BATTALION

With a force of Marine officers from the Fleet Marine Force, the 121st moved from New River, N. C., Aug. 17, 1943, to Camp Pendleton, Calif., and embarked from San Diego Jan. 8, 1944. The 121st joined the assault operations on Roi-Namur islands, then returned to Maui, Hawaiian Islands, the last of the outfit arriving there Feb. 25, 1944. The next operation for the 121st was the assault on Saipan on June 15, 1944, followed almost immediately by the invasion of Tinian on July 26. The outfit was stationed on Tinian until June, 1945, when it moved back to Saipan and was still there at the war’s end. This Battalion was awarded the Presidential Citation for its combat operations while attached to the Fourth Marine Division.

122ND BATTALION

After formation at Peary in October 1943, the 122nd NCB was transferred to left the States Feb. 21, 1944 and arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea. The Battalion operated at Gamadodo, Milne Bay, until alerted for Hollandia in May 1944, where it was operating until Dec. 20. On that date, the 122nd left Hollandia for Samar, and was still there in August 1945.

123RD BATTALION

After being commissioned at Peary in the summer of 1943, the 123rd NCB received additional training at Endicott, Parks, and Hueneme, shipping out in March 1944. In April the Battalion was at Moanalua Ridge, Pearl Harbor. On April 1, part of the outfit was working at Midway and by June 1, the entire 123rd was stationed on that island. Sometime during December 1944, the Battalion left Midway and returned to Barber’s Pt., Oahu, then shipped out for the Philippines April 26, 1945, arriving at Samar May 20. The 123rd was in Samar in September after the war ended.

124TH NCB (MAINTENANCE)

Formed at Camp Parks, the 124th NCB left the States Oct. 16, 1944, arriving at Adak in the Aleutian islands Nov. 4 and has maintained this sprawling northern fleet base and headquarters for the 17th Naval District since that time.

125TH BATTALION

After training at Camps Peary. Endicott and Parks, the 125th NCB left Port Hueneme in January 1944, for Hawaii, and on May 12, 1945, moved on to Okinawa, stopping en route at Eniwetok and Ulithi, and arriving at Nakagusuku Bay June 17. Here the Battalion was working when the war ended.

126TH BATTALION

After being formed at Camp Peary the 126th NCB was transferred to Davisville early in September 1943. On October 15, the Battalion was sent to Camp Parks, then to Hueneme on Jan. 3, 1944. The outfit left Hueneme Feb. 23 and arrived at Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll on March 11. Detachments were sent to Japan, Parry and Hawthorne Islands in the Marshalls group. On Oct. 1, the Battalion moved to Pearl Harbor and remained there until May 4, 1945, when it received orders to report to Commander, Construction Troops on Okinawa. When the war ended, the 126th was still on duty on Okinawa.

127TH BATTALION

After training at Camp Peary and Gulfport, the 127th NCB left Hueneme May 1. 1944. It operated in the Hawaiian area. including the island of Maui, until May 1, 1945, when it left for the Philippines, arriving in the Leyte-Samar area May 25. After the war’s end, the 127th moved on to Japan.

128TH NCB (PONTOONS)

Formed at Camp Peary and trained at Endicott, the 128th NCB was inactivated at Camp Parks Jan. 31, 1944 and reactivated Sept. 20 at Camp Endicott. It then moved to Parks and shipped out to Pearl Harbor, arriving Dec. 2, 1944. Echelons began moving to a permanent pontoon-operating base at Guam in January 1945, and from Guam the outfit sent detachments on amphibious operations. In September, elements of the Battalion were in Japan.

129TH BATTALION

After activation at Camp Peary and further training at Endicott, the 129th NCB moved to Oahu arriving April 1, 1944. It supplied a detachment of men for temporary duty in a forward movement, and March 28. 1945, a detachment was surveying for an advance of the 129th itself to the Philippines. The Battalion reached the Leyte-Samar area in April and May, and at the war’s end, it was operating in that area.

130TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Peary, the 130th NCB received further training at Endicott, shipping from adjacent Camp Thomas for Pearl Harbor in February 1944. At the end of that year the Battalion was preparing to move forward, and two survey detachments left Hawaii. On Jan. 18, 1945, the outfit embarked and arrived in Saipan early the following month to join the Second Marine Division for the Okinawa invasion. Detachments were assigned as malaria control teams and to strengthen a Marine Pioneer (engineering) Battalion. The first echelon reached Okinawa April 16 and the remaining personnel in two groups followed in May and June. The 130th was in Okinawa at the war’s end.

131ST BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary Sept. 2, 1943, the 131st NCB received advance training at Endicott and then moved to Parks where it was inactivated Jan. 31, 1944.

132ND BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary Oct. 12, 1943, the 132nd NCB was inactivated 17 days later at Camp Parks.

133RD BATTALION

Formed at Camp Peary and further trained at Endicott and Gulfport the 133rd NCB left Hueneme May 1, 1944 for Pearl Harbor, and Nov. 1. 1944 joined the Fifth Marine Amphibious Corps and the Fourth Marine Division for an amphibious assault. The entire outfit landed on Iwo Jima on D-Day with the first assault waves of the Fourth Marine Division. The 133rd suffered severe casualties during the bitter fighting for Iwo where it distinguished itself in both front line combat and construction. In September the unit was alerted for a move from Iwo Jima to the occupation of Japan.

134TH BATTALION (TRUCKS)

Activated in the field June 1, 1945 from personnel working at the motor pool on Guam, the 134th NCB was operating on this big Pacific base at war’s end.

135TH BATTALION

Activated at Camp Peary, the 135th NCB on Oct. 11. 1943 left for Camp Endi-cott for further training, and in April 1944, was training at Gulfport. The Bat-talion left Port Hueneme May 17, 1944 arriving in Pearl Harbor May 23. It left for Tinian Oct. 24 and by mid-1945 the outfit was preparing for another forward movement. It arrived on Okinawa July 17, 1945 and was stationed there when Japan surrendered.

136TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Peary in September 1943, the 136th NCB was transferred to Endicott on Sept. 29. Moving to Quoddy Village, Me., on Nov. 13 the outfit was stationed there until April 15, 1944, when it was transferred to Port Hueneme. Shipping overseas from Hueneme in June 1944, the unit was stationed at Pearl Harbor until Oct. 15. Sailing westward again, the Battalion landed at Guam in late November. War’s end found the 136th located at Guam, but after the surrender one half the outfit was moved to Yokosuka. Japan.

137TH BATTALION

Formed at Camp Endicott, the 137th NCB was moved to Port Hueneme March 20. 1945. Shipping overseas in two echelons May 26 and June 8, the Battalion arrived at Okinawa about Aug. 1. Peacetime found the outfit working as a trucking unit at an NOB on Okinawa.

138TH BATTALION

The 138th NCB was formed at Attu from personnel of CBD 1018 and CBMUs 547 and 556 on Feb. 1, 1944. On March 9, CBMU 576 arrived at Attu and was absorbed into the Battalion. On Oct. 20, a group of 102 men were transferred from the 138th to the 68th, while 199 men were transferred from the 68th to the 138th. A detachment of three officers and 144 men were sent to NOB, Adak, for temporary duty on Jan. 25, 1945. This unit returned to the Battalion in time to ship back to the States in May. The outfit reported at Camp Parks on May 28, 1945 and on June 16 was inactivated.

139TH BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Endicott, the 139th NCB moved to Port Hueneme Feb. 6, 1945. Shipping overseas from Hueneme in four echelons on April 20 and 26, and May 2 and 17, 1945, the outfit landed at Okinawa. In September 1945, the outfit was still stationed at Okinawa.

140TH BATTALION

The 140th NCB was transferred from Camp Peary to Endicott on Nov. 18, 1943. From Endicott the Battalion moved to Camp Parks and then to Hueneme before sailing overseas on May 20, 1944. The unit arrived at Manus Island on June 17. Between Feb. 1 and April 14. 1945, the outfit had one company working at Ponam Island and one company at Pityilu Island with the main body still located on Manus. War’s end found the 140th on the same island.

141ST BATTALION

Commissioned at Camp Peary in October 1943, the 141st NCB was transferred to Davisville on Oct. 11. Sailing from Davisville on Feb. 23, 1944 the Battalion arrived at Pearl Harbor on March 16. Embarking at Iroquois Pt., Oahu, on May 16. 1945, the outfit arrived at Kwajalein on May 24 and was there when peace was declared.

142ND BATTALION

The 142nd NCB sailed overseas from Port Hueneme on June 4, 1944 and landed at Pearl Harbor. Leaving Pearl on May 1, 1945 the Battalion arrived at Leyte on May 23. In September 1945, the outfit was operating in the Leyte-Samar area.

143RD BATTALION

Commissioned at Davisville, R. I. on Dec. 16, 1944, the 143rd NCB was transferred to Port Hueneme on Jan. 30, 1945, arriving on Feb. 4. Embarking from San Francisco late in March, the Battalion arrived at Samar in mid-April. In September 1945, the unit was stationed at Samar.

144TH BATTALION

The 144th NCB was transferred from Davisville, R. I. to Port Hueneme on Jan. 24, 1945. Sailing overseas on Feb. 15, the Battalion arrived on Guam March 18. The unit was located there on V-J Day.

145TH BATTALION

Transferred from Camp Peary to Camp Endicott on Nov. 20. 1944, the 145th NCB then moved to Camp Parks and Port Hueneme before shipping out on Apr11 6, 1945. The Battalion arrived at Okinawa, via the Russell islands, about May 1. The outfit remains on duty at Okinawa.

146TH BATTALION

Company A and part of Headquarters Company of the 28th Battalion was moved from Iceland to England in February 1944, to form the 146th NCB. The Battalion operated at Plymouth until the Normandy invasion when detachments operated on Omaha and Utah Beaches. In August the outfit was shipped to Cherbourg and returned to England on Oct. 5. Sailing for home on Oct. 11, 1944, the Battalion arrived at Davisville, R. I., on Oct. 22. Beginning its second tour of duty the unit arrived at Hueneme on Dec. 16, 1944. Shipping out on April 15, 1945, the first echelon landed at Okinawa on May 23. The second echelon left Hueneme on May 31 and sailed to Okinawa via Eniwetok. The third echelon landed at Okinawa on July 14 and the fourth on July 24. The entire outfit was on Okinawa when the war ended.

147TH BATTALION

Formed at Davisville, R. I., the 147th NCB arrived at Camp Parks on April 29, 1945. Sailing on May 25, 1945, the unit arrived at Okinawa via Eniwetok and Ulithi on July 16. In September 1945 the Battalion was on duty at Okinawa.

148TH BATTALION

Leaving Davisville, R. I., on May 7, 1945, the 148th NCB arrived at Port Hueneme on May 13. On May 20 the Battalion left for amphibious training at Morro Bay, Calif. Shipping overseas on June 8, 1945, the outfit arrived in Okinawa on July 24. In September 1945, the Battalion was still located at Okinawa.

301ST BATTALION

Formed as a Harbor Reclamation Battalion, the 301st NCB left Hueneme April 21, 1944 and arrived at Pearl Harbor later that month. On May 12, the 301st was grouped into 12 detachments with duty in various Pacific theaters of operation. In May, the first and fourth detachments were sent to Midway, the second for duty aboard the USS City of Dalhart with Service Squadron 12, the third to Iroquois Pt., Oahu, the fifth and sixth detachments on temporary duty with pontoon barge equipment with ARD 16 and 17, and the seventh unit aboard the USS Alkes for transportation and quarters. In July 1944, the first had moved to Roi-Namur, the second was at Guam, the third was still handling material and supplies for Service Squadron 12, and the fifth, sixth and seventh detachments had completed operations at Kwajalein and were proceeding to Saipan for dredging operations. On Dec. 1, 1944, various units of the 301st were located at Saipan, Peleliu and Pearl Harbor. In April 1945, the main part of the Battalion was at Guam. Other detachments were located as follows: the third at Pearl, the eighth at Tinian, the ninth had returned from Peleliu to Guam, the tenth was at Saipan, while the first echelon of the 11th detachment was working at Iwo Jima. In May the 12th detachment was moved to Okinawa. At war’s end, the units of the 30 1st harbor reclamation Battalion were still at their various stations throughout the Pacific.

302ND BATTALION

The 302nd NCB was formed at Pearl Harbor on Aug. 26, 1944 through the merger of CBDs 1035, 1038, 1039, 1043 and 1054. CBD 1054 left Pearl on July 17, 1944 for the Russell islands and engaged in forward area operations as a detachment of the 302nd Battalion. From Sept. 15 to Nov. 12, detachments operated pontoons for the invasion of Peleliu. From Sept. 17 to Oct. 6, units operated pontoons for the invasion of Angaur and later that year other detachments moved in the pontoons on the beachheads of Leyte and Luzon. In January 1945 the main body of the Battalion was located on Oahu with 472 men engaged in pontoon operations in the Philippines. In April 1945 detachments of the outfit were sent to Okinawa. War’s end found the Battalion still located at Intrepid Pt., Oahu, with detachments en route to Japan soon after the surrender.

Maintained by JD Code 1832

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