Can Do! The Story Of The Seabees

by William Bradford Huie, Ben Moreell (Introduction)

""Can Do! The Story Of The Seabees"" by William Bradford Huie is a historical account of the United States Navy's Construction Battalion, also known as the Seabees. The book chronicles the formation of the Seabees during World War II and their crucial role in the war effort, building and maintaining military bases and infrastructure in the Pacific and other theaters of war. The author draws on interviews with Seabees and other military personnel, as well as official records and documents, to provide a detailed and engaging narrative of the Seabees' accomplishments and challenges. Huie also explores the social and cultural context of the Seabees, including their diverse backgrounds and experiences, and the impact of the war on their lives and communities. Overall, ""Can Do!"" provides a fascinating and inspiring account of a little-known but essential aspect of American military history.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, World War II, Military History, Biography

324 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

William Bradford Huie was an American writer, investigative reporter, editor, national lecturer, and television host. His credits include 21 books that sold over 30 million copies worldwide. In addition to writing 14 bestsellers, he wrote hundreds of articles that appeared in all of the major magazines and newspapers of the day. Huie wrote several books about controversial topics related to World War II and the Civil Rights Movement. Six of Huie's books were adapted as feature films during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim volume is a reprint of a WWII account of the founding and operations of the US Navy's famed Construction Battalions (universally known as the Seabees), whose building, fixing and construction supported Allied offensives in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. The narrative and the jargon is straight out of the 1940s, which I find refreshing, and the book covers up to the beginning of 1944. The Seabees differed from other sailors in that they were much older and were recruited for their building and other skills, which allowed the Navy to give them higher ranks when they were organized. These guys were badasses in every sense.

[Jerimy Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

First-hand accounts of the Navy's newest addition to their ranks. This is a quasi-historical account of the SeaBees in World War II. There are many good lessons to be learned by reading this book. Here are some lessons I gleaned from these pages.

1. Age and experience go a long way.
2. Competence is key to win any war, either on the battlefield or on the homefront.
3. There are always people willing to step up to a challenge for the right reasons.
4. Respect has to be earned, and without it, a nation can't stand.

I would recommend this book to history buffs, military enthusiasts, and those looking for a quick read to pass some idle hours.

[Charles m smith jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can is right!!!

I had a great time reading this. I live in Guam in early fifty. I saw first hand the work the Seabee had done on that island. But I never knew they story until I read the book. Thanks to those brave men we got things we need to finish what somebody else started..

[Jessica Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not so much a narrative book as it is a merging of chronicle and propaganda. Written at the tail end of 1943 or early 1944, the war was still very much ongoing when this first came out, so the bold confidence and assurances seem kind of odd to me. However, my grandfather served in the Seabees in WWII, and many of the tales and anecdotes of Seabee courage, ingenuity and perseverance are astounding and impressive. It's got the expected through-line of racism in it, given the general ignorance and false beliefs Americans had toward Japanese at the time, but it was surprisingly not overt or hostile overall, and many of the chapters express the concern that when the war is over Americans and Japanese will still have to live together in the world, so acceptance and understanding is going to have to come about one way or another eventually. Maybe they were the greatest generation.

[Kris Schnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's from early 1944, opening with talk about how we'll invade France soon. Best to read it as a mix of actual history, and propaganda. Even so, it's a history of an easily overlooked group of hard-working men -- volunteers -- who helped win the war by doing the less obvious jobs. These were soldiers who could build a combat airport in two weeks, in the middle of nowhere, with improvised materials, while people were trying to kill them. Their specific techniques and their interaction with the other military branches are interesting to read about too.

[Charles W. Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories about an overlooked and often denigrated group of service men that were instrumental in providing the support service so vital in the success of the allied services during WWII. This book came across to me at times as a little disjointed, the stories did not flow. Each segment contributed to the story, but to me it did not have smooth transitions. It was well documented and researched and the contribution of the "Seabees" was well recognized by the military leadership and those it supported, but I do not feel their contributions was universally appreciated by the public.

[Don Crumbley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Detailed Account of The Seabees in WWII

Excellent record of Seabee accomplishments in all areas of WWII and how they were unique to the needs of the 5 major roads to winning the war. The details of those officers and men that served through out the effort is to be commended in this written account.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Building success under adverse conditions.

A well written essay of the need and development of the combat construction element of the Navy. The narrative style does not depend on hype to demonstrate the heroic actions and attitude of focused “civilians” accomplishing necessary objectives with selfless regard for protocol. A good read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased the book hoping to read of the efforts of my father's Seabee Battalion during WWII - especially in the Marianas campaign, but the book ended with 1943. It is not particularly well written, but is an excellent compilation of the exploits of the Seabees in the first two years of the war. I like that most of the KIA were remembered by name and hometown.

[McKinley Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history lesson

This was a great book if you like history as it was made. Written during the war, it tells the story of how the Seabees were born. I love the fact that it was written in the vernacular of the time.

[JB Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative

I rate this high because it is well written .I reccomend it to anyone who loves the history of WW2.

[shari lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can do!! Brought to !ife

While I had heard about the senses I knew very little about what and where they did their work. I had no idea that they did any work in the Alutians.

[Cynthia Kareski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the book full of information of how the war was won by the support of the supply and Seabees.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “Seabees” moniker is a heterograph for the construction battalions of the United States Navy. “Can Do!” is a contemporary account of their work in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It details the formation of the group, its initial remit, and how the legend of the intrepid and resourceful units was made, and in turn remade the War.
The tour—subtitled “The Story of the Seabees”—is led by William Bradford Huie, Lieutenant (jg) CEC, USNR, but he mostly lets the soldiers speak for themselves. They describe island hopping through the various atolls and archipelagos. They speak of their fear under fire, their wonder on encountering natives and natural splendor, but mostly they speak about their work. It’s fascinating and frankly humbling to see how fast they can take an island choked with palm trees and turn it into a graded airstrip or hospital in days. Likewise, it’s awe-inspiring to see how they can take foldout pontoons, and basically create drydocks and bridges just by rearranging them like giant Legos. The story is even crazier when you realize that the idea for these (potentially war-winning) constructions came from a Seabee tinkering around with cigar boxes.
After the main body of text are appendices listing the names of those cited and awarded for especial merit, as well as casualties and MIA. After that is a section of “Seabee Poetry” that features some solid but unmetered doggerel, and one genuinely beautiful poem. It’s called “South Pacific Battlefield” and was written by Ensign Norman J. Grieser, SC, USNR. A quick online check reveals he is now buried at Arlington National Cemetery. May he rest in peace. And may others find this book, and be humbled by its contents. It frankly makes me more than a little ashamed of my meager four years of service, which—while not a walk in the park—can’t compare to this.

[Jerry Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action packed account of the little known Navy "bastards" Construction Engineers {CB}. Mostly men who were too old or wouldn't pass normal enlistment channels.

Mr. Huie's book is a blow-by-blow account of America's advancement across the Pacific Ocean toward Tokyo. The Japanese had been building defensive fortifications across the Pacific Islands for years in their design to control traffic and strategic materials for the homeland, which was having shortages of food and construction materials. America had a very coherent plan to take an island, develop airfields and establish resupply bases so the military can move on to the next objective. The names and home towns of SeeBee's mentioned here makes the book more personable as you may recognize someone from your community.

[Michael Boggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the Seabees

My father-in-law was a Seabee involved in the taking of Saipan. He corroborated much of what I read in this book. He was tough, hardheaded, and impatient with people who fooled around, especially when there was a job to be done. He would tackle any project, even if he had never done it before. He would make it work somehow, it might not be pretty, but it would work. Also, he was extremely proud of his Expert Marksman badge. When he was around 90 years old, he and I were shooting our pellet rifles and I put five rounds in the bullseye. He laughed and said, "I guess I'm going to have to rate you expert now." That made me feel really good. He passed away last year at the age of 94, and always proud of his service record until the day he died.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting view on a small branch that gets very little attention. I love the stories and it really shines a light on the hard working and hard fighting nature of the Seabees. My great uncle was one and served in Alaska and later in other parts of the Pacific. He was a welder so he was one of those guys improvising and repairing equipment to keep them going. What I remember of him as a fabricator and welder reminds me of the stories in the book of them patching up and making do with what they had.

[Iain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid and even enlightening look into the life of Seabees in WWII. As a period piece, it suffers a bit from the "news reel" style of presentation, but it is filled with well done anecdotes. I was also fascinated to read the specifics of how the pontoon docks were thrown up onto beaches, often with the first waves. In fact, it's impressive to read of how often the Seabees greeted Marines "storming ashore".

Recommended for anyone interested in the Seabees or Island Hopping in WWII.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

World War 2

This is an interesting book. While anyone who reads about the war knows generally what the Seebees did, this book tells who they were and their qualifications were.. I didn't understand all the.technical stufgf, I got the idea. It was a good 2ay bbc.co to learn more and about the war

[Jim Crownover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great narrative on the WWII SeaBees

Wonderful history on the SeaBees oF WWII. A great story of one of the most overlooked branch of naval services. Having had the privilege of having former Seabees as trainers and mentors, I have a much better understanding of their contribution to the war effort. I am greatful to them!

[William Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read about the men who built the infrastructure that won the war for the Allies in WWII.

We owe so much to these men who worked at extremely difficult jobs in their own right, but while being shot at and bombed. These men are heroes!!

If all of the people who think things are tough now, could understand what prior generations of us went through, maybe we wouldn't be so whiny.

[Scott Fogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book! I loved the chapter on the seabee's little magic box, the pontoon boat and how it was like the "Lego" block of the war.

You could tell it was written in the 40's by the language and attitudes expressed. However, I liked the first hand accounts.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of the Seabees

I really loved this book, as I was a Seabee for seventeen years in the Navy Reserves stationed with the USNR RNMCB 22, NAS Dallas, Texas. Prior to that ,I was Active Duty USN in California Bases, for six years.

[Kirstin Dobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting and informative read about the Seabees of WWII. I have been thrilled to learn more about what my grandfather did during the war. I even found his corps in this book. Do wish that the Pacific Theater could "stand-alone" and European Theater not always pop-up.

[Jim Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history

My Dad was one of these tough Seabees. He rarely talked about it but carried the mental and physical scar of it to his grave. I did not understand until I did Vietnam.

[frank leppa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the seabees do..

Learned about unloading equipment on the beach while under fire. How they did it and the special pontoons they used.

[Robert Lewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Now I know the real untold story of the Seabees.

[Paul Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and Factual

A fun book to read. It does not contain the last part of the war. I knew nothing about these fighters. I enjoyed the humorous digs with the Marines.

[Patricia]

my father was a Seabee, therefore my interest in this book.

[Donald M. Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seabees

Informative .. I worked with Seabees when I was in the Marine Corps. I admired them for their ability to get the job done .. Never knew their history until now. Good Book.