Establishment of Naval Construction Battalions

March 5, 1942

December, 1941, with the expected U.S. involvement in the coming World War, Rear Admiral Ben Moreell, Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Yards and Docks, recommended establishing Naval Construction Battalions. With the attack on Pearl Harbor, his recommendation was approved. March, 5th, 1942  the name SeaBees and the now iconic insignia were officially authorized.  

        “The SeaBees in World War II,” by Admiral Ben Moreell

        It is no simple matter to relate the World War II exploits of the SeaBees. Read the rest of this entry »

February 23rd, 1795

Establishment of Office of Purveyor of Supplies

A lone sailor watches as a transport takes on supplies in June, 1943.

        The organization today known as the Navy Supply Corps was originally founded in 1795, as the U. S. Navy Office of Purveyor of Supplies.  Since its establishment, the Supply Corps has undergone many changes in role and composition.  However, as an article published in the February 1949 issue of Proceedings, written by Captain K. C. McIntosh (S. C.), notes, the Supply Corps has always been faced with an espescially daunting task: overseeing the needs of the entire Navy from ship to ship, interacting with outside industries to keep the Navy supplied at the lowest cost to taxpayers, and ensuring that every demand is met as efficiently as possible.  McIntosh’s article, excerpted below, demonstrates how the Supply Corps has continued to meet the Navy’s needs from its very beginning, despite the many challenges at hand.

        It was early in 1942 that the writers and orators first began to stress the phrase, “This is a war of Supply!”

Read the rest of this entry »

February 16, 1804

The captured frigate Philadelphia is burned in Tripoli Harbor by American forces.

The Burning of the frigate Philadelphia in Tripoli Harbor by Edward Moran

        On February 16th, 1804, during the Barbary Wars, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, supported by American volunteers, burned the captured U. S. frigate, Philadelphia, in order to prevent her from remaining in the hands of the Tripolitans.  In June 1935, Proceedings published an article by Commander Arthur Bainbridge Hoff, USN (ret.), which described the circumstances surrounding the burning of the Philadelphia, and the connection of the event to the famous Naval leader, Edward Preble.  The article focuses on Preble’s unique personality, and the character and actions which earned him fame.

                In those brilliant early years of our young Navy, when the Barbary corsairs had been brought to terms, and when seamen were either battling the elements or battling the enemies of their country, no man’s name stood higher as a leader and commander than did that of Edward Preble.   Read the rest of this entry »

February 15th, 1856

LT David Dixon Porter leaves Smyrna, Syria for

Indianola, Texas with 21 camels on board

 

        Just five years before the outbreak of the Civil War, Lieutenant David Dixon Porter received unusual orders from the Secretary of War at the time, Jefferson Davis, to travel to the Mediterranean on the USS Supply.  There, he was required to join Major Henry C. Wayne, then the Quartermaster of the Army, and aid him in finding and purchasing camels for experimental use in the American desert.  The Supply had already traveled to the Mediterranean before, on Lieutenant William Lynch’s expedition to the Dead Sea, where Lynch himself had encountered camels, and managed to substitute them for draught-horses.  Lynch’s interactions with these camels, and his lengthy descriptions of these creatures, no doubt inspired Porter’s unique assignment.  Proceedings describes the history of Lieutenant Porter’s travels, as well as the fate of the camels he acquired.

        Supply‘s next assignment was perhaps the most unusual duty of her career. Read the rest of this entry »

Contact: Joel Weinbaum

Email: [email protected]

February 1st, 1955

Operation Deep Freeze is Established in Antarctica

        The research task force titled Operation Deep Freeze was first established in Antarctica in 1955.  This first mission was the first in an ongoing series of American research missions to the Antarctic continent, which has facillitated many researchers and scientists to explore, study, and perform experiements.  In March, 1970, Proceedings published a firsthand account of one of the first Deep Freeze missions, undertaken thirteen years after the beginning of the operation.  In “Deep Freeze Diary, 1968,” Commander James S, McNeely, USN (retired), described his experience of Antarctica, from recieving his orders to the end of his assignment.  Mcneely provides a detailed account of the dark Antarctic winter, as well as the risks and challenges of living in such a barren environment, but emphasizes the importance of such long and lonely missions in advancing human knowledge and exploration.

        “BUPERS ORDERS … CDR JAMES S. MC NEELY … DIRDET … AS CO ANTARCTICSUPPACT DET ALFA …”  Me!  The Bureau of Personnel had ordered me to duty in Antarctica as Commanding Officer of the wintering-over detachment.  Great! Read the rest of this entry »